Dear Friends,
Don't call it a comeback, but the 50th (and FINAL) Red Parka Pub Challenge Cup ski race is next Friday at Attitash and I will dust-off the old GS boards to hit some gates for a great cause.
I couldn't be more excited to help raise a few bucks for the Eastern Slope Ski Club. The club has been a longtime beneficiary of the race, and this race will mark the end of an era. The Red Parka Pub Challenge Cup is one of the largest fundraising events for the ESSC (a nonprofit that provides ski equipment and ski development programs for elementary aged kids in the Mt. Washington Valley). As a "veteran" participant, I can truly say that this is one of the best events in the ski world, and has always marked the end of winter and the beggining of spring for many of us. This will be a bittersweet run-off.
We are going to take the RPP out in style next week, and I would love your support!
Thank you in advance for any donation of any size.
-Mark
Red Parka Challenge Cup Race
The Red Parka Pub Challenge Cup will mark its 50th and final run in 2025. It is considered the longest-running, pro-style dual giant slalom ski race in the United States. Its iconic features include a pair of World Cup starting gates used for afternoon run-offs and a three-foot jump, a popular spectator spot along the course. It attracts all types of racers from U.S. Olympians to amateur racers pulled from local beer leagues. All proceeds from the race benefit the Eastern Slope Ski Club, a local organization that funds youth skiing in the Mt. Washington Valley in New Hampshire.
Founded in 1935, the Eastern Slope Ski Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of skiing. The primary program of the ESSC is the Junior Ski Program, with over 400 volunteers and the support of countless businesses, provides skiing and snowboarding opportunities for over 1500 elementary school children in the Mount Washington Valley.
Since 1995, the proceeds from the Red Parka Challenge Cup Race have been donated to the Eastern Slopes Ski Club’s Junior Ski Program in honor of Judge William Paine who was a great supporter of ESSC.