The people who make the Killington Cup happen
Hundreds of resort employees, volunteers from across the region and contractors have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks in order to pull off all that’s necessary to make the Killington Cup a success.
“It was a real battle with Mother Nature this year, but once again our superstar snowmaking team was able fire up 125 snowmaking guns to lay down enough snow for a world-class show,” said Killington President and CEO Mike Solimano.
Killington Resort has more than 300 volunteers that support the Stifel Killington Cup each year.
Meg Laferriere Horrocks who’s managed the volunteer Beast Crew for the Killington Cup, is proud of its members’ dedication and what it is able to accomplish each year at Killington.
“Without [the crew] we could not pull off a solid race venue,” she stated.
From snowmaking and grooming (it takes about 100 hours of snowmaking to prepare the World Cup venue) to accreditation, set up and security.
The Killington Resort crew operates with a “no regrets plan” when it comes to snowmaking for the World Cup. And sometimes it comes down to the wire.
“We’re ready Oct. 1 to start making snow anytime we have the temperatures,” said Steve Reynolds, the snowmaking control room supervisor at Killington Resort. There have been a few years when it came down to the last week — including this year when temperatures remained unseasonably warm through the first half of Novermber.
Crews check the forecast, every day, twice a day starting Oct. 1, hoping the temperature drops to about 31 degrees or lower. When the forecast looks favorable, crews are lined up 24/7 to get the guns blasting!
The resort was able to secure a positive snow control announcement from FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup, on Thursday, Nov. 21, assuring the races would take place as scheduled this year.
