Press Release
CODY’S CHALLENGE, A RANDONEE ENDURANCE SKI RACE, TACKLES MT. WERNER
The Cody St. John Foundation Provides Scholarships for Medical Education
Steamboat Springs, CO – January 2010 – The Cody St. John Foundation along with the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, the Steamboat Ski Patrol and the United States Forest Service will host the second annual Cody’s Challenge, a “Randonee” endurance race, on Saturday, April 3, 2010 across Steamboat Ski Area.
“Randonee racing is gaining in popularity across the country and especially throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region,” said Kyle Lawton, the course designer and Steamboat Patrol member. The purpose of this race is to raise awareness of fitness, safety on the mountain, and honor the life of Cody St. John, a former Steamboat Patroller.
Cody’s Challenge is Steamboat’s venture into this exciting and demanding sport, allowing participants the unique opportunity to climb, traverse and descend a variety of trails across the mountain. This year’s event will start at the top of the Gondola at 8:30 AM with a 7:45-8:00 AM upload on the Gondola for participants. This year Steamboat will feature two courses: the extreme course is designed for the avid winter sportsman and the enthusiast course to challenge those not prepared for the extreme course but would still like to participate. All athletes will finish at the Bashor Picnic Area for a well-deserved lunch.
“Randonee” skiing is a form of skiing in which athletes ascend the mountain under their own power through the use of specialized bindings and skins. A special Alpine touring binding is used that allows the heel to be clipped down for more support when skiing downhill, and allows it to be released to swing resistance-free from the toe when climbing. Photos from last year’s event are online at codyschallenge.tcsjf.org.
Race entry for Cody’s Challenge is $40 with a season pass or for the event only; and $80 for the event and an all-day lift ticket. In addition, a post-race BBQ will take place at Bashor Picnic Area for racers. The festivities will continue that evening with a public celebration at 5:30 PM in the Bear River Bar & Grill. A $20.00 ticket is your entry to enjoy all-you-can-eat chili feast, a ticket for prize drawings and music by the Tuff Grooves. (Race participants get in free with their wristbands.)
“It is truly remarkable how many people Cody touched with his kindness, enthusiasm for life, spiritualism along with his respect for the environment,” continued Lawton. “We hope this race has the same impact and touches as many people as Cody did during his life.”
The Cody St. John Foundation is a non-profit 501 (C)(3) charity organization founded in memory of Cody St. John. Its mission is to assist professional ski patrollers and/or ski patrols in furthering their medical education by granting scholarships to qualified applicants. All profits from this event go to raising and providing these scholarships. The application process will officially open in April 2010.
In 2006, St. John was honored as the ‘Colorado Ski Country USA Patroller of the Year’. He was the first and remains the only full-time snowboarder to ever receive this prestigious honor. St. John, a professional Steamboat Ski Patroller, died on April 8, 2007. At the time of his accident, St. John was on his way to attend an orientation at the University of Wyoming for the nursing program.
Registration forms are available at the Steamboat Ski Area’s Information Center, on-line at either codyschallenge.tcsjf.org or www.whatwouldcodydo.net. Late registration will take place on Friday, April 2, 2010 from 4-6 PM at the Ski Patrol Locker Room in Gondola Square or on Saturday, April 3 from 7- 7:45 AM at Bear River Grill at the Gondola base. For more information contact either Kyle Lawton at 970-846-9250 or Marc George at 410-544-8413.