By Marty Basch

When Liz Adams spotted Frank Tansey standing near the race registration tables at Cranmore, she made a beeline straight for him.

"We missed you last year," she said enthusiastically. "Do you remember me?"

"Of course," he said, and then turned to a columnist. "See that's what I was talking about."

The Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge is a long-standing recreational ski and snowboard race series attracting thousands of people across the Northeast. Now in its 22nd season, Frank Tansey is the man behind giant slalom competition that awards winners with gold, silver and bronze medals and all participants with swag. He founded it.

The series got under way December 17 at New York's Hunter Mountain and wound its way to the valley last weekend to return to Cranmore after a year lapse Saturday and then to Bartlett and Attitash Sunday. The competition will be back January 16 at King Pine, February 4 at Shawnee Peak and February 22 at Black Mountain. The finals are scheduled for March 31 at southern Vermont's Mount Snow.

All Kinds

"The event brings in many different types of skiers and riders, from those who like to follow the circuit throughout New England resorts to those who have never raced before and are just looking for some new on-snow challenges," explained King Pine's Dan Houde. "At King Pine it also tends to pull in quite a few families who enter just for the fun of it and love all the prizes and awards at the end. We also have plenty of staff interest who enjoy a some friendly competition against each other. Overall it makes for a fun day on the slopes and always lots of great memories."

Tansey always maintains that skiers and riders follow the race, and often plan their winter vacations around it.

And there was Adams of Westwood, Massachusetts , as if on cue, commending Tansey and the race.

"I don't ski," she held holding race bibs for her two children, Jillian, 11, and Richard, 9. "But my kids have a blast. They're pumped up to do it again, their fourth time. I have an 11 year-old and she wanted to get here early. Getting an early start from an 11 year-old to do anything isn't easy."

Her children are in Cranmore's Rattlesnake program. So entrenched in the ski culture now, the Adams bought a condo in the valley and are weekend warriors.

Fun To Raise

The Grinnings of Newburyport, Massachusetts also are Dew doers for the third time now. Victoria, 13, Abby, 11 and Phineas, 6, either race or use the event as a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a Dew Tour partner, according to mom Jennifer.

Abby and sister last year raised four thousand dollars in a coin drive before the finals. The year before, the duo collected two thousand dollars.

"I do it for the fun, but I also like racing for the Make-A-Wish Foundation," Abby said. "I like to see the kids smile."

She also believes the race improves her skiing. She once won a bronze medal.

"I feel every time I do this I get better," she said.

Families and loyalty are the crux of the event.

In terms of family, Tansey's two boys now work for the Challenge.

"They weren't even born when this started," she said.

Then he pointed over to the registration table to another employee.

"She started doing the race when she was seven," he said. "Now she part of the crew."

The event shows generations of families coming to ski and ride. Grandparents, parents and children sign up.

Tansey hears a lot from racers schussing down memory lane about racing through the gates.

Trend Spotter

He also spots trends.

"We are definitely seeing it going back to more skiers than snowboarders," he said. "I think the terrain parks are attracting the snowboarders and the twin tips."

He also sees a trend that he doesn't like.

"Helmets are disappearing," he said.  "We try to re-enforce and encourage helmet use. We can't force them to wear them, but we do encourage them to follow the code, be smart and be safe."

The series is also expanding into adaptive skiing with many resorts in the southern and central part of the state—Gunstock, Pats Peak, Sunapee and Crotched—actively encouraging local programs to participate.

"This really makes it a special day for them," he said.

Valley skiers and riders might notice something different too about the Challenge this season.

"We've changed some of the dates around the  valley," Tansey said. "We got away from vacation weeks and are trying to generate excitement during other times."