STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Sun Valley Resort announced last week that it is bringing the fastest skiers on earth back to compete in the 2027 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals.

But you don’t have to wait until next year to see some fast racing and enjoy the live music and apres ski celebrations that go hand in hand with the World Cup Finals.

Stick your binoculars in your holster, don your sun-shading Stetson, wrap a bandana around your ski parka and get ready for some rooting tooting fun as Sun Valley Resort hosts the brand new Sun Valley Stampede.

Remember when the Honda Ski Tour brought skiers like Daron Rahlves to Sun Valley to race skier cross.

The inaugural Sun Valley Stampede presented by POWDER Magazine is a brand new winter competition and mountain festival that will debut March 13-15, 2026, on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain.

It’ll pack head-to-head ski competition, live music, community festivities and apres ski celebrations into one action-packed weekend designed for athletes, spectators and mountain culture enthusiasts.

The mission: One Mountain. The Ultimate Test. Last Skier Standing.

"Warm Springs has always been the heart of ski racing at Sun Valley, and we're excited about keeping the momentum going with an event like this--something new and innovative that builds on our legacy," said Pete Sonntag, Chief Operating Officer at Sun Valley Resort. The Stampede is our take on crowning 'The Best Skier in the West,' a format that challenges athletes in every way while creating a festival atmosphere that brings our community together.”

The Sun Valley Stampede will offer another excuse to party at Warm Springs Plaza.

The Stampede challenges athletes of all ages on a course that blends elements of racing, skier cross, off-piste terrain and park features.

Saturday’s qualifying rounds will determine Sunday’s head-to-head bracket, with competitors scored on style and speed.

Top finishers from each group will advance to compete in the championship bracket, crowning the first ever Sun Valley Stampede champion “The Best Skier in the West.”

A Vendor Village will be set up at the bottom of Warm Springs featuring local and regional brands, ski demos and giveaways.

Hooks & the Huckleberries, an Albuquerque-based alt-country band that blends Americana and rock with cinematic storytelling, will perform on Saturday. The Kris Lager Band, an American blues rock band out of Omaha, Neb., will perform on Sunday.

DJs will spin tunes in between the live performances.

“We can't wait to welcome competitors and spectators to experience this new tradition and see what makes this mountain and this valley so special,” said Sonntag.

THE SCHEDULE

Friday, March 13 – Welcome Day

● 2:00–4:00 PM: Athlete registration (Warm Springs Lodge)

● 2:00–5:00 PM: Live music and pro athlete introductions (Warm Springs Plaza)

Saturday, March 14 – Qualifier Day

● 9:00 AM–3:15 PM: Qualifying rounds

● 9:00 AM–5:00 PM: Vendor Village open

● 12:00–5:00 PM: Live music (DJ and Hooks & the Huckleberries)

Sunday, March 15 – Finals & Celebration

10:00 AM–2:00 PM: Championship heats

● 9:00 AM–5:00 PM: Vendor Village open

● 12:00–5:00 PM: Live music (DJ and Kris Lager Band)

● 3:30 PM: Awards ceremony (Warm Springs Plaza)

Registration for competing athletes will open in early February. No pre-registration is required for spectators.