September Bonus Weekend #4
Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end… it’s time to shut down operations and start preparing for the upcoming winter season (2 months and 3 days, but who’s counting?). Join us September 29 & 30 for Bonus Weekend #4 and help us make our closing weekend a Legendary one!
Don’t miss out on seeing the beautiful array of reds, oranges and yellows before the alpine gets covered in that white powdery stuff that we all love. Ride the Timber Chair between 10:30 am – 4:30 pm and take in those final hiking & biking adventures. While you’re up there, enjoy a tasty lunch and a refreshing bevie (or maybe a hot cup of cocoa) at Lost Boys Café.
Dust off your retro bike, dig out your retro gear and get ready to send it for the last downhill race of the season. The Retro Mountain Bike Race takes place on Sunday, September 30 at 2 pm on the lower section of Deer Trail. Register at the Adventure Centre between 12 – 1 pm. Entry fee is $10 and includes a post-race beverage at Legends Mountain Eatery and loads of prizing for fastest times in each category, best retro costume, best decorated bike and awesome door prizes!
Although the lifts are coming to a halt, it doesn’t mean the fun has to. We have a new lineup of events to look forward to in October and November at the resort:
New this fall:
A Legendary Oktoberfest is coming to Fernie Alpine Resort on Saturday, October 6! Dress in your best Oktoberfest outfit and join us in the plaza for the afternoon beverage gardens, open to all ages. Guaranteed to be good times with great music from DJ Goffles, craft beer, fun games and crazy contests for both kids and adults! Then it’s onto the Griz Bar for the adults for a delicious German buffet dinner while being entertained by live Oompah Band, European Touch. It doesn’t end there… more fun ensues during the after party – more music, contests and of course more beer!
Learn about your body and mind health during the You and Your Body Wellness Retreat October 23 – 28 at Lizard Creek Lodge. Three world-class therapists will give you the tools to explore your potential through unique movement and innovative body therapies. Your retreat package includes 10 group classes focused on mind and body wellness, guided nature walks, accommodations, healthy meals and a self-care welcome kit. This event is almost sold out so make sure your book your spot before it’s too late!
New for the kids this October – The Griz Kidz Halloween Party & Haunted House! Dress up your little monsters (and yourselves) and join us on Sunday, October 28 as we transform the Day Lodge into a mystical manor of fun, full of ghoulish games, creepy-crawly crafts, and awfully-fun activities. Step inside our spooktacular photo booth for a family photo then take a wander downstairs and enter our haunted basement if you dare…(mwahahaha)
Returning this November:
Join Yogi, Gordana Gigovic as she leads you through an all-inclusive weekend to recharge your mind, body and soul during the Fall Yoga Retreat November 2 – 4 at Lizard Creek Lodge. Package includes yoga lessons, nature walks, all meals and accommodations.
Huge shout out to everyone who visited us up on the mountain this past season and adventured along our trails…. we’ll see you soon. Now who’s stoked for winter?!
Photo Credit: Gui Boutet
September Bonus Weekend #3
Waking up to the snow-tipped Three Sisters is exciting and maybe less exciting is digging out your scraper to clear the frost off your windshield… but we all know this can only mean one thing – winter is coming. However, it’s not too late to get in some autumn action with two more Bonus Weekends left in September!
With the Timber Chair running on Saturday & Sunday from 10:30am to 4:30pm, you still have time to take in the beautiful sights and explore your favorite hiking and biking trails.
Gather your friends and go on the *Peak to Park to Pint Bike Tour, challenge them to a *Treetop Aerial Park adventure or book a *Guided Nature Hike. Don’t forget to bring your camera! As we move into fall, the changing of the season is bringing a gorgeous array of yellows, oranges and reds to the mountain and to the valley – it’s a stunning sight to see.
We also have something special planned for Bonus Weekend #3 – Lizard Creek Lodge and Cirque Restaurant are proud to be hosting Lobsterfest September 21 – 23! The weekend includes accommodation at Lizard Creek Lodge, lobster themed meals, a guided nature hike, and a lobster demo on how to cook and shuck a lobster.
