Some of the best skiers in North America will be competing in New Jersey this Friday, Feb. 14, when a groundbreaking NorAm Cup parallel ski racing event comes to Winter4Kids at the National Winter Activity Center in Vernon.
Presented in partnership with the United States Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) and the International Federation of Skiing (FIS), the spectator-friendly event will for the first time feature two skiers racing head-to-head on parallel, identical courses, with a knockout format each round. Attendance is free, but requires advance registration.
The event will begin at 5 pm and proceed under the lights, showcasing the Sussex County facility’s state-of-the-art snowmaking capabilities.
AJ Hurt Courtesy of United States Ski and Snowboard Association
The 60 male and 60 female competitors will include two-time National Alpine Champion AJ Hurt; 2019 Giant Slalom National Champion Keely Cashman; 2019 World Juniors Team Event Silver Medalists Katie Hensien, Galena Wardle and Brian McLaughlin; 2018 U.S. Junior Slalom and Giant Slalom Champion George Steffey; and two-time World Junior Champion River Radamus. They will compete for a $75,000 prize, the largest ever for this type of event.
“Parallels bring a completely different feel to the world of ski racing,” says Kathy Okoniewski, USSA Eastern Region Youth Development Coach. “It’s a very new, exciting prospect that draws in the crowds. The design of the hill and the jumps are perfectly set up, the length is perfect, the snow surface is good, the pitch is good, and it’s at a place where the spectating can be pretty exciting.”
The USSA and FIS hope holding the event in the United States will boost the lagging U.S. snow sports fan base, as well as inspire kids like those in the Winter4Kids program to continue skiing.
Free public parking will be available at the Mountain Creek Ski Resort parking lot, Route 94 and Sand Hill Road. Attendees will be shuttled from the lot to the National Winter Activity Center (at the site of the former Hidden Valley ski area). There will be no onsite parking.