Aspen Snowmass will host the Audi Power of Four Mountain Bike Race and Trail Run Aug. 6-7 that will once again test endurance athletes mettle through racing across the unique and varied terrain of the four area mountainsSnowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain.
The mountain bike version will take place Saturday, Aug. 6 and will feature a 33-mile point-to-point race that will start in Snowmass and finish at the base of Aspen Mountain. For the trail run, the races signature event will once again be a 50K Ultra that has been named the US Skyrunner Series North American Continental Championship and will take place Sunday, August 7. The trail run event will also offer a 10K, a 25k and Vertical K race. The Vertical K is slated for Saturday, Aug. 6 with the 10K and 25K running on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Audi Power of Four Mountain Bike Race
For the seventh year in a row, Aspen Snowmass presents the 2016 Audi Power of Four Mountain Bike Race scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6. The unique 33-mile point-to-point mountain bike race combines single and double track trails across the four ski areas of Aspen Snowmass (Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain). The course begins at the base of Snowmass and features 8,389 ft. of vertical gain and 8,897 ft. of vertical loss before ending at the base of Aspen Mountain. The diversity of the terrain and the challenge of tackling the four distinct mountains has placed this race in a category all its own.
Participants will also have the option to race a Power of Two that covers the first two mountains of the full route, Snowmass and Buttermilk. The shorter 17-mile course spans across Snowmass and Buttermilk, and entails riding the popular Snowmass Bike Park trail called Vapor, and the famed Government Trail.
Categories for the Power of Four Mountain Bike Race will be broken into male, female, male singlespeed and female singlespeed. Prizing for the race will consist of a $2,500 prize purse divvied out amongst the top three men and women finishers for the full Power of Four course. Entry includes an exclusive Helly Hansen Power of Four technical shirt, post-race meal, free beer, chip timing with results at the finish line and a custom finisher gift.
Audi Power of Four Trail Run
For the fourth year in a row, Aspen Snowmass will host the Audi Power of Four Trail Race scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6-Sunday, Aug. 7. Again, the 50K Ultra has been named the US Skyrunner Series North American Continental Championships and will include, for the second year in a row, a Vertical K race that is also part of the US Skyrunner Series.
The events signature race is a challenging 50K Ultra that covers the four Aspen Snowmass mountains (Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain) utilizing a mix of single track and dirt road.The course showcases 12,178 ft. of elevation gain and 11,632 ft. of elevation loss across a 31 mile course that begins at the base of Aspen Mountain, climbs to the Sundeck, and then follows single and double-track trails over Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass before finishing in the Snowmass Base Village.
In addition, the event offers a 25K race along the famed Government Trail that covers the mountains of Buttermilk and Snowmass. This course option features an elevation gain of 4,918 ft. and 4,483 ft. in elevation loss.
New this year, a 10K has been added to the calendar that will start at the Elk Camp restaurant located mid-mountain at Snowmass and will finish in the Snowmass Base Village.
The 10K, 25K and 50K are all scheduled to take place Sunday, Aug. 7.
The US Skyrunner Series Vertical K trail race will take place Saturday, Aug. 6 with a course that challenges participants to be the fastest runner up Aspen Mountain covering approximately three miles of terrain with an elevation gain of 3,267 ft.
The 2015 Audi Power of Four Trail will have a total prize purse of $5,000. Prizing for the 50K will consist of $3,500 divvied up amongst the top three men and women, for the 25K $1,000 and for the Vertical K $500. All 50K and 25K participants will receive an exclusive Helly Hansen Power of Four Trail Race technical shirt, post-race meal, free beer, chip timing with results at the finish line and a custom finisher gift.