Whether you want to compete against Amos the Sugarloaf moose, Red Sox legend Jim Lonborg or your 5-year-old nephew, this Saturday’s annual Charity Challenge Race at the mountain offers the chance to show off your skills and gain bragging rights for the year.
Now in its 11th year, the family-friendly competition costs just $5 per team of two, and all the proceeds go to the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center at Franklin Memorial Hospital.
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“It’s a really fun race,” said event co-chair Martha Bradley. “It’s the perfect race if you’ve never raced before or if it’s your 100th race.”
The timed, double giant slalom course is set up on the beginner Boardwalk trail, and individuals and teams can race as many times as they’d like. Both skiers and snowboarders are welcome to participate.
The racing starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 2 p.m., and there’s no need to pre-register to get a race slot. Instead, participants just line up at the gate and race on a first-come, first-served basis.
After ripping it up on the slopes, cap off the day at the Charity Ball in the base lodge. The party starts at 6 p.m. and goes until 9:30 p.m. Tickets, which always sell out, can be purchased for $75 each in advance by calling Sugarloaf Guest Services at 237-6931.
The event features live and silent auctions, heavy appetizers and a cash bar. Party guests will also hear a cancer survivor tell a personal story and get to watch a ceremony honoring cancer survivors.
Fifteen big-tickets items will hit the block in the live auction.
“One of the more fun things we have is a private parking space at the base of the super quad,” Bradley said. “You can’t buy that.”
Other live-auction items include a Polaris Ranger 400 worth $8,000, a midweek ski trip to Big Sky in Montana and a thrill ride with an air show pilot.
The silent auction features 171 items, including artwork, fine crafts, restaurant gift certificates, rafting trips, ski tickets to other mountains, clothing, food and sports memorabilia.
Even if you don’t have a ticket to the ball, you can bid on the silent auction items from noon to 3:45 p.m. in the base lodge. The bidding will continue during the party.
Those with tickets to the ball can get into the Widowmaker Lounge without paying the cover charge after the party wraps up. Psychedelic indie rocker Richard James will be playing that evening.
Over the years, the Charity Summit events have raised $1.1 million for Maine charities. All of the proceeds from Saturday’s festivities will be donated to this year’s two charity beneficiaries.
Staff Writer Avery Yale Kamila can be contacted at 791-6297 or at:
akamila@pressherald.com
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