48th annual Atmore Memorial Alpine Ski Race draws in athletes from around the world

DULUTH, Minn. — The 48th annual Atmore Memorial Alpine Ski Race kicked off today at Spirit Mountain.

The event is hosted by Team Duluth and named in memory of Dr. William Atmore, one of the original founders of the Duluth/Superior Alpine Club, now called Team Duluth.

The slalom ski event welcomes over 200 athletes from around the globe, from Jamaica to Bulgaria.

The race sees some of the worlds best ski racers from ages 16 to 21, it’s also a staple for U.S skiers, including members of Team Duluth

“It’s a really cool event, especially because it’s been going for, I think this is the 48th year, but it’s really cool seeing these really, really good skiers just out here at Spirit mountain, because we don’t really get to see that that often here,” Team Duluth member Britta Hansen said.

The Atmore Memorial also serves as a qualification race for the U16 and U18 divisional championships.

“It’s the most exciting race that we have in Duluth. It brings the best athletes, and it’s exciting for our kids to watch these high end athletes and compete against them,” Team Duluth Ski Coach Andy Bischoff said.

The top three U18 and top three for each gender are awarded each day.

The event will run through Sunday, where the overall men’s and women’s champion will be awarded the Atmore Memorial trophy and get their name engraved on the Atmore Cup.