Ragged Mountain Hosts Not Another Banked Slalom March 8, 2025 James Crosby Tue Feb 25 2025 3 minutes reading time (563 words)

Oh yes, another Banked Slalom! Ragged Mountain hosts one of the early stops on the unofficial banked slalom circuit of the Northeast on Saturday March 8th, 2025.

For the uninformed, banked slalom courses are an absolute hoot to whip through. Unlike a traditional slalom course full of bruising gates and iced out corners, the banked berms allow riders to pump through the course building speed with each turn. Like riding a naturally formed snake run through a gully, the banked slalom sends your center of gravity reeling in an edge-to-edge rhythm that is breathtaking. In this competition, riders race one at a time through the course, each getting two runs. The fastest time wins. Competitors are racing for cash ($1000 purse for top 3 men and women), swag prizes, and most importantly– bragging rights.

The Need to Know Details:

Located on Ragged’s phenomenal Lower Chute Boarder Cross course, this year will have four divisions: Men’s and Women’s (16+), and Boys and Girls (15 and under). Registration is Saturday morning from 9a-11a upstairs in the Main Lodge outside of Stone Hearth. $25 to enter with a lift ticket or season pass, and a limited number of special priced event passes will be sold for $40 to competitors only. 100 slots are available, so get there early. Take a practice run at 11am to preview the course, memorize the turns, and set your strategy for the fastest possible time. After the rider’s meeting at 11:45, the contest starts at 12pm and competitors will each get 2 runs, the fastest time counts. The dust is expected to settle by 3pm with awards and humble pie served in the Stone Hearth Bar.

Sponsored by Monster Energy, Snowboard Jones, and Highland Mountain Bike Park, like many banked slalom races, Not Another Banked Slalom is about winning but it is also about shoving it in your friends’ faces when you beat them (ok, ok, also making new friends and celebrating with the snowboard community). Culture, connections, and camaraderie are baked into the banked slalom. As Ragged celebrates 60 years, this event promises to rally many Ragged enthusiasts to the rough-cut gem of Danbury, NH.

Why Ragged Mountain Rips:

Ragged has always been a special place. Well known for the variety of terrain and affordable prices (Ragged is a Mission Affordable member), the mountain punches far above its weight. With three terrain parks, a dedicated learner’s area, long, winding cruisers, and double black glades, Ragged will show you a good time and leave you wondering why you haven’t been here before. 57 trails (including 17 glade runs) are situated on 250 skiable acres rising 1250' from the base area to views of New Hampshire's Mount Kearsarge from the summit. Split between two mountain tops, Ragged Mountain focused recently on investments in lodge renovations, upgrades to snowmaking capacity, and a diversity of dining options. Come for the banked slalom, stay for the brick oven pizza.