Are you a local Fernie Foodie? We have a special dinner date for you! Enjoy an evening of amazing food and live entertainment on Saturday, September 22. Fresh Maritime lobsters are being flown in for a delicious three-course dinner prepared by our talented chef at Cirque Restaurant. It will be the Lobsterfest of all Lobsterfests!
There’s only two more weekends left of operations – don’t miss out on the awesome line-up of fall activities happening at the resort!
*Advance booking is required. Please book at least 48 hours in advance by calling 250-423-2435.
September Bonus Weekend #2
It’s all downhill from here until Bonus Weekend #2! Fall fun continues with the Timber Chair running from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm on September 15 & 16.
Scenic Dinner at Lost Boys Cafe – September 15
Have you ever had dinner on top of a mountain? Here’s your chance! Join us on Saturday, September 15 at 4:00 pm for a delicious Mountain Top BBQ dinner at Lost Boys Café. Guests will take a scenic chairlift ride up the Timber Chair and be treated to a special BBQ meal prepared by our chefs. After dinner, take in the stunning views of the Elk Valley from the Lost Boys Café deck. The Timber Chair will be available for downloading from 6:15 – 6:45pm. Reservations are required and must be booked in advance by calling 250.423.2435. Visit our website for more event details by clicking here.
Retro Mountain Bike Race – September 16
Dust off your old retro mountain bike, dig out your retro bike gear and get ready to race down a section of Deer Trail on Sunday, September 16! Registration will take place from 12 – 1pm at the Adventure Centre and the race will start at 2pm. Entry fee is $10 and includes a post-race bevie at Legends Mountain Eatery along with loads of great prizing including fastest times in each category, best retro costume, best decorated bike and door prizes! Click here for more information on the race.
In addition to our special events, here’s a list of the other activities happening around the resort:
On Mountain:
- Put on your hiking boots and explore your favourite hiking trail on the Timber side
- Get in your two-wheeled fix and take a rip down our Legendary bike trails
- Snap some photos of the beautiful autumn colours as they take-over the valley in the changing of the season
At Lizard Creek Lodge:
- Recharge with some Saturday morning yoga from 8 – 9 am
- Send your kids on a nature hike and BBQ from 5 – 7:30 pm
In the Plaza:
- Don’t miss out on all the savings – the End of Summer Blowout Sale continues this weekend at the Adventure Centre
We know you love the summer and winter months but now’s your chance to FALL in love with the mountains in September.
Photo credit: Nicole Matei
September Bonus Weekend #1
What a Legendary Summer we’ve had! But we’re not closing our doors yet… We’re open September 8th and 9th for our first Bonus Weekend of September! And with the Timber Chair operating from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, the activities are endless.
Whether it’s taking in the spectacular mountaintop views of the Elk Valley, hiking along the gorgeous trails throughout the local mountain ranges, riding down our Legendary lift accessed mountain bike trails, zipping through the trees in our Aerial Park, or just enjoying lunch and an ice cold one on the Lost Boys Café deck, we have something for everyone to explore including a few special activities around the resort this weekend. Here’s a quick run-down of what’s happening.
Kick your weekend off with Saturday morning yoga at Lizard Creek Lodge. The beautiful mountain backdrop is guaranteed to rejuvenate your mind and body and get you ready for the rest of your weekend.
If it’s a beer and biking tour you’re looking for, we have it! Join our Peak to Park to Pint Bike Tour running Saturday afternoon. From the top of the Timber Chair, cruise downhill and enjoy the trails through Mt. Fernie Provincial Park. Pedal through town to reward yourself with refreshing samples of East Kootenay beers! And don’t worry about the kids, we have that covered – our guides will take the youngins on a guided nature hike with scavenger hunt followed by a pool party and BBQ dinner at Lizard Creek Lodge.
End your Saturday with an epic Mountain Top Camping Experience near the top of the Timber Chair. Take the chairlift up to your mountain top campsite. After a guided hike you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at Lost Boys Café – the bar will be open so enjoy an evening beverage while star-gazing from the deck. Wake up Sunday morning to stunning alpine views and have breakfast at the Café. You can either make your way back down the lift or continue your weekend fun by exploring the mountain by hiking and sightseeing.
