ADN file photo
24 Hours of Sunlight may have to find a more affordable home.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Organizers of the 24 Hoursof Sunlight endurance ski race said time may be running out for them here, andthey may seek out another venue instead.
Heading into its fourth year, the event isstill a money-loser, said race organizer Mary Kenyon, and while she said shewould like to keep it at Sunlight Mountain Resort, she may need to find a lessexpensive spot.
“We’re trying to figure out a way to make itbreak even,” said Kenyon, president of Aspen’s Real Time Marketing and owner of24 Hours of Sunlight. “We’ve been meeting with the Glenwood Chamber as well asmembers of the tourism committee and Sunlight, and just trying to figure out away so that I don’t lose money on it every year. The community support has beenreally great in the past. It’s just from a cash standpoint, we haven’t beenable to make it break even.”
Heavy on sweat but low on frills, the eventhas racers — solo, duos and teams — hike up the ski hill and ski down again asmany times as possible in a 24-hour period. Last February’s winner, EricSullivan, of Gunnison, put in a record-breaking 34 laps, covering 47.6 milesand over 51,000 feet of elevation.
The event has gained status as a one-of-a-kindrace that draws adventure racers from across the country and Canada, as well aslocals who pit themselves against their hometown ski hill. In its first year,it made the cover of the backcountry ski magazine Colouir.
This year it drew 278 competitors, up from 175 last year, Kenyonsaid, but despite the growing popularity among racers, it still fell $15,000short of breaking even.
Kenyon said she’s asking Sunlight MountainResort to reconsider what it charges organizers to host the event. The racegives the family ski area some national publicity it wouldn’t get otherwise. Sunlightcharged for the event the first year, didn’t the second year and did again thisyear, Kenyon said. The resort charges $5,000, which could go a long way towardhelping organizers break even.
“We are working with (Sunlight CEO) TomJankovsky at Sunlight to see if they can at least reduce the amount that wehave to pay them,” she said. “We do recognize that they are staying open for 24hours.”
The resort is also in the midst of a possiblesale as prospective owners lay the groundwork for a base village development.Kenyon said the buyers have supported the event, but she said the years in thetransition are less predictable, and they’re pivotal years for the fledglingevent.
Kenyon said she has looked at other areas inColorado and one in Utah as possible host sites. She won’t say where, but shedid suggest the event wouldn’t have to be at a resort since lifts aren’t used,although the base facilities make it more convenient for competitors.
“We don’t want the race to go away,” shesaid. “We’re just trying to look at the profitability. We really don’t need tomake money. We just need to break even.”
In the meantime, she said, anticipation isbuilding for next year’s event. Kenyon said interested competitors have beencalling, but she doesn’t know what to tell them. The Brettelberg Condominiumsalong the slopes of Sunlight, which many racers use as a staging area, arealready rented out for next February’s full moon weekend, when the race isusually held, she said.
