Winning A Free Ikon Pass

4/7/18

Winning an Ikon Pass at the Red Bull Homerun

This past spring Aspen Snowmass held its inaugural Red Bull Homerun at Buttermilk mountain, an all out chinese downhill race from the top of the mountain to the base lodge at Bumps. First person down is victorious, and if you're not first you're last. The Red Bull Homerun had started off on European resorts where hundreds of skiers and snowboarders raced the length of the mountain side by side. But with stricter insurance laws the Homerun had never come together in the US. After negotiating all winter with their lawyers Aspen Snowmass announced the first US Homerun just a couple of weeks before the race.

With a prize pack that included a 2019 Ikon Pass I was all in. The race took place on Buttermilk's closing day also known as Bacon Day, where stations are setup throughout the slopes and ski patrol hand out the most mouth watering bacon known to man. The course started at the top of the West Buttermilk lift with a lamont start where racers would need to run uphill 100 yards to grab their snowboards or skis before racing down the mountain.

I was feeling the race nerves after drinking a Red Bull and restlessly waiting at the starting line. As all the racers made their way to the start it began to rain. With the rain and the hot temps from the day the snow was going to be incredibly sticky and slow, this was going to be very interesting.

The race was a total slush fest

At the sound of the starting gun I exploded full force sprinting up the hill. Finding my board in the heap of gear I jumped in my bindings and was the first snowboarder to start the descent. I crouched down holding my knees on the first pitch trying to find my breath after running as hard as I possibly could. I knew I would need my breath again soon as another uphill pitch was approaching where I would need to unstrap and run again.

After riding as far as I could on the uphill section I pushed with one footed as far as I could I until I had to unstrap and make the rest of the way on my feet. Exhausted I fumbled getting back into my bindings and Matt Isaac, another snowboarder, passed me. With two different divisions for skiers and snowboarders I was only concerned about the other boarders. After the second uphill portion the race was all downhill. The snow felt like complete velcro from the conditions, but I stayed tucked inching towards the other snowboarder. I kept him locked on my sights as skiers in front of me rooster tailed icy slush into my face.

Heading into the boardcross course

As we entered the boardercross course that the race ran through the snowboarder in front of me went down and I passed him. I tried to stay focused but in the last couple of rollers my legs gave out and I went down also and Matt passed me again. I was totally spent at that point. Getting up quickly I pursued him from second place again. On the last pitch he went down again. I passed him with shakey legs as I straight lined it through the middle of the halfpipe and through the finish line.

After sprinting uphill twice and bombing the entirety of Buttermilk in the rain it took me ten minutes to catch my breath. Other racers collapsed as they came through the finish. With the race over I was over stoked on having made it safely through the mayhem.

The Fastest Men and Women Snowboarders and Skiers

While everyone started to party in the rain I was informed that with winning I had received a $200 bar tab to spend inside Bumps lodge. I felt like a rich man buying drinks and shots for everyone around me. Peter Olenick, a friend, had also won a $200 tab after winning the costume contest of the event. Dressed only in a white wonder bread race helmet and tighty whiteys Peter rolled around in the rain and mud as Ricky Bobby from Talladega Knights screaming "I'm on fire, I'm on fire. SWEET BABY JESUS SAVE ME!". I have never seen more commitment in a costume contest than Peter had that day.

Full on Ricky Bobby

It wasn't until a week ago when I got my pass in the mail that the craziness of this day all came rushing back to me. With the Ikon Pass I'm planning on hitting as many mountains as I can this winter. I'll be documenting all the great and wacky stories that happen traveling with the pass right here on the Search of Snowboarding. Stay Tuned!

Read the story on my trip to Switzerland that I left for the day after this race Right Here