Join us on Sunday in the Plaza for a special Pop Up Fernie Mountain Market. Local vendors will be onsite with fresh fruits & vegetables, home-baked breads and handcrafted creations.
And don’t forget to stop by the Adventure Cabin for their End of Summer Blowout SALE! 10-40% off selected hard & soft goods, as well as great deals on 2015 & 2016 SCOTT bikes all weekend long!
Our regular summer operations may have come to an end but the fall fun is just beginning – your weekend adventure awaits you!
Community Summit Fund
The Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) is forever grateful for the passion of their employees, guests and especially the home towns where the resorts are located. In each town there are people who have supported the resorts for many years and in an effort to give back to these communities, the Community Summit Fund was born. 2007 marked the first year of the Summit Fund program, with an initial five-year commitment, RCR donated over $150,000 to over 100 community organizations. After the first five years, RCR decided to officially renew the Summit Fund indefinitely and continue to donate to organizations, schools and charities each and every month.
At Fernie Alpine Resort, our Community Summit Fund has helped transform the local Fernie community by supporting sustainable local projects that help create positive opportunities and outcomes for its citizens, especially youth.
In the last six months, we have donated just over $11,000 to 22 different local organizations and projects including:
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Fernie Chamber of Commerce – support of 2018 Griz Days
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Fernie Mountain Film Festival
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Freeski Competition support for local athlete, Andrea Byrne
Local athlete, Andrea Byrne – Freeski Competition support
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Fernie & District Arts Council – support of the Out of the Box: Dumpster Project
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Fernie Secondary School -support the ski/snowboard team to attend 2018 provincials, teaching classes on outdoor trapping traditions, new school fitness room equipment, annual scholarship program
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Emily Brydon Youth Foundation
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Fernie Alpine Ski Team – support of FAST Film Festival 2018
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Isabella Dickens Elementary School – support annual spring tea fundraiser
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Elk Valley Dolphins Swim Club – support club to attend swim meet
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Elk Valley Society for Community Living
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Canadian Adaptive Network – support Fernie Disability Awareness Night
A commemorative display celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Fernie Golf Club.
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Fernie Golf Club – support 100th anniversary commemorative display
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The Ghostriders Adventure Camp
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Wapiti Music Festival Society
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City of Fernie – support for Canada Day celebrations
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Fernie Heritage Cemetary and Restoration Society
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Fernie Tennis Community Association – support of East Kootenay Open 2018
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East Kootenay Foundation for Health – support for 2018 Starlite Ball Fundraiser
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Friends of the Fernie Heritage Library
The Community Summit Fund isn’t just about cash donations, but it’s also about being involved in the community ourselves. Our very own Robin Siggers is a great example of an employee giving back to the community. Robin is involved directly with the Fernie Ski Touring & Trails Club. He also volunteers his time working on the Fernie Dirt Jump Park – using the RCR loader, he moves dirt and shapes the jumps. On top of that, he’s a regular contributor to the Fernie Trails Associations crew – working nights maintaining the trails.
For more information on the Fernie Alpine Community Summit Fund and how to apply for a grant, please visit: https://skifernie.com/summit-fund/.
Supporting the Fernie & District Arts Council’s Out of the Box: Dumpster Project
Fernie Secondary School recipient of the Fernie Summit Fund Scholarship program, Elizabeth Pater
Support of the Elk Valley Dolphins Swim Club to attend competitions.
FAR Trail Crew Update #2
It’s the final countdown…
We’re coming into the homestretch for opening day 2018. In less than 24 hours our doors will be ready to blast open for another Legendary summer of bike park operations, lift accessed hiking/camping and treetop adventures in our Aerial Park. Our to-do lists are long and with a severe storm watch in effect for today we’ve got to get back out there to get things in order for you before the rain falls, but here’s a quick update to wet your taste buds.
