The return of the Silver Belt Ski Race at Sugar Bowl

Sugar Bowl Resort, CA is a silver mine of not only California ski history but one of the most influential resorts dating back to the 1930s. This year, Sugar Bowl is reintroducing one of the most storied ski competitions, the Silver Belt.

The Silver Belt Classic originated in the 1940s as an off-piste ski race down 1,300’ of natural terrain in the Silver Belt Gully. It was invite only to world-class skiers, and it became a pillar of cross-cultural relations within the tight-knit ski community of the time.

It had a reputation as one of the hardest races in the world due to the un-groomed snow, unpredictable natural features, and level of competition.

The winner brought home the famous silver studded belt fashioned with a silver buckle, an ode to the silver miners of the previous generation.

Sugar Bowl quoted a 1948 edition of Western Skiing Magazine who described the race as a, “straight schuss, then a check and a gate, winding up in a final schuss down near the vertical steilhang to the finish gate that curdled the blood of most of the spectators and half the racers.”

Honestly, I don't even know what that means, but I would've loved to see it.

The Silver Belt Returns

On March 29th-31st the return of the Silver Belt Ski Race will take place on the same gully it was founded on nearly 90 years ago. It will include pros, local legends, and anyone who thinks they have what it takes.

However, there will be a freeride focused quirk that will transpire over three days.

The top finishers from the men’s and women’s take home the beloved Silver Belt, and the top three from the men’s and women’s side will split $10,000.

The first day of the competition starts out with what Sugar Bowl is calling the Freeride Qualifier Day. The athletes will compete in a freeride setting using all the natural features and big terrain to ski a creative and technical line to qualify for the Shapeshifter for the following days.

There will be some pros who have already qualified for the Shapeshifter, and they will be the ones judging the Freeride Qualifier.

The idea for the Shapeshifter is to turn the mountain into a terrain park of natural features. Athletes will identify cliffs, natural jumps, and spines that can be manicured with shovels and other equipment.

Then, the riders take to the hill and express themselves through freeride skiing. This is an innovative format that is unique to this competition, and I think it is progressing the sport of freeride skiing.

Freeride skiing is uncertain by nature, especially in a setting like this. Athletes may have to feel out the competition's new rules, but if one thing is for certain, it's that it will be an entertaining show.

You think you got what it takes? Sign up here to earn your silver stars.