NORTH CONWAY, New Hampshire — The 30th Annual Race to Beat Cancer returns to Cranmore as part of a full lineup of events happening in January and February at the North Conway, NH resort. Additional events on the agenda include the 4th Annual Bill Johnson Vertical Challenge, the Main Event, and Cranapalooza with fireworks.

The Bill Johnson Vertical Challenge is back at Cranmore for its 4th year on Saturday, January 27. This all-day event invites skiers and riders of all ages and abilities to participate by skiing as many trails as possible throughout the day. Registration starts at 7am in the 10th Mountain Pavilion, and the competition starts at 8:30am. Teams rack up points for the number of vertical feet skied, and prizes will be awarded to winners at 1:30pm. Bill Johnson, a 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist, will be at Cranmore to take photos with teams and meet participants. All funds raised at this event are donated to the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.billjohnsonverticalchallenge.org, or www.bianh.org.

Professional and amateur snowboarders will have the opportunity to clinch a spot in the Burton US Open at the Main Event on Saturday, January 27 in the Darkside Terrain Park. The top ten finishers at Cranmore will earn places in the finals at Loon Mountain in February. The first place finisher at Loon will head to the US Open. Registration starts at 8am. Please visit www.maineventseries.com for the complete list of competition times. A $50 registration fee applies and lift ticket is included. Competitors with a season pass will receive a discounted registration fee.

Also on January 27, the Burton Demo Team will be at Cranmore to provide demo boards for guests to rip up the corduroy on Burton’s latest equipment lineup. Interested guests should bring identification and a charge card; those under age 18 require a parent or guardian signature to demo equipment. For those learning to snowboard, Cranmore is offering genuine Burton Learn to Ride lesson packages on January 27 and 28 for only $39 for ages 13 and up. Includes Burton rental, lesson and lift ticket.

Cranapalooza, the night time festival of activities with night skiing under the lights from 2-9pm, will take place on Saturday, January 27 with a pirate theme. In addition to a t-shirt giveaway in the South Chair lift line, s’mores around the fire pit, face painting on the Eating House deck and appearances by C-More the Penguin, Mr. Phil’s Magic Show and musical guests Tim Dion and Duke will perform in the Eating House. Cranapalooza on Saturday, February 3 will include the Sand-in-Your-Snowpants beach party theme, storyteller Andy Davis and musical guest DJ Kristen. Fireworks will be launched at 7:30pm. Saturday, February 10 marks Halloween at Cranapalooza, with Professional Silly Person Todd Wellington and musical guest Hey Yeti in the Eating House.

Cranapalooza lift tickets are available at $19 for all ages with access to lifts from 2-9pm. Skiers or riders who bring the same day’s ticket from any other mountain to the Cranmore Ticket Haus can get a Cranapalooza ticket for $15. Lift tickets are not required for Cranapalooza activities such as live music, entertainers and fireworks.

The 30th Annual Race to Beat Cancer will take place Sunday, February 11 at Cranmore. Winter sports enthusiasts of all types can participate in this event by skiing, snowboarding, or tubing down the hill. Participants will receive a complimentary lift ticket for the day by gathering a donation of $50 or more to benefit the American Cancer Society. Registration is at 8:30am in the Arlberg Lodge, and the race runs from 10am-12pm. Awards will be presented at 1pm. For registration and more information, visit www.cancer.org.

Cranmore is open from 9am-4pm Monday-Friday, 8:30am-9pm Cranapalooza Saturdays, and 8:30am-4pm Sundays. The Arctic Blast Tubing Park is open 9am-9pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 9am-4pm Sundays.

Cranmore Mountain Resort is located on Skimobile Rd. in North Conway, NH. For more information on Cranapalooza and events at Cranmore, visit www.cranmore.com or call (800) SUN-N-SKI.