KILLINGTON—The seventh annual Long Trail Century Ride fundraiser to benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports will have more options this year, including a mountain bike component plus a 40-mile road route. Set for Saturday, June 24, the event is expected to raise more than $300,000 for adaptive sports programming, expensive adaptive equipment and scholarships. More than 40 cyclists with disabilities, plus their assistants and guides, as well as more than 700 road and mountain bikers are expected to turn out for the Century Ride.
Each rider is responsible for a minimum $100 fundraising requirement.
In addition to event classic road routes that include the 100-, 60- and 20-mile rides, mountain bikers now can join the cause at Saturday morning’s Snowshed session at the Killington Bike Park. Mountain bikers will have early access to the Snowshed lift at 9 a.m. (an hour before the lift opens to the public). Participants can either ride for the whole day or join the après-ride party at Long Trail Brewery, which kicks off at noon.
Except the mountain bike session, all ride routes, including a family-friendly 5K, start and end at Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater Corners. An après-ride festival with music by Live at The Fillmore (Allman Brothers’ tribute band) is open to the public beginning at noon, featuring live music, face painting, kids’ activities, a vendor village, silent auction, adaptive equipment demos, and more. For those not riding, party-only tickets may be purchased at the door. The event is held rain or shine.
Those who register by June 1 will receive a Killington ticket voucher, valid for one day of skiing during the 2017-2018 season or mountain biking during summer 2017.
Cyclists check in Friday night at a pre-ride party at Killington Resort, and rides begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday from the brewery on Route 4. Rider registration is $70 and includes a Century Ride wicking t-shirt, food and support at aid stations during the ride, entry to the après-ride party with food and entertainment, plus a commemorative water bottle. Fees go up June 1.
The après-ride party is open to the public and admission at the door is $15/adults and $10/kids on Saturday beginning at noon.
“We hope this provides a new way to bring in more riders to the event to fundraise and support Vermont Adaptive’s programs and expensive adaptive equipment,” said Jeff Alexander, Killington Resort’s events and partnerships manager. “Vermont Adaptive added a new adaptive mountain bike program last year, so it made perfect sense to tie in mountain biking to the Long Trail Century Ride this year. Doesn’t matter what you like to ride now—everyone can come out and participate.”