On February 23, 2025 the 80th Stowe Derby will run from the top of Mt. Mansfield into the town of Stowe - the longest running downhill cross-country race in North America!
The Derby began in 1945 as a personal challenge between two skiers: Sepp Ruschp, an Austrian hired to head the new ski school at Stowe, and Erling Strom, a world-famous mountaineer from Norway. The challenge was to race from the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, to the historic village of Stowe- the ultimate test of a skier's all-around ability! Ruschp was the winner of the first Stowe Derby.
The Derby Long Course, participants ski through approximately 20km of challenging terrain, racing down Mt. Mansfield's Toll Road, traveling through the Stowe Mountain Resort Touring Center trails, and then cruising the rec path all the way to town and the famous finish in the village of Stowe. The course has a total vertical drop of almost 2,800 feet. Elite racers will complete the course in about 45 minutes (descending the mountain in just under 5 minutes), while recreational skiers may take a couple of hours before sliding their skis across the finish line.
The Derby Short Course is designed for those who prefer to avoid the rigors of the longer course, and is a great option for families and children ages 6 and up. This fun and friendly flat race is 6 km and begins in a mass start along the rec path in Stowe.
Join us for another historic year of racing!
Feb 10, 2025, 2 to 5 PM
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