Karen Wiebel Race draws 200 young skiers and parents to Hidden Valley

Vernon - The 10th annual Karen Wiebel Ski Race was held Sunday, Feb. 26, at Hidden Valley with more than 200 young ski racers competing for N.J. state rankings and the opportunity to compete in post season championship ski races. The annual event has come to symbolize the dedication of parents and families to the sport of snow skiing and ski racing. Indeed, without parents willing to make the commitment required for a youngster to learn to ski and then compete as a ski racer, none of the young racers would have been able to participate in the event, named to honor the memory of one such parent, Karen Wiebel. Karen and Paul Wiebel were local skiers who shared their passion for skiing with their children. They made the commitment required to ensure that their children not only learned how to ski, but had the training required to compete in area ski races. As their children grew, they experienced the fun and sense of accomplishment that comes from ski racing. This gave the family the opportunity to share the sport and to spend many winters together on the slopes at Vernon area resorts and other challenging ski areas across the United States. Karen Wiebel passed away unexpectedly during a family ski trip. Wanting to transform this tragedy into something positive, the local ski racing community remembered how Karen always supported all of the racers, regardless of their rank in the standings and how she always tried to ensure that all who raced felt like “winners.” In this spirit her friends decided to hold a race in her memory. All participants in the Karen Wiebel Race receive “goodie bags.” Trophies are awarded to the top 10 finishers in each age category, rather than only the top three as is typical of most races. The race also serves as a fund raiser to support other young people with an interest in skiing. Although the Karen Wiebel Race has come to be recognized as “the” race of the year for many of the area’s young ski racers, the passing of time caused the memory of Karen Wiebel and the original reason for the race to fade. However, that changed when Amy Sabo, a relative newcomer to local ski racing, recognized the joy she was getting from skiing with her young son at Hidden Valley. She identified with the spirit of the race and volunteered to take on the responsibility for coordinating the 10th annual race as events chairperson. With help from supporters and contributors from Hidden Valley, Mountain Creek, Mt. Peter, and local corporations and businesses, Sabo coordinated the activities to make the event a success. Her leadership helped everyone recall the importance of parental support and the need to give recognition to the parents of the young competitors. The 10th annual Karen Wiebel Ski Race was one of the best ever, with over 200 young racers competing for trophies and other prizes donated by Karen’s husband, Paul Wiebel, and other event supporters. Events that accompanied the race included a pasta dinner, raffle and party at the Hidden Valley Lodge, which raised over $5,000 to support future local ski racing programs and future ski racers in need.