Ski Heritage Days celebrates vintage style

Dust off those vintage race skis and pull out your best 80s one-piece snow suit for the inaugural HellRoaring Ski Heritage Days set for March 22 - 23 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

HellRoaring Ski Heritage Days will celebrate the Flathead Valley’s rich and colorful skiing history while serving as a fundraiser for the new Ski Heritage Center and the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation.

“We expect this to become an annual event,” said Tim Hinderman, executive director of the FVSEF. “I know there are lots of old ski outfits in closets and old equipment in basements and garages. They don’t need to be ancient artifacts for this event.”

The Ski Heritage Center is being developed by FVSEF at the Saddle Club near the Stumptown Ice Den. Plans are to collect artifacts, design exhibits, interview surviving ski pioneers and ultimately expand the existing facility as needed. The center will include a museum and hall of fame, and serve as a gathering place to learn about the history of skiing in the region.

Sponsors for this first-time event are Don K Subaru, Fun Beverage, Glacier Bank and Great Northern Brewing Company.

Visit online at www.fvsef.org for more information.

Ski Heritage Days events

• The ski-a-thon Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is open to individuals and teams. Skiers on new or vintage equipment can help raise funds by soliciting pledges for vertical feet skied. Skiers must choose which day they wish to participate — only one day’s vertical will be counted. Pledge forms and rules can be downloaded at www.fvsef.org.

• Whitefish Mountain Resort has dedicated the Heaven’s T-Bar to the ski museum project. The FVSEF Heritage T-Bar will be dedicated Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at base of the T-bar.

• A retro-ski race on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. provides a venue for ex-racers to dust off their old skis and give them one more ride. Also open for skiers on non-vintage equipment who just want to make a run or two. The retro race entry fee is a $25 donation and includes a souvenir race bib.

• A vintage equipment rally and poker ski-run is Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

• Old-time ski movies will play all afternoon Saturday at Ed & Mully’s and Hellroaring Saloon.

• Best vintage outfit contest is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Summit House.

• A promenade showcasing vintage outfits and equipment will go down the Toni Matt slope at 4 p.m.

• A reception including a memorial for Norm Kurtz and a 10th Mountain Division Tribute is Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ed and Mully’s. There will be a light buffet and no host bar. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased in advance at Glacier Bank in Whitefish and Kalispell. Rocky Mountain Transportation will be operating a free shuttle departing from the Saddle Club at 5:45 p.m.

• The ski-a-thon continues on Sunday with an award ceremony at 4 p.m. at Ed & Mully’s.