By Katy Savage Sitota LaRocque, 15, is only a freshman at Killington Mountain School, but this will already be her second time competing in the U.S. Open.She’ll be riding with 12 other KMS athletes, along with two coaches.  “It’s so awesome to have such a big event so local to me,” LaRocque said. Mountain Times…

By Katy Savage Joshua Poirier is in his second year as a downhill mountain bike coach at Killington Mountain School and he’s already “looking forward to many more,” he said. “The athletes I work with are all incredible people which makes my job fulfilling and fun.”  Poirier is a mountain bike racer on the side,…

By Katy Savage Dylan Conte has been mountain biking since he was about 12. A small bike park where he grew up was built and his dad dropped him off there. He’s been hooked ever since.  Mountain biking, he said, allows him to “both be competitive and be out in nature,” Conte said. “It’s something…

Spectators, watch the action all weekend at Killington Resort' s Ramshead base area.  All events are free to watch and hiking up the trails for better viewing is encouraged. A $15 spectator pass to ride the Ramshead Express quad uphill will also be available for purchase (go to the ticket booth on the second floor…

Young racers will also have their shot at the Fox U.S. Open in the Next Gen Youth Downhill event, which offers categories for intermediate and expert racers. For 2024, advanced categories will ride the main downhill track and novice categories on the separate Next Gen specific track.  “Next Gen” applies to U.S. Open categories for athletes 14…

Staff report The flat Ramshead beginner ski area at Killington Resort (home to two magic carpets during the winter) has been transformed into a huge mountain bike jump for the Fox U.S. Open of Mountain Biking competition this weekend Sept. 26-29. The spectator-friendly best whip competition is a crowd favorite. It’s being held Saturday, Sept.…

The U.S. Open Downhill race will remain true to its heritage as an open class event that gives up-and-coming racers the chance to compete against the pros and will again be included in the U.S. Downhill National Series.  Downhill Open Class racers will be competing for a $15,000 first place check on both the men’s…

Back by popular demand will be the USO Best Whip, taking place on a massive set of jumps carved into the base area of the bike park for a premier viewing experience. This invitational competition is a crowd favorite and a must see. Spectating is Free, and approved areas of the bike park are open to…

Killington Resort has made significant investments in their bike park and the town of Killington boasts extensive après, dining and lodging options making it an ideal choice for the worldclass event. Spectating is free, and the bike park will be open to the public throughout the event. Join the party and experience epic competition, spectating,…

Friday night features sprints on a shorter dual slalom track, with a mix of groomed and natural terrain. This event is located right in the main venue area at Ramshead base are (alongside the Downhill finish and Best Whip jumps).  The Duel Slalom event is the best at the USO for all levels of athletes.…

Downhill riders compete for $15,000 cash purse; Best Whip riders for popularity Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 26-29 — KILLINGTON—The Fox U.S. Open of Mountain Biking will once again return to Killington Resort, Sept 26-29. Professional and amateur athletes from around the world will compete in the Open Class Downhill for one of the largest cash purses in racing, and as…

Local riders collaborate on circuitous story of (mostly) fictitious bike communities in central Vt By Polly Mikula Set in an unknown time somewhere in the central Vermont hills of Brandon, Goshen and Rochester, author Angus Chaney imagines a world organized primarily around semi-autonomous bike clans. It’s a lighthearted look at a dystopian future. Randal Smathers,…

Longtime Killington skiers commit to preserving and enhancing Vermont’s largest ski area At 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Killington Resort announced that Killington Resort & Pico Mountain are being sold from POWDR to a passionate group of local passholders. This landmark purchase represents a commitment to keeping Killington and Pico in the hands of those…

Saturday, Aug. 10, 8:30 a.m. —POULTNEY— The Slate Valley Scramble, a trail running race, will feature an 8K, half marathon, and a kids’ fun run, showcasing some of Vermont’s newest and most scenic single- and double-track trails within Slate Valley Trails’ network. The race takes place on some of the state’s newest and best single…

By Cristina Kumka and Courtney Behnken Single-track mountain bike trails make up 60 miles in Poultney alone. “Slate Valley Trails was founded in 2015 by two generous visionaries who saw the potential of trails in Poultney, Vermont,” according to information provided by Behnken.  Poultney is located in the heart of the Slate Valley with mountains…