SNOWSHOE

SKI

2026-2027

Winter Wild Series

2026-2027 Winter Wild Adventures

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.

    Whaleback

    Enfield, NH

    1 January 2027

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and half circle lines.

    Sunapee

    Sunapee, NH

    1 January 2027

  • Pats Peak

    Pat's Peak

    Henniker, NH

    1 January 2027

About the Race

Wake up. Strap in. Head uphill. Watch the sunrise.

Since 2010, the Winter Wild series has been bringing together a slightly wild, incredibly enthusiastic crew of early risers for some of the most fun you can have on a mountain before breakfast. From first timers to seasoned uphill machines, people of all ages and abilities travel across New England to tackle ski areas one at a time.

The mission is simple: start climbing before sunrise, chase the light up the mountain, and then race back down to the finish. Headlamps give way to sunrise, cold air fills your lungs, snow crunches under your feet, and suddenly you’re wide awake and wondering why you don’t do this every weekend.

It’s part race, part adventure, part ridiculous early morning decision.

Come for one event or take on the entire Winter Wild series. Ski, run, hike, walk, race, or just come out and have a ridiculously good time with a great group of people.

Everyone is welcome.

Because honestly, there’s no better way to start the weekend than with a mountain, a sunrise, and a little bit of Winter Wild.

Adventure

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Ski

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Snowshoe

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Sunrise

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Adventure · Ski · Snowshoe · Sunrise ·

Winter Wild Series Information

About Winter Wild

Winter Wild is an uphill race series with a twist. The start and finish are both at the bottom (what goes up must come down!). Grab your skis, snowshoes, or favorite winter running shoes with microspikes and join us for early‑morning mountain fun. Each event happens before the lifts start turning, so you’ll earn first tracks before the resort even opens.

When Winter Wild began, uphilling was a niche pursuit. Today, it’s a celebrated way to earn your workout and your turns. Runners, snowshoers, and alpine tourers alike chase the climb in sneakers, spikes, snowshoes, or skis.

Details

Rules to participate

  • Whatever you wear up the hill is what you descend with... (if you snowshoe up, you will snowshoe down and be listed in the snowshoe category).

  • If you would like to use a snowboard you may carry it on your back up the hill and then snowboard down. You will be listed in the Heavy Metal Category. You cannot leave anything stashed anywhere on the mountain!

  • If you use poles up the hill, then you must go down the hill with your poles.

  • Helmets are required if you are skiing!

  • No sleds or blades will be allowed.

  • Acceptable devices are: XC Skis, Randonnée or Telemark Skis, snowboard, snowshoes, Microspikes, or running shoes.

  • Additional guidelines may be added based on the requirements of our hosting ski resorts.

Categories

  • Open Category (Microspikes, running shoes, Yaxtrax, studded shoes, etc)

  • Snowshoes

  • Skis

  • All categories above include a Challenged Athlete Division

Age Groups

  • Male & Female 18 & under (Free), 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Racing Age

Age group will be determined by your age on May 1st of the racing season. We want people competing in the same age group throughout the series so please be aware and register accordingly.

Points

All finishers will receive points. If you do not finish or participate in an event, you will receive 0 points for that event. Points will be distributed as follows: 1st 100, 2nd 90, 3rd 80, 4th 70, 5th 60. All other finishers receive 25 points.

Tie Breakers

Ties in point standings will be settled by:

  1. Highest placing athlete at final event.

  2. Athlete who participated in highest number of events.

  3. A battle of rock, paper, scissors… after all, this is for FUN!