Hampton Cup races this weekend

WENATCHEE — About 150 top youth skiers from around the Pacific Northwest will descend upon Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort this weekend for the resort's annual Diamond Star Growers Hampton Cup races.

Giant slalom races will be held Saturday and Sunday on the Skookum run located just above Midway on the mountain. The first run each day is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., while the second run is set for 12:30 p.m.

Competing will be racers aged 13 to 20 years. They will be representing most of the ski areas in Washington state as well as ones from Oregon and Idaho.

"We're really excited about using Skookum because that's where our wiring (for timing needs) is and it's where we typically race," said Sue Johnson, race administrator. "Because of the low snow earlier this season we were using Tumwater instead."

Mission Ridge expects an extra 400 to 450 people on the mountain both Saturday and Sunday as a result of the Hampton Cup. Many of the racers will be accompanied by their parents and coaches and staying in local hotels for two nights, giving the Wenatchee area a nice economic boost.


Check the Mission Ridge Ski Team's website on Sunday night for a race story.