In our last crew report we told you about all the great work done on our Elk side trails this spring. Shout out to AERE Films who shot some amazing footage showcasing some of the tune-ups on Top Gun, Duff Dynasty and Deer Trail. You can check out the short video posted on our social media channels here. The dappled light kept much of our work shrouded in shadowy secret during the vid but there were quite a few hoots and hollers heard while they were filming – you’ll just have to come out and inspect those corners for yourself this weekend! We’ll have all Elk side trails open for you with the exception of Alternate Flight Pattern, Holo Bike and Kodiak Karnage. We’re working on a new section of bermy / jumpy trail on the Lower Lizard ski run to bring Elk side riders into the base. This is still a work in progress so, in the meantime, all riders will need to ride a short section of road to return to the plaza and the lifts. Please respect your fellow riders and other users sharing this road – SLOW DOWN.
With snow finally melting off our alpine zones, our crews have spent the last seven days focusing on our Timber side biking and hiking trails. Last Saturday, we hosted our first ever volunteer trail day work party. A solid crew of seven came out to kick off a rejuvenation project on Rumplestumpkin. The work continued all week as we repaired cribbing, rebuilt corners and took care of some other messy sections that needed love. There is still a lot of work to do here over the season but we’re pretty stoked on the great start and look forward to getting this trail back in primo shape for all you dark side riders. Current Timber side trail status – Upper TNT will remain closed for the weekend, however we will be offering Bike Thief, Bin Logdin, Lower TNT and Neverland in addition to the 4km alpine to valley bottom Rumplestumpskin. Hikers can access outstanding alpine views on the Siberia Ridge, Lost Boys Lookout, White Pass, Pika Pass and Milky Way Trails. Note – some of the hiking trails still have snow such as Pika Pass, but the trail crew has marked the trail and it will be a very “cool” hiking experience.
A few friendly reminders as we unleash summer on you. Many of our trails have changed and early season conditions exist across our mountain. Take it easy. Do a few slow inspection laps to scope out the changes, gauge your speed accordingly and get reacquainted. If this storm produces tonight, there could be blowdown and slippery conditions out there tomorrow. Watch for workers out on the trails and please stop to give us your feedback or voice any concerns you may have. For on-mountain emergencies please feel free to program the Patrol Emergency Number (250-423-2426) into your cell phones. Can’t wait to see everyone out there!
Nicole & The FAR Trail Crew
Photos by Nicole Matei & Nik Dunn
Volunteer trail day work party
Hiking Lost Boys Pass
Rumplestumpkin trail work
Pika Pass open for hiking
FAR Trail Crew Update
Rise and shine it’s almost bike park time! With barely a moment to wipe winter’s sleep out of our eyes, the Bike Crew commenced our clean-up earlier this month. The FAR trails emerged from their snowy slumber with only a few ‘nightmares’ to be soothed away before we swing open the doors on opening day on June 23rd, 2018.
Last fall’s dramatic wind event left a clever game of forest pick up sticks best suited for woodland giants. We have to give a huge shout out to the FAR Saw Crew for their extraordinary talents helping to clear the challenging forest floor tangles and treetop snags. Once these hazards were removed, our forest gnomes headed to work in the dirt and to repair damages to wood features. Top Gun, Deer Trail, Duff Dynasty, and Bin Logdin have since had machine touch-ups throughout. Will Power, Monorail, Mr. Berms, and Ben’s Big Rig are next up on the list.
The majority of our summer mountain signage has been deployed with a major upgrade this year to the new Ride Smart trail marking program. This new system differentiates freeride vs technical trails and helps to identify trail progression, ensuring riders have an enjoyable and safe experience on the mountain. Not to mention, we also have a brand-new hiking trail map and guide brochure this summer.
As of today, this is what we’ll be able to offer for opening weekend: all Elk side trails, all multi-use trails, Rumplestumpskin from the top, all lower Timber trails, and the bike skills park. For the hiking crowd, again all multi-use trails, Megasaurus, Siberia Ridge Loop, and Lost Boys Look Out. All other hiking trails are currently snowbound and will remain closed for safety.
What else is on the plate for summer 2018? We’ve decommissioned Canada Cup, Cripple Creek, and Hornet from our Bike park trail portfolio to make room for some exciting new projects. We would like to ask all riders to respect these closures so that we can focus on moving forward instead of repeatedly heading ‘back’ to enforce signage and fencing during the season. The BC Cup / Canada Cup is returning to Fernie, July 21-22nd with the intention of having the full upper BC Cup course open for public consumption the remainder of the summer. In addition to our legendary Thursday Night Race Series presented by SCOTT, we have partnered with the North Face to offer an all new Running Race series on Thursdays as well.
