Bridger Bowl is in the back half its winter season with tons of fresh powder and plenty of weekend events to boot! The 37th Annual Pinhead Classic will take place Saturday, March 3rd with a race time start of 10:30am. The Pinhead is the longest running telemark ski festival in the country (but now all that ride the wood are welcome). Each year, event organizers pick a theme and skiers converge from all over the country at Bridger Bowl, dressed in theme-related costumes to ski the non-traditional dual slalom “race course.” In the evening, the Pinhead reception is held at the Eagles Ballroom where all-comers will eat dinner, drink brews, be awarded, and participate in a live auction and raffle and live music. The 2018 theme is “Let’s Get Weird” and Paige & The People’s Band will provide the live entertainment with help from Jason Root during the after party. Event tickets are $25 for participants (includes concert admission), or $10 for the after party alone. Learn more at www.pinheadclassic.com.The Slushy Slalom is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 10th and 11th beginning at 11am each morning. This is a new banked GS down the natural gully below Slushman’s Ravine. The snowboarding portion takes place on Saturday, with skiing to follow on Sunday. Best of two timed runs wins. Medals to top three male and female finishers in each age group.
This event is for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and costs $30 for all competitors (limited to 60 each day). Pre-registration is required by noon on either Friday, March 9th for snowboarders or Saturday, March 10th for skiers with no race day registrations accepted. If under the age of 18, signature of a parent or legal guardian is required. Must be 16 years or older to enter. All competitors must arrive by 8am for a mandatory meeting in Jim Bridger Lodge. Valid season pass or lift ticket required for competitors. Half day lift rate for competitors will be available for pick-up at competitor’s meeting.
The Point and Chute film festival returns to Bridger on Saturday, March 17th. This film competition is pre-juried with a public screening of the top seven films. Go out, shoot some footage throughout the season, edit the story and enter it! The submission deadline for all entrants is 4pm on Saturday, March 10th.
Entry into this competition is $20 per filmmaker and open to anyone with a camera. Films have a maximum length of 5 minutes, and are judged on the following criteria: storyline, creativity, soundtrack, editing and overall impression. Please see full list of requirements before entering.
The public screening will take place in Jim Bridger Lodge on March 17th at 4:30pm. Winners will receive cash prizes, fantastic door prizes, and entry into the grand prize drawing.
The Spring Equinox Dual GS follows Sunday, March 18th. This Dual Giant Slalom Race is designed for citizen racers of all ages and boards — alpine skis, tele skis, or snowboards. Compete against your friends! Take one run on the blue course and one run on the red course. Best of two timed runs. Limited to 100 competitors.
This event is for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and costs $15 for all competitors. Race day registration will be held in Jim Bridger Lodge from 8:30–10am. If under the age of 18, signature of a parent or legal guardian is required.
Also on March 18th, Mountain Dew, Embassy Suites by Hilton Oahu Kapolei, and Bridger Bowl have teamed up for this season’s Grand Prize Drawing — a trip to Hawaii! Those who participated in Bridger Bowl’s Community Event Series (CES) are automatically entered for a chance to win a four day, four night vacation with airfare for two adults. With each CES event entry during the 2017/18 season, participants increase their chance to win. The drawing will take place in Jim Bridger Lodge, along with awards for the Spring Equinox, beginning at 4pm. Must be
present to win.
Finally, Bridger Bowl and the Gallatin Valley Food Bank team up annually to collect food to feed local residents with Carve Out Hunger. In 2017, 2,278 pounds of food were donated. The sixth annual event takes place Saturday, March 24th from 8am–2pm outside Saddle Peak Lodge. For every 15 cans of food, donors receive one voucher good for a $25 lift ticket and one entry to win a 2018-19 Bridger Bowl Adult Season Pass.
Bridger Bowl is operating FREE skier buses again this season. Bridger runs two separate shuttles with different pick-up and drop-off locations in Bozeman. The Kids’ Bus runs on weekends and during the school holidays, while the Park N’ Ride Bus runs on weekends throughout the entire ski season. The Kids’ Bus picks-up at McDonald’s on Main and the Gallatin County Fairgrounds (Oak St. entrance). The Park N’ Ride picks up at MSU’s SUB and the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds. Please see website for detailed bus schedules.
All good things must come to an end. Bridger Bowl’s projected closing day is Sunday, April 1st.
The ski area is located on the east slope of the Bridger Mountain Range. Learn more about these events, register online, and find shuttle schedules at www.bridgerbowl.com. See you on the slopes! •
