As a gear analyst, I spend a lot of time obsessing over efficiency. We shave grams off bindings and debate the friction coefficients of climbing skins, usually to save energy for a 4,000-foot day.
Then there’s Noah Dines.
The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum is rightfully awarding Dines the 2025 First Tracks Award, an honor reserved for Vermonters under 35 who have significantly impacted the sport. Why? Because last year, Dines didn't just break the world record for human-powered vertical feet skied in a calendar year—he shattered our understanding of human endurance.
The Data Breakdown
Let’s look at the raw numbers, because they are staggering. Dines logged 3,590,097 vertical feet between January 1st and December 30th.
To put that into perspective:
- Total Vertical: ~3.6 Million ft
- Daily Average: ~9,800 ft
- Everest Equivalent: Climbing Mt. Everest ~120 times
- Duration: 364 days of near-continuous output
For the average recreational tourer, a "big day" is often considered 5,000 vertical feet. Dines essentially doubled that volume, every single day, for a year. He started and ended this massive campaign in Stowe, which holds a respectable ShredIndex score of 82.5/100, though his journey also took him to the high-altitude proving grounds of the Andes and the European Alps.
The Gear Implications
When you are moving that much mass over that much vertical, equipment choice stops being about preference and starts being about survival and joint preservation. While I don't have Dines' exact manifest in front of me, achieving this requires a specific class of gear:
- Ultralight Skis: You cannot swing heavy swing-weight skis for 3.6 million feet. You need carbon-reinforced, sub-1200g planks.
- Recommendation: Blizzard Zero G 95 Skis are the industry standard for this balance of weight and skiability.
- Minimalist Bindings: Safety release is vital, but weight is the enemy. Tech bindings are mandatory here.
- Recommendation: Dynafit Superlite 150 Bindings offer the efficiency required for high-volume days.
- Skin Management: Glue failure is a major risk with high-frequency transitions. Mohair blends are essential for glide efficiency.
- Recommendation: Pomoca Climb Pro S-Glide Skins provide the best glide-to-grip ratio I've tested.
The Ceremony
The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum will be hosting the award presentation on Friday, January 16, 2026.
- Location: 1 South Main Street, Stowe, VT
- Time: Doors at 5:45 PM, Ceremony at 6:30 PM
- Cost: $25 (Advance purchase required)
It’s a rare chance to hear directly from someone who has pushed the physiological limits of ski touring. If you are planning to attend the event in Stowe, I recommend you find accommodation early, as capacity for the event is limited and Stowe fills up quickly in January.
This isn't just a win for Dines; it's a testament to what human-powered skiing can look like when you strip away the lifts and focus entirely on the engine.
Source: Unofficial Networks