See you out there,
Nicole & The FAR Trail Crew
Photos by Nicole Matei
Dirty Dancer Banked Slalom Recap
Who could have known that the first ever Dirty Dancer Banked Slalom event would be as successful as it was? Every snowboarder in town of course!
This event was special for many reasons but perhaps the biggest reason was that it really brought the snowboarding community of Fernie together in a fun, passionate and meaningful way. Between the local board shops sponsoring the event, locals of all ages hand digging the course for a week before the actual race and the high energy and support for riders of all ages and genders on race day, we couldn’t have asked for a better inaugural event day!
The event was fully sold out at 100 riders (with another 40+ on the waitlist) divided into various categories. Boarders got two timed runs down the banked slalom course which took place in the Dancer gully in Lizard Bowl at Fernie Alpine Resort.
Race day kicked off with the wee rippers of Fernie! We had 4 boys and 2 girl groms who absolutely slayed the course, all while looking adorably small compared to the giant berms they were riding!
Then we moved into the Open category. Since Banked Slalom events have their roots in the very beginning of snowboard culture when boarders were banned from most ski resorts, it’s important to celebrate riders of all skill levels. The open category was meant for riders who are just trying out racing and are out to have some fun and test their skills! First we saw the open women’s category, follow up by the open men’s.
Next up were the big boys and girls… the Men’s and Women’s Pro category. These racers really knew what they were doing, most of them clocking the course in under a minute! Due to huuuuge interest from the snowboarding men of Fernie, we split the Men’s Pro into three categories based on age, 19-29 went first, then the 30-39 year olds and finally the Master’s Division for those seasoned veterans of 40+!
Throughout the day, spectators either cheered from the sidelines of the course or enjoyed the view (along with a beer and burger) from the Bear’s Den where the DJ and announcer were stationed, making the energy high and infectious!
All in all we could not have asked for a better event and want to send a massive thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. That includes Commit Snow & Skate, Edge of the World, Boardstiff Snow Skate & Surf, everyone who helped dig and shape the course, all the volunteers on the day of who made things run smoothly, the timers, the forerunners, and everyone who signed up or came to watch! We can’t wait to make this event a Fernie staple and to keep celebrating the awesome community of snowboarders in the Elk Valley. You guys rule!
Interested in seeing event results? Click here: https://3atdoe9h52s12e9hqcxdp3ah-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Dirty-Dancer-Results.pdf
Want to see some photos from the event? Click here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/FernieAlpineResort/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10160258524730367
Spring has Sprung at Fernie Alpine Resort
Spring has officially sprung here at Fernie Alpine Resort and although we loooooove the big snowy dumps of winter, we have to admit that sunshiny days and slushy spring snow are feeling pretty good right now. And not only that but we have every single weekend from here until the end of the season jam packed with incredibly fun spring events! Everyone here at Fernie Alpine Resort is bursting at the seams with excitement over all these end of year celebrations so we want to give you scoop on everything that’s going down!
First up we have Kokanee Retro Day on Saturday, March 24th! This event sees the whole hill transformed into a real life Hot Tub Time Machine, with people rocking their tight and bright ‘80s gear all over the hill, beer gardens, a bumpin’ DJ in the plaza and a special promotion put on by our title sponsor, Kokanee! It’s a great chance to dust off those old snowsuits and celebrate a day of spandex, hairspray and headbands! The party continues in the Griz Bar after the beer gardens where DJ Rocswell will be spinning your favourite retro tunes.
The fun doesn’t stop there, but certainly becomes a bit more kid friendly for the next weekend! We have the Griz Kidz Winter Carnival on March 31 and the Easter Eggstravaganza on April 1st! The carnival will be tons of fun for the little ones with face painting, balloon animals, games, activities, crafts and more! The festivities will take place in the plaza from 11am to 3pm. To celebrate Easter at Fernie Alpine Resort, the Easter Bunny is visiting to set up a fun scavenger hunt! All you have to do is follow the clues to find the hidden basket of eggs and a tasty treat!
