Back by popular demand, here is the newly updated Top 100 Vert Seasons~!

After twelve seasons of the vert era at the Big Mountain/Whitefish Mountain Resort, the list below details the 100 biggest seasons skied, in rank order.  With 8,000-10,000 season pass-holders each year, skiing your way onto this list is a significant accomplishment.

Every season, like clockwork, someone (or 2, or more) new emerges with a fire in their belly…ready to give it their best shot over a whole season.  This year was no different.  All of the 2015 Top 10, plus Paul Descoteau in 11th place, with his 2,380,767′ skied, made the overall Top 100 list here.

Some years, the Top 10 is tougher to crack than others. This year was one of them.  But, finishing in the Top 100 overall, after all the vert seasons,  is still huge.  Nice job Mr. Descoteau~!

Each 2015 entry is signified on the list below by a gold star.

A few interesting facts, derived from the list, follow.

34 names comprise the Top 100 Vert Seasons list.

11 folks appear 3 or more times.  They have been nicknamed or called names from the beginning, from “machines” to “hamsters” (running incessantly on the wheel), to, “Johnny Vert,” to the “Beastwoman,” to “Quadzilla.”  At a minimum, they (or more accurately we) all, are, or have been for several seasons, compulsive about skiing (or snowboarding) regularly.  By name (followed by the number of appearances in the Top 100), they are: Fred Frost 12, John Gibson and Russ Carpenter 9 each, yours truly 8, Rick Sawyer 6, Tony Cooper 5, Chris Chapman, Steve Calger, and Kay Yobst 4 each, Steve Cook and Pat King 3 times each.

10 folks appear twice—thus removing all doubt that it may have been a fluke the first time. They are:  R.J. Brewer, Giles Hunt, Paul Badgley, Albin Kwolek, Jerry Hagen, David Keith, Steve Sliper, Mark Panicek, John Wachsmuth, and John Sanman.

And 13 folks own one spot in the Top 100.  They are:  Travis Gray, David Thiel, Jim Bailey, Jeanne Reichstadt, Rex Rupp, Tom McCrea, Eric Walberg, Roger Elliot, Sandie Carpenter, (and the 4 folks new this year) Susan Armstrong, Jim Robertson, Patrick Pinsent, and Paul Descoteau.

Congratulations to all 34 people who earned their way onto this list!

After seeing the list for yourself, you may have surmised the following:

Twice someone has eclipsed 5 Million feet.  Chris Chapman in 2004 and Tony Cooper in 2013.

20 more times someone has skied more than 4 Million feet.  This has been done by 9 different people.  They are:  Tony Cooper, Chris Chapman, Jay Foster, Fred Frost, John Gibson, Russ Carpenter, Travis Gray, R.J. Brewer and David Thiel.

32 more times, someone has skied over 3 Million feet.  12 folks have a personal best over 3 Million feet.  They are:  Giles Hunt, Steve Cook, Pat King, Paul Badgley, Albin Kwolek, Jerry Hagen, Jim Bailey, Katherine Yobst,  Steve Calger, Jeanne Reichstadt, Rick Sawyer, and David Keith.

And 32 times more times, someone has skied over 2.5 Million feet.  Eight folks have a personal best over 2.5 Million feet.  They are: Steve Sliper, Rex Rupp, Mark Panicek, Tom McCrea, John Wachsmuth, Eric Walberg, Jerry Hagen, and John Sanman.

As of 2015, the minimum ante into the Top 100 Vert seasons is now at 2,328,392 vertical feet, currently held by David Keith, with his 12th Place finish in the 2006 season.

Each year, the bar gets raised higher and higher.  If you want to get in on it, there’s never been a better time than the upcoming season.  Get out here.  Get busy.  And Get’R Done~!

As always, I welcome constructive inputs to correct the record.   JDPF