UPDATE: All events, including the silent disco, have been cancelled.
Friday-Sunday, March 13-15—STRATTON MOUNTAIN—Described as an event designed for snowboarders by snowboarders, the Vermont Open celebrates the roots of snowboarding on Southern Vermont’s highest peak, Stratton. The Rail Jam, Retro Pipe, All Snow, and the new two-day Banked Slalom make up the event schedule for this season. Participants can register for the Roots package to be entered into all four events. Alternatively, participants can register for single events, space permitting as each event has a maximum number of participants. There is cash up for grabs in all categories, pro, am and washed up (for riders over 35.)
The Rail Jam is a shred heavy rail rider’s paradise! This event will contain numerous rails from easy to pro-level, handling all ages and abilities. Contestants will be scored on a variety of tricks, cleanness of landings, and hitting the more difficult, pro-level features.
All Snow replaces last year’s slopestyle event. Riders will drop into a course crafted only of snow-shaped jumps and transitions. The new All Snow course will have several different lines of jumps, rollers, hips, spines and volcanoes, allowing for full creativity on each rider’s run. Riders will be scored based upon creativity of their line, difficulty of their line, airtime and rotations.
The Retro Pipe is not your run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter halfpipe. What we have is a throwback event paying homage to our founding fathers who hand-shaped their U ditch back in the day. The Retro Pipe is not a full-sized halfpipe, allowing for more versatility for riders, and an opportunity for everyone to catch some air time.
And finally, the Banked Slalom features a new two-day format. Day 1 is qualifiers, and Day 2 is finals day. With too many turns, berms, and hairpins to count, prepare yourself for a leg burner. This year’s highly anticipated Banked Slalom will have its venue on Suntanner, running alongside the All Snow course. This event format will stick to the traditional format for banked slalom, one rider on the course per run, the fastest overall time of each round wins.
Lift tickets are not included in the registration prices and must be purchased separately. Daily lift tickets will be available for $10 at registration. Lift tickets for the Roots package are $20 (valid for all three days of the event). Season pass holders do not need to purchase a lift ticket.
Join in after the Vermont Open festivities on March 14 for a silent disco in Grizzly’s, above the Base Lodge. Three DJ’s will be simultaneously spinning tunes. Everyone attending will receive a headset upon entry to switch between each DJ and sample the three setlists as you dance the night away. The silent disco is a family friendly event. The late-night Grizzly’s menu will be available. All ages welcome. Tickets are $10.
