A vintage category skier charges down the slopes at Vermont’s Antique Ski Races.

One reason to book a weekend stay at the October Country Inn is a rare opportunity to  join in celebrating the evolution of Vermont snowsports at Killington Ski Resort’s 11th annual antique alpine ski race to be held on March 15th at Killington’s Pico Mountain.

The Vermont Antique Ski Race raises funds to help support the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum.

Being pulled uphill with the rope tow wasn’t easy, but it beat walking.

Racing is open to all.  If you have the gear, enter the strictly vintage category. It requires pre-1975 boots, bindings, and skis.  Click this link for more information.

Speaking of antique skiing, the area in and around nearby Woodstock, Vermont oozes with ski history.  Although skiing remnants have been found as far back as 5,000 years ago, skiing in the United States only dates back to the 1800s.  Back then, if you wanted to ski down a hill, you had to hike up it first.

The historic marker outside of Woodstock, Vermont points to the site of Gilbert’s Hill.

This all changed in 1934, when the first version of a ski lift, a motorized rope tow, appeared at Gilbert’s Hill outside of Woodstock.  This first motorized method of uphill travel for skiers was powered by a Model T Ford, a few pulleys, and a lot of rope.