Snowbird Takes 1st Annual Skiing Magazine Tram Off

SNOWBIRD, UTAH – A team of four women skied and snowboarded a record 30 Snowbird Trams Tuesday logging a team total of 348,000 vertical feet and claiming the title of Skiing Magazine Tram Off champions. The margin of victory was a combined 324 vertical feet in favor of Snowbird’s Team, which logged 347,676.

By catching every blue Tram car of the day, the Snowbird team covered 75 miles on the groomed Chip’s Run between 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. – normal operating hours with the public aboard. Each Snowbird athlete skied/rode 87,000 vertical feet compared to 86,919 vertical feet (21 Trams) by each of Jackson’s athletes.

“This is an exciting testament to the quality of these two mountains,” said Skiing Magazine Editor Perkins Miller, who skied every Tram alongside the “Women of the Wasatch.”

Snowbird’s team – Sarah Clemensen, Nora Pincus, Kasha Rigby and Shannan Yates – were assisted by two Cliff Spa massage therapists providing rubdowns on every Tram ride of the afternoon.

“I had the best time skiing with all these ripping women,” said Snowbird team member Shannan Yates.

Prior to Tuesday, Snowbird’s record for Trams in a day was 27.

Jackson Hole’s team consisted of Ambassador Tommy Moe; snowboarder John Griber; telemarker and Nordic Center Director Scott MgGhee and champion freeskier AJ Cargill.

The Snowbird Tram covers 2,900 vertical feet in 7-8 minutes; Jackson’s Tram climbs 4,139 feet in 12 minutes. Both resort operated their Trams at full speed for Tuesda’s competition.

The winner of the race was determined by cumulative vertical skied and ridden by the entire team. Team members skied/rode together and trams ran on their normal schedule. All trails were open and competitors obeyed all skier and rider safety rules. At Jackson Hole, the course was an off-piste route until about half way down. It included Rendezvous Bowl, Corbet’s Couloir and Downhill Chute to Amphitheater then Gros Ventre. Snowbird’s groomed course consisted of Chip’s and Peruvian Gulch. An awards ceremony and party will follow at each resort.