Timberline Four Seasons Resort hosted its annual Local's Cup Saturday and Sunday with many participants involved in the end-of-the-season events, which included a hose race, a retro costume parade and contest, a bump competition and a dual giant slalom race on Lower Thunderstruck.
Saturday's events began with the fireman's hose race. Ted Fries of the Timberline Race Department facilitated the event and instructed racers before beginning. Seven teams took the fireman's hose down Lower Thunderstruck. Each team was composed of four racers and each racer carried a section of the green hose past gates to the finish.
The Langsom family of Rockville, Md., consisted of one team and called themselves the Fantastic Four. The youngest member of the family, Samara, brought up the rear of the group.
"We went really fast," Samara said. "I got whipped around."
Other teams racing were a group of moms, a group of junior racers and an all-female snowboard group.
"We've been strategizing," one of the snowboarders said. "We're going to hold onto the hose and make the turns."
First place in this event went to the Hose Wranglers. The Hose Wranglers were Timberline Resort's Junior Race Coach Bobby Judy, Jacob Lutz, Ian Beckler and Derek Napenas.
Judy led the Wranglers down the run. In order to be the fastest, Judy said the technique was simple - "Go fast in front and pull the rest," he said. Second place went to the Team Captain team and third place went to the Fantastic Four.
A retro costume parade and contest took place for participants who donned clothing from the past. Toni Sullivan of Seven Springs, Pa., wore black leggings and a bright pink and teal striped sweater.
"These are the first tight pair of ski pants I have ever worn - fashion over comfort," Sullivan said.
Paula Worden was dressed in lavender and white polyester racing pants and a lavender and pink sweater. "This outfit is 25 years old," she said.
Worden's husband, Tim, was also attired in retro wear. "Don't throw anything away," he said. Looking very Americana, Worden wore red polyester racing pants, a red and blue wool sweater and a headband. Tim Worden placed third in the retro costume contest.
Kevin Lynch of Elkins was decked out in a peace sign brown T-shirt, an old-style vest he discovered in his attic, a headband and denim shorts.
"This is a style I am bringing back for next year," Lynch, who was the winner of the retro contest, said.
Steve Kauffman placed second with his look.
While still perfect weather reigned over the day on Saturday with warm temperatures and sunshine, a bump competition was conducted on the Off the Wall trail. Competitors either snowboarded, alpine skied, or teleskied down through the multiple bumps on the run. Fourteen competitors challenged themselves in the bumps.
Kauffman who skied the bumps last finished first in the competition.
"I just point them (the tips of his skis) down the hill," Kauffman said. "That was only the second run on bumps I have made all season."
Tim Worden, who is Timberline Resort's race director, was one of the judges of the event and kept an eye on those bouncing their way down the slope. In judging the competition, he said he was "looking for continuity, consistency of turns, air, speed."
Kimberly Larch, who won first place in the women's alpine division, also skied through the bumps. "I had a bobble, but I recovered really fast," she said.
Sunday was the last day of the snowsports season at Timberline and the day for its annual Local's Cup race. The event was open for participants to either alpine ski, telemark ski or snowboard the course. There were 122 racers.
Ten racers challenged themselves by running the course via trifecta in all three methods: alpine, telemark and snowboarding. Weather conditions were cool and cloudy and changed to rain.
Dave Vernon of Warrenton, Va., stood on the sidelines with his Tamaskan-bred puppy watching the racers. Vernon skied Timberline regularly throughout the 2009-2010 season. His pup, Misty, accompanies him on the lift and down the lower trails.
"I ski and she runs ahead of me," Vernon said.
Bernie Curarelli of Boise, Idaho, flew in to watch his son, Cullen Curarelli, race. "Cullen doesn't wax his skis. He skied onto the deck (of the lodge) last night and said that is how he waxes his skis," Bernie Curarelli said.
Cullen Curarelli of Davis placed first overall in the men's division of the Local's Cup but faced some tough competition. "I thought Bobby Judy would win," he said.
Catherine Fiorini placed first overall in the women's division.
Other winners included Adele Wellman, first in the women's trifecta; Steve Kauffman, first in the men's trifecta; and Nanette Seligman of Parkersburg, second in the women's trifecta.
"I spent an hour on a snowboard yesterday to prepare for today's race," Seligman said.
Tammy Copeman, an Elkins resident and sports massage therapist, was on hand to meet with some of the athletes and to work the tension out of their joints.
With the close of the mountain, many employees are starting to look ahead to the future. General Manager Tom Blanzy says he has a few goals in mind for next season. "We would like to put lights on Twister to allow night skiing there," he said, adding that there are also potential plans to expand glade skiing.
Two Timberline employees are now putting their energy during the off-season into opening a new establishment in Thomas. Tyler Mearns and Michelle Loranger are planning to open a barbecue restaurant - Hanna Lee Station BBQ and Brews.
"We are a little behind schedule right now," Loranger, who plans to do the cooking, said. "We are hoping to be open in May."
