(Vail, Colo.) - Get ready to buckle your boots, slap on your skins, and ski through Minturn's beloved backcountry! The Vail Recreation District's 2024 Bloch & Chapleau Winter Races continue on Saturday, Feb. 10 with the Bloch & Chapleau Meadow Mountain Skimo Race. Join in on the fun! Registration is open now at vailrec.com.

The Meadow Mountain Skimo will begin at 8 a.m. for the expert category and 9 a.m. for intermediate and beginner categories. Experts will complete three loops, intermediates will do two loops and beginners will do one loop.

The course is an approximately two-mile loop with 800 vertical feet of elevation gain. Racers will begin and finish on the bench just above the Meadow Mountain parking lot and start up the open slope to looker’s right (west). The skin track then enters the trees and includes a mandatory boot pack section. Only expert racers will be required to attach their skis to their packs when navigating this section; beginner and intermediate racers can shoulder their skis.

The skin track leads to the top of the old chairlift. The course then traverses to the south before descending to the ridge and down to the start/finish area.

Each lap will include uphill skinning, downhill skiing and boot pack hiking. Helmets and metal edges are required for this race (avalanche gear is not required). Extra clothing can be stored at a tent near the finish line. Following the race, participants are invited to warm up at Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea in Minturn with complementary empanadas and a warm drink.

Race registration is available at www.vailrec.com/register. Cost for this race is $36 early bird/$42 week-of/$50 day-of for adults and $25 early bird/$30 week-of/$37 day-of for students. Online registration will close at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9. There is no series registration, just individual race registration.

Pre-race bib pickup will take place at Cripple Creek Backcountry in Avon on Friday, Feb. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. Race day bib pickup will take place at the Meadow Mountain parking lot beginning at 7 a.m. Everyone will receive a 30% off coupon from our sponsors at Montana Skins!

After Meadow Mountain, the 2024 Bloch & Chapleau Winter Races continue with the iconic Vail Mountain Winter Uphill on Sun, Feb. 18, where skiers, snowboarders and winter runners will tackle 2,200 vertical feet of groomed trails to reach Eagle's Nest. Finally, join us for the festive and fun Krueger Family Shamrock Shuffle Winter Running Race on Sat, March 16, celebrating St. Patrick's Day!

BEGINNER SKIN TRACK CLINIC - TUESDAY, FEB. 6 | 4-6 P.M.

Need to work on your skinning skills before you race? We've got you covered! A beginner skin track clinic will be held at Meadow Mountain on Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. for those new to skimo racing. Taught by local backcountry enthusiast Dawes Wilson, the clinic will go over basic skin track skills including kick turns, traction at the limit, pole use, boot packing and transitions as well as a preview of Saturday's race course, time permitting. The clinic is $25 and preregistration is encouraged as participation is limited. Bring required race gear: helmet, backpack, tension devices. Register HERE. You do not need to be signed up for the Meadow Mountain Skimo race to participate!

Thank you to our 2024 winter racing sponsors: Bloch & Chapleau Attorneys at Law, Beaver Creek Resort Company, First Bank, Howard Head Sports Medicine, The Steadman Clinic, Town of Minturn, Vail Resorts, Arrowhead at Vail, Dynafit, Alpine Wine & Spirits, Alpine Quest Sports, Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea, Cripple Creek Backcountry, the Krueger family businesses, USA Mountain Running, Optic Nerve and Montana Skins.

For more information on winter races, visit vailrec.com, contact the VRD Sports Department at 970-479-2280 or email sports@vailrec.com.