For its first 14 years, the race involved two-person teams racing for the entire 24 hours. Also, there was no cash given to the winner. Last winter, the teams were replaced with solo racers, and a sizable cash prize was added.
The following is a description of Aspen Mountain during this crazy race, that involved all the top ski racers from around the world who literally skied for 24 hours straight. To go from summit to base, it took around two to two and a half minute, just to ski down about 3 miles. The racers reached nearly 100 mph, coming through the gulch, and the gondola whisked them back up to the summit (about 3,300 feet higher) in a few minutes, sometime a bit longer when there was some strong wind and if they had to stop or slow the lift down. In most cases, more than half the competitors didn't finish.Cool facts:
1. More than 800 volunteers were needed to put on the race, many of whom stayed up the entire 24 hours.
2. During the race, competitors consumed 600 bananas, 50 pounds of cooked pasta, 20 pounds of cooked rice and 20 pounds of cooked potatoes.
3. Racers munched on about 200 energy bars; volunteers polished off another 1,300.
4. Each racer drank about eight gallons of hot energy drink and five gallons of water.
5. The java-loving racers, volunteers and media consumed 5,500 cups of coffee.
6. Ski techs from local ski shops provided approximately 750 ski tunes/wax jobs throughout the race.
7. Each racer used up to 5 pairs of skis (the minimum recommended number to rotate was three.)
8. The coldest temperatures were recorded in 1997 when it reached -15°F (not including wind chill.)
9. Over the course of 24 sleepless hours, racers spent about 3 hours skiing, 1 hour loading in the lower gondola statioin, and 20 hours resting their weary legs in the gondola.
10. Racers have been clocked skiing as fast as 99 mph. through an area of the course called Spar Gulch.
11. More than 300,000 watts of power were needed to light up the course during the night.
12. Unlike classic endurance events, such as marathons and triathlons, this challenging race required short bursts of anaerobic activity (usually between two and three minutes on the slopes) alternated with about 15 minutes of rest (while riding the gondola to the top.)
13. Bathroom breaks were impossible. On the gondola racers used Ziploc baggies and "necessity buckets" lined with plastic bags and kitty litter.
14. Should racers crave chocolate cake, sushi or pizza, this wasn't a problem. Volunteers were on hand to supply racers with any food they wanted. Aspen's City Market was just a three-minute jog from the base of Aspen Mountain. Plus, Domino's delivered.
15. Inside the gondola cars, skiers were wrapped in special comforters developed from NASA technology designed to cool warm bodies, warm cool bodies, and help flush lactic acid from tired muscles.
16. The Iowa-based company that provided all of the lighting along the nearly three-mile race course began setting up a week before the race, working only in the evenings after the mountain had closed.
17. Spectators could watch the race from the bleachers at the base of the gondola (bleachers could seat about 200 people). Plus, the gondola stayed open to the public at night during the race. Spectators could ride to the top of the mountain and enjoy hot chocolate and strudel while cheering on the racers.
18. In '98, various fund-raising events surrounding the 24 Hours race managed to raise a record $1.2 million to benefit the Silver Lining Foundation and the Aspen Valley Ski/Snowboard Club.
19.The most vertical feet skied in 24 hours by a man was 271,161 (83 laps.) Earning the nickname "Superman," Chris Kent of Canada set that world record in 1991. The record still stands.
20. Surprisingly, racers didn't want to sleep right after the grueling race. Most of them compared notes and re-lived the action at a post-race party at the Sky Hotel (official race headquarters) immediately following the closing ceremonies.
21. It wasn't unusual to find racers, in full ski gear with trophies in hand, reveling in the lodge Jacuzzi.
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