The 2026-2027 Empowered Energy Systems Race Series consists of five races and one (mostly) noncompetitive event over the course of the season. Races take place at Skyway Trailhead off of Highway 65 on Grand Mesa.

Your best four of the five scored races will count toward the standings. To be eligible for overall series and age group prizes, you must complete four of the events below.

Details and registration links coming soon.

Saturday December 5: Winterstart Two races for the price of one!  Race 5km classic, followed by a 5km freestyle (NOTE: only the classic race counts for series points)

Saturday January 2: Skyway Skuffle 10 km freestyle race

Saturday January 24: Grand Mesa Classic 10km classic race

Sunday February 20: The Feb 15K (freestyle) Race 

Saturday March 6: Friluftsliv Challenge  Ski as much (or as little) as you can from 10am to 2pm. (NOTE: the skiathon counts as participation in the series, but not scored for series points.) More details and registration coming soon.

Sunday March 15: Mesa Meltdown 20km and 5km freestyle (NOTE: only the 20km counts for series points)

Prizes:
-Overall series winners (female and male) get a nice prize TBD. 

-Female and Male overall winners of each individual race scored for the series win $50 cash.

-Prizes awarded to age group winners for the overall series.

-All registered racers are entered into a raffle (at each race) for a variety of cool prizes from local business sponsors.

Rules and Scoring:
Points are awarded for overall and age group (10 year brackets: 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, etc.) according to the following system:

1st place: 20 points
2nd: 19
3rd: 18
4th: 17
5th: 16
6th: 15
7th: 14
8th: 13
9th: 12
10th: 11
11th: 10
12th: 9
13th: 8
14th: 7
15th: 6
16th: 5
17th: 4
18th: 3
19th: 2
20th: 1

To win overall or age group series awards, you must participate in a minimum of four events. Your best four of the five scored races will count toward the standings.

In the event of a tie, the order of finish in the Mesa Meltdown 20km is the tie-breaker.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Empowered Energy Systems (the local, employee-owned company that installed the solar energy system at Skyway Station!)
Loki Outdoor Clothing (race prizes for our series winners)
More to come!

for more info email info @gmnc.org