Snowboarders, the next weekend is for you! Get back to your snowboarding roots with the Dirty Dancer Banked Slalom, a throwback to the ‘80s where boarders were the outlaws of the wild west, banned from most ski resorts and forced to fight for the right to shred! Well, times have changed and we want you to celebrate by entering this awesome event for all ages. It’s running on April 7th and is sponsored entirely by local Fernie boardshops, making this a totally awesome grassroots event that we couldn’t be happier about!
The awesomeness continues right into closing weekend with Fernival and the Raging Elk Powder Pedal Paddle race! Since 1984 teams and individuals have been competing in this epic ski, bike, paddle and run race in Fernie and this year is no exception! After the race we’ll have a party in the plaza with a BBQ and free concert by the band Sloan. This all goes down on April 14th but the fun certainly doesn’t stop there. Day two of Fernival and our final day of the season is also going to be a blast with our annual Slope Soaker event and more killer music by favourites BC/DC on April 15th. Strap on your skis or snowboard and a funky costume to see if you can make it across the pond and win excellent prizes and lifelong bragging rights for the Slope Soaker.
As you can see, these last few weekends at Fernie Alpine Resort are going to be unspeakably epic so make sure to come celebrate with us! If one of these events catches your fancy, you can find more details and registration links here: https://skifernie.com/events-activities/events-calendar/
Raging Elk Dummy Downhill Recap
The appeal of the Dummy Downhill lies in its ability to bring joyous delight in the form of creativity, flight and carnage to everyone watching! This year’s event saw 13 dummies (forms mounted on skis) compete against one another in an epic day of fun on Sunday, March 4th.
The dummies ranged from popular book characters like Captain Underpants, to recycling projects like The Giant Tin Foil Ball to news items like Elon Musk’s flying car. All 13 entrants brought something to the table and delighted the gathered crowd as they were launched off a massive jump, only to land or smash or glide into the empty parking lot below.
Not all the dummies made it to the jump but the explosion of bits and pieces on the hill had fans cheering nonetheless! One crowd favourite was the Giant Tin Foil Ball that upon impact exploded into hundreds of tiny tin foil balls.
Judges were particularly impressed with the creativity behind the I Lava You dummy, a prehistoric volcano mounted on skis, complete with lava foaming out of the top. Another crowd favourite was Zippy the Zombie, a rather life-like fellow who chased anyone not wearing a Griz Pin down the hill, before teetering precariously on top of the jump and continuing his rampage in the parking lot.
We saw appearances from a bikini-clad George of the Jungle, an incredible paper mache likeness of Captain Underpants, a surly Sasquatch requesting everyone just leave him alone and a group of rowdy rafting stuffed animals.
In the end, it was “Falcon Awesome”, the aircraft built to mimic Elon Musk’s orbiting Tesla that took the overall prize. It may have been the smooth flight trajectory, the wake of smoke it left behind or the satisfying crash at the end that won it the title of “Best Overall Dummy” but either way, the crowd and the judges loved it.
At the end of the day, we were happy to announce that with the help of everyone involved in the event we were able to raise $670 for the Canadian Cancer Society. The Raging Elk Dummy Downhill has been successful as a fundraiser in the past and we were pleased and grateful for the amount raised this year!
A huge thank you to everyone who came out for the event, built their dummies, and donated their time to such a worthwhile cause. Time to start planning those dummies for next year now…
RESULTS:
Best Overall (Distance, Creativity, Etc.) – Falcon Awesome
Best Creativity – I Lava You
Fun Disintegration – George
Best Ski Down/Best Trick – Zippy the Zombie
Most Style and Effort – Stop Following Me
Best Construction – Captain Underpants
Smoothest Flight – Big Air Machine
Hard Luck (3 way tie) – Forecasters Friday, Giant Tinfoil Ball, Tie Flyer
Best Name/Best Stunt – Wild & Rowdy River Rafters
Fundraising Award (raised $230) – Kentucky Fried Chicken Master
Longest Journey – Chester
