By Carli Johnson, SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
On Saturday, March 1, Big Sky Resort hosted the 11th annual Shedhorn Skimo race. Sunshine and blue skies welcomed skiers for an epic day of spring skiing.
Over 100 competitors started at 8 a.m. at the base area of Big Sky Resort. There were four different courses racers signed up for; the Shedhorn, Pronghorn, Ramshorn and the Shedling for kids 14 and under.
The longest and most difficult course, the Shedhorn covered a total of 16 miles, climbing thousands of feet and skiing down some of the resort’s most technical terrain.
First place winner Charlie von Avis finished the course in a record time of three hours, 28 minutes and 53 seconds. The previous record was set by Cam Smith in 2020 at three hours, 48 minutes and 25 seconds, according to event organizers.
It was a close race, with second place competitor Ben Peters finishing less than two minutes behind. At the finish line, competitors were greeted with cowbells, beer and cheers from spectators and racers.
The first place female competitor on the Shedhorn course was Charlie’s wife, Emmiliese von Avis at four hours, 17 minutes and 16 seconds.
“Record times at skimo this year,” said event announcer and Big Sky ski patroller Aron Yuster as both von Avis’ broke records.
Spectator Irma Wolford was cheering on her husband as he competed on the Pronghorn course. “This is my favorite event of the year, to come and watch this,” Wolford said. Wolford noted that every year more people she knows sign up for the race, acknowledging the rise in popularity for the sport.
Wolford’s husband, Keith Smith-Brumund, finished the Pronghorn course in third place. Wolford and Smith-Brumund hung around at the finish line to cheer on friends and celebrate the beautiful day.
Winners of the race received prizes like a GoPro Hero 13, POMOCA ski skins, a Petzl climbing helmet, and a ski backpack built for the backcountry.
