COAC’s VertFest will be held at Mt. Bachelor on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in cooperation with Mt. Bachelor.
The Mt. Bachelor VertFest race is challenging but is meant to be fun as well. Participants will include everything from the superhuman SkiMo racers (man those guys/gals are fast) to recreational backcountry enthusiasts out in costume. This is a celebration of the backcountry and winter tribe. Slog it out with some friends, don your most insane costume, work off those winter beers, or just come CELEBRATE!!!
PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to sign-up for the event on race day. You must register before packet pick up concludes Saturday, Feb. 08 at 7 p.m.
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Saturday, Feb 7, 2026
Location: TBD
5pm – 7pm: Registration and packet pick up
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Sunday, Feb 8, 2026
Location: Base of Red Chair
8am: Vendor Village opens
8am- 9am: Day-of packet pick up
9am: Volunteer meeting - Required for all volunteers
9:30am: Race meeting - Required for all racers
10am: Race Starts
1pm: Last racers cleared from course
1:30pm: Award ceremony
2pm: Vendor Village closes
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Sunday, Feb 8, 2026
Location: Base of Red Chair
8:30am - 10:30am: Companion Rescue Clinic with Oregon Ski Guides
11:30am - 1:30pm: Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding Clinic with Oregon Ski Guides
RACE CATEGORIES
Elite (5.8 Miles / 3900 ft vert): This is the race that puts VertFest at Mt. Bachelor on the map!
Recreational (2.9 Miles / 1900 ft vert): The Rec race mirrors the Elite race, but with less laps. This is for the mere mortals among us. You can race it or just come out and join the fun. Costumes are encouraged!
Cone Rally (1.2 Miles / 750 ft vert): The Cone Rally is for those just getting into ski touring. You will skin from the start/finish line of the main course to the top of the Cone and back down. The goal is to have fun and get a feel for skinning and transitioning. This is the fun family/kid race. Don’t have backcountry gear? You can demo it at the Vendor Village!
Youth (3.1 Miles / 2050 ft vert): Under 15 but racing? We have a special category for you. The course will be the same as the Recreational Course. Feeling strong, the Elite race has no age limits.
RACE AWARDS
🎉Prizes for top male and female category winners, and for youth winners. And of course best costume has to take something home!!🍾
RACE COURSE (Subject to Change)
Mt Bachelor Ski Patrol will close the course to the public for racer safety.
RACE EQUIPMENT
All racers are required to to wear helmets and the COAC supplied race number.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER?
VertFest runs on volunteers, and it’s one of the most fun ways to be part of the event. Get a front-row seat to the race, outrageous costumes, and the Central Oregon backcountry community while supporting COAC’s mission of avalanche education and safety.
No racing required, just a good attitude and a willingness to help. You’ll be right in the action and making this community-powered event possible.
Interested in helping out?
Fill out the Volunteer Application and join the VertFest crew.
CLINIC INFORMATION
First Tracks Intro to Backcountry Ski and Splitboarding. We are extremely lucky to have Oregon Ski Guides in the house this year. An OSG guide will be providing a version of their First Tracks introductory course to six lucky folks. Begin with the basics; introduction to backcountry ski/splitboard equipment, skinning techniques, as well as some instruction on avalanche beacon usage and rescue techniques. This program is ideal for folks who have never skied outside of the resorts before.
Companion Rescue: Learn the basics of companion rescue, while return participants will expand their skill set with advanced topics and realistic scenario practice to help improve their skills after the course.