No Snow on Thunderbolt leads to race postponement until March 2

Saturday February 2, 2013

ADAMS -- With little snow on the trail, organizers have postponed the Thunderbolt Ski Race and the downtown celebration of Thunderfest to the no-snow date of March 2.

Race director Josh Chittenden said it'll take at least one big storm to ensure there's enough snow for the race, which was planned for Saturday, Feb. 9.

"Right now, we're counting on 12 to 18 inches from now until March," he said. "There are patchy bases of snow in some places. But with the sheer steepness, and a lot of rocks, it does take 12 to 18 inches of wet snow to make it safe for all racers."

Last year's relatively snowless winter forced organizers to cancel the 2012 race altogether, though Thunderfest was held downtown for the first time regardless.

This year, Chittenden said they had already filled all 120 racing slots and weren't concerned with the impact postponing the race could have on attendance.

"I'm sure we'll have a few racers who will be dropping out of the race," he said. "But we have many racers in the Thunderbolt Ski Club, and we'll be offering members an opportunity to get into the race."

Chittenden said racers will compete in alpine, snowboard, telemark, women's overall and the ascent categories. In addition, the man and woman with the fastest combined ascent and descent will be declared King and Queen of the Mountain, respectively.

Race organizer Blair Mahar said they have been reaching out to racers informing them

of the date change and coordinating other logistics.

And above anything else, he said, everyone is hoping for snow.

"I'm looking for a nice day of racing, with a couple feet of packed powder, a nice bluebird sky, 1,000 spectators and lot's of positive energy on the mountain," he said.

Chittenden said spectators will be shuttled from the Adams Visitors Center to access trails in the Greylock Glen.

And when the race is over, spectators can return to the Visitors Center for Thunderfest, a winter celebration that was also rescheduled for March 2.

"It's really a community event to bring people into downtown Adams and bring commerce to the area as well," co-chairwoman Andrea (Berti) Stump said. "It's a great event for everyone, young and old."

The festival will feature food and drink, music from two live bands and children's events sponsored by the Adams Youth Center. The Thunderbolt Ski Museum inside the Visitors Center will be open during Thunderfest, she said, to display its historic objects spanning the history of the Thunderbolt Trail.

In addition to a chowder competition, Thunderfest will feature a wide variety of food vendors, Stump said. Confirmed vendors from Adams include CJ's Sports Pub, Pizza House, the Lions Club and a Polish food vendor.

Stump said she was excited Northern Berkshire's first food truck, El Coche Taco, will be present.

"A lot of people here haven't seen food prepared that way before," she said.

Pittsfield-based brewing company Wandering Star will also be present, she said, and two more vendors may be added.

The event will be held even if the race is canceled, Stump said. She added that she hopes spectators will stop in after the race is held.

"We're hoping for a large crowd in the middle of day," Stump said.

The essentials

2013 Thunderbolt Ski Race

What: Race on Mount Greylock's historic Thunderbolt Trail

Where: Parking at Adams Visitors Center for shuttle service to Greylock Glen

When: Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

More information: www.ThunderBoltSkiRun.com"

Thunderfest