Start Times:
9:15am for Runners, Heavy Metal Rec/Open, Splitboard/Snowboard, Team Relay and Team Duo
10:00am for Retro and SkiMo

ENTRY FEE:
$65 for Solo categories
$90 for Team Relay
$110 for Team Duo

ENTRY INCLUDES:
Neckie with Imperial Challenge logos

ONLINE REGISTRATION:
Register online until your wave starts on April 6.

BIB PICK-UP
At Breckenridge Recreation Center Friday evening April 5 from 5:00-7:30pm and Race Day AM beginning at 8:00am

PARKING
Option 1-if you’re a cyclist, leave the car at home and ride to the start. Running? Consider taking a Free Ride bus to the start…it’s the Yellow Route!
Option 2-Breckenridge Rec Center parking lot
Option 3-Airport Road Lot
Option 4-Any in-town parking of your choosing…link to Breckpark.com

The Transition area will be in the Parking Lot directly beneath the Peak 7 Gondola Station at Crystal Peak Lodge

GEAR DROP-OFF begins at 7:30am. 
The space to drop-off is limited. Please consider riding the Gondola up and then back down to drop off your uphill gear and bike lock.
If you must drive to the drop-off, please be as efficient with your time as possible.
Bike Racks are first-come, first-served.
A couple of bike racks will be reserved for Retro Open…we will let you know where they are before you start and we will have a Transition attendant to help you out.

HELMETS ARE MANDATORY FOR CYCLISTS DURING THE BIKE PORTION ONLY!
The first portion of the Imperial Challenge is a Bike or Run from the Breckenridge Recreation Center to the base of the Breckenridge Ski Resort via County Road 3.  The route is 6.0 miles and is on mostly dirt road.  
For cyclists…some choose Road Bikes, some choose Mountain Bikes.
Others choose Cross bikes.
Your choice doesn’t matter to us, but choose wisely. And remember 2009 when it snowed a foot the night before the race!

TRANSITION ZONE and BIKE SECURITY
We will NOT provide security for bikes. STAGE A LOCK so that your bike is secure while you are climbing.

The choice of UPHILL gear generates the most discussion!  Factors including weight, comfort, transition times and performance are considered! You will see racers on ultralight SkiMo gear. Some choose telemark gear. Others choose more traditional AT gear. You’ll see splitboards and folks on snowshoes carrying gear in a backpack. And, of course, you’ll see people in costumes!
It doesn’t matter how you ascend as long as the stuff you’re descending on has metal edges. Running cleats, sleds, skate/classic nordic skis are not allowed. *To be clear, Heavy Metal/Rec Open competitors may race on lightweight equipment. Heavy Metal/Rec Open is as much about your attitude as it is the equipment you’re using. That said, sandbagging is strongly discouraged. Just be mindful of the 12:30 cut-off at the top of the T-Bar.

FINISH LINE
As you leave the base area on your way uphill, take a look at the finish corral configuration. It’s right there as you start to climb. Missing the finish line is a bummer. So take matters into your own hands and do a quick inspection as you climb by.

CLAIMJUMPER
Climb on lookers’ left. This is the path of least resistance and the natural line.
Descend on skiers’ left and be on the lookout for the LEFT onto Fort Mary B.

FORT MARY B
Once you make the left onto Fort Mary B simply descend what you already climbed, staying right at the bottom, and enter the finish corral!

COURSE MARKINGS
The bike/run portion is marked with Yellow rectangles/Black arrows.
The ski portion, both up and down, is marked with RED stuff…pin flags and Red Giant Slalom panels on short pieces of PVC…just be on the lookout for the Red Stuff. The course is well marked! That said, it’s on you to be scanning and looking ahead; especially when descending.

AWARDS CEREMONY
In the finish area beginning at High Noon!

COURSE DESCRIPTION-ASCENT/DESCENT PORTION
Climb Fort Mary B to Claimjumper to bottom of T Bar.
Climb up T Bar lift line to top of T Bar. 
At top of T Bar continue straight up Imperial Ridge: the shoulder of Peak 8. 
Continue climbing to very top of Imperial Chair and then bootpack to the Summit of Peak 8
Transition at top of Peak 8 and ski northbound toward Peak 7 and the run Whale’s Tail
Descend Whale’s Tale to Vertigo
Vertigo to Lower Forget Me Not
LEFT onto Claimjumper
LEFT onto Fort Mary B and Finish to the skier’s right of the Independence SuperChair

ALTERNATE DESCENT IF CONDITIONS DO NOT PERMIT US TO ACCESS WHALE’s TAIL AND PEAK 7 TERRAIN
From the top of the Imperial Chair, descend Imperial Ridge to just above top of T Bar
Turn left out the North Bowl Gate
This will merge you onto Pika
Descend Pika to Claimjumper
Left onto Fort Mary B and finish to the skier’s right of the Independence Super Chair.

FOR THOSE RUNNING…
Overall Top 3 Men and Women RUN competitors will receive:
1st Place=First Place Medal
2nd Place=Second Place Medal
3rd Place=Third Place Medal

FOR THOSE CYCLING…
Overall Top 3 Men and Women BIKE competitors will receive:
1st Place = First Place Medal
2nd Place = Second Place Medal
3rd Place = Third Place Medal

Medals will be presented to the Top Male and Female finisher in each SkiMo Age Category with Overall Top 3 Removed
Medals will be presented to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female Retro Open
Medals will be presented to Top 3 Place Overall Male and Female Heavy Metal/Rec Open finishers.
Medals will be presented to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female Splitboard/Snowboard finishers
Medals will be presented to the Top 3 Teams in the Team Relay, regardless of gender or equipment used.

Hagan Ski Mountaineering is offering a Hagan Imperial Challenge Special.
Click this link to be directed to special pricing (30% off single item, 40% off skis and bindings)
USE THE CODE: IC2023