Red Bull Blade Raid Takes Over Crystal Mountian

Flying down the mountain at over 60 miles-an-hour, a group of 40 elite athletes are set to race during the Red Bull Blade Raid, March 14th and 15th at Crystal Mountain, Washington. The competition has been designed to take the participants through a course that will use every ounce of their skiing and flying prowess. The contest tasks some of the world’s best parachutists to ski through gates while piloting their parachutes to lift, lower and turn them around obstacles. The course leads the athletes through trees, over cornices, and along ridges until it meets up with “Exterminator” a double black diamond and one of the mountains most difficult runs.

This years Red Bull Blade Raid is the brainchild of Red Bull Air Force team members Jon DeVore and Andy Farrington. “Running down mountains under a parachute is something a lot of us have been doing for years. Our goal with this year’s event is to feature the precision and speed that we have acquired through skydiving and paragliding and fuse it with skiing,” DeVore continues, “ The course that Andy and I created takes a ski race to places that it wouldn’t be able to go without a parachute.

Designed to be extremely tight, this course flies through trees and over big drops. Each athlete will push the limites of ordinary air sports in the safest way possible. Farrington who is always an optimist eludes that, “There should be some great wipeouts though, if there wasn’t a little carnage it wouldn’t be entertaining.”

The competition, still in its infancy, is only in its third year but is one of the most prominent events in the skydiving community. Drawing contenders from around the globe the Red Bull Blade Raid will feature only the most talented skydivers and paragliders hailing from over seven different countries.

In the end it comes down to speed; with the fastest course time declaring the years champion.

On a Wing and a Prayer

Crystal Mountain is Washington’s largest ski area with a total of 2,600 acres and over 50 named runs. With over 3,100 vertical feet the mountain offers everything from gentle groomed runs to expert-only backcountry glades and chutes. The ski area is open from mid-November to mid-April with lifts running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Qualifying for the event will begin on March 14th at 9 a.m., with the race-day starting at 9 a.m. on March 15th. For more information on lodging at Crystal Mountain please visit www.staycrystal.com.