Stowe Derby
About this race
The Stowe Derby is one of the oldest and most unique ski races in North America. It started in 1945 as a personal bet between two amazing skiers: Sepp Ruschp, an Austrian, and the head of Stowe’s new ski school, and Erling Strom, a world-famous mountaineer from Norway.
Their challenge was simple: a race from the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, to the historic village of Stowe, on a single pair of skis. The ultimate test of a skier’s all-around ability. At the time, Ruschp believed that his alpine skis were the fastest tools for the job, whereas Strom argued nordic skis would be the better choice. After much debate, the two decided to race. Sepp Ruschp, on alpine gear, was the winner of the first two Stowe Derbies.
Today, modern nordic skis are the equipment of choice, and the race attracts competitors, ranging from National Ski Team members and NCAA Champions to recreational skiers looking for a thrill.
While the Stowe Derby can be very competitive for some, it is also fun. The Long Course requires participants to ski approximately 20 km of challenging terrain, racing down Mt. Mansfield’s Toll Road and along the Stowe Rec Path before reaching the finish in Stowe Village. The Course has a total vertical drop of almost 2,700 feet. The winners will complete the course in about 43 minutes, while recreational skiers can take a couple of hours. The Derby Short Course is designed for children ages 6 and up or those who prefer to avoid the rigors of a long and sustained descent. This portion of the race attracts about 100 competitors. The 6 km course begins in a mass start near the Stowe Recreation Path Parking Lot and follows the final leg of the Long Course.
Pick your distance
Skiing
Short Course-6 km
This 6 km event starts with a mass start at 8:30 AM EST near the Stowe Recreation Path and follows the final leg of the Derby’s iconic course, making it ideal for families, younger skiers, and those who want a less demanding version of the classic descent. It’s a fun and inclusive way to take part in one of North America’s oldest ski racing traditions.
Long Course Skate-20 km
In this event, skiers using skate (freestyle) technique tackle the same ~20 km challenging course that descends from Mt. Mansfield’s Toll Road and continues along mixed terrain before finishing in Stowe Village.
Long Course Classic-20 km
In this classic division, skiers tackle a challenging 20-kilometer Nordic course that starts high on Mt. Mansfield and descends over varied terrain - dropping nearly 2,700 feet - before finishing in Stowe Village along the Stowe Recreation Path.
Long Course Fixed Heel
Honor the history of the Stowe Derby and keep those heels connected to the ski! The Derby originated as a race amongst two friends - one on alpine skis and one on cross country equipment. Come out with the gear you deem most advantageous for the event - so long as your heel is connected to the ski you are within the rules (telemark setups are not allowed to qualify for this division).
Race-day daylight
We have no recorded weather for Stowe yet, but sunrise and sunset follow from the venue and the date.
The sun rises at 6:41 AM and sets at 5:27 PM local time (EST) in Stowe on February 21, 2027 — 10h 46m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 12 Stowe events
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