adidas Terrex Pepi’s Face-Off

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

A 30-minute uphill/downhill dash. Run 400-foot laps on the legendary tourist trap, Pepi’s Face on Vail Mountain. When the timer hits 30, the horn blows, and it’s a mad sprint to the finish! The speedsters with the most completed laps wins. 

All on-mountain aid stations at the GoPro Mountain Games are now 100% cupless as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability. To help you stay hydrated, all participants will receive a free collapsible cup at the start line to use during all GoPro Mountain Games run events. Please plan ahead and be race-ready and help us keep the mountains clean! 

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

1:00 PM – Wave 1 – Elite
2:00 PM – Wave 2 – Amateur
2:00 PM – Wave 2 – Relay – Teams of 2

Categories:

Elite – Men
Elite – Women
Amateur – Men
Amateur – Women
Amateur – Nonbinary
Relay Open – Teams of 2

*Minimum age to compete is 12 years old based on the athlete’s age at the end of the calendar year on Dec 31, 2026. 

FORMAT & RULES
(Wave 1 – Elite):

• An athlete will be considered Elite if he/she completed at least 5 laps at a previous Pepi’s Face-Off race. Athletes that have not competed in Pepi’s Face-Off but feel strong enough to compete in the Elite field can apply on the registration form.
• Racers will be sent out in a mass start.
• Start positions within the wave will not be pre-determined and it is up to the athlete to get into their desired start location.
• Objective is to run as many laps as possible in thirty (30) minutes.
• The clock will start when runners cross the starting line. First lap will start when runners cross the lap line (to be clearly marked day of race).
• Athletes’ laps will be counted by timers each time athlete crosses the lap line.
• At thirty (30) minutes, a horn will sound, and runners must finish their current lap (no back-tracking) and sprint back to the start/finish line.
• Results will place competitors by number of laps completed and then time back to the finish line.
• Athletes must follow all course markings and know/understand the course map. All course markings for this event will be black signs with GREEN arrows.
• Along the course, athletes will have to run on all types of terrain including Forest Service access dirt roads, uneven, rocky conditions, grass, loose gravel and undulating single track.
• Athletes are permitted to wear protective gloves and/or padding and use trekking poles. All other accessory equipment must be approved by Race Directors no less than twenty-four (24) hours before start time.
• No tripping, shoving or horseplay will be tolerated and any athlete displaying in unsporting conduct will be pulled from the course and disqualified.
• Dogs are not permitted to run in the adidas Terrex Pepi’s Face-Off. Please consider entering the Rocky Dog Fun Run on Thursday, June 4 if you’d like to run with your pup!

FORMAT & RULES
(Wave 2 – amateur):

• Racers will be sent out in a mass start.
• Start positions within the wave will not be pre-determined and it is up to the athlete to get into their desired start location.
• Objective is to run as many laps as possible in thirty (30) minutes.
• The clock will start when runners cross the starting line. First lap will start when runners cross the lap line (to be clearly marked day of race).
• Athletes’ laps will be counted by timers each time athlete crosses the lap line.
• At thirty (30) minutes, a horn will sound, and runners must finish their current lap (no back-tracking) and sprint back to the start/finish line.
• Results will place competitors by number of laps completed and then time back to the finish line.
• Amateurs should be aware of the split in course at the top of Pepi’s. A course marshal will be onsite to assist.
  • Amateurs will run on the left side and will descend on Strawberry Lane.
    • Amateurs will follow the GREEN arrows.
  • Relay teams will run on the right side and will descend on Windisch Way.
    • Relay Teams will follow the ORANGE arrows.
• Along the course, athletes will have to run on all types of terrain including Forest Service access dirt roads, uneven, rocky conditions, grass, loose gravel and undulating single track.
• Athletes are permitted to wear protective gloves and/or padding and use trekking poles. All other accessory equipment must be approved by Race Directors no less than twenty-four (24) hours before start time.
• No tripping, shoving or horseplay will be tolerated and any athlete displaying unsporting conduct will be pulled from the course and disqualified.
• Dogs are not permitted to run in the adidas Terrex Pepi’s Face-Off. Please consider entering the Rocky Dog Fun Run on Thursday, June 4 if you’d like to run with your pup!

FORMAT & RULES
(wave 2 – RELAY – TEAMS OF 2):

• Racers will be sent out in a mass start.
• Start positions within the wave will not be pre-determined and it is up to the athlete to get into desired start location.
• At the start of the race, the first member of the relay team will be at the start. The second member of the relay team will be in the Relay Zone.
• The Relay Zone in located just uphill of the race start in a marked area.
• Team members cannot start their lap until their partner arrives to the Relay Zone and high-fives the partner waiting in the Relay Zone.
  • Teams will be disqualified if a member leaves early and/or does not high-five their partner.
• Relay Teams should be aware of the split in course at the top of Pepi’s. A course marshal will be onsite to assist.
  • Amateurs will run on the left side and will descend on Strawberry Lane.
    • Amateurs will follow the GREEN arrows.
  • Relay teams will run on the right side and will descend on Windisch Way.
    • Relay Teams will follow the ORANGE arrows.
• Along the course, athletes will have to run on all types of terrain including Forest Service access dirt roads, uneven, rocky conditions, grass, loose gravel and undulating single track.
• Athletes are permitted to wear protective gloves and/or padding and use trekking poles if they so wish. All other accessory equipment must be approved by race directors no less than twenty-four (24) hours before start time.
• No tripping, shoving or horseplay will be tolerated and any athlete display unsporting conduct will be pulled from the course and disqualified.
• Dogs are not permitted to run in the adidas Terrex Pepi’s Face-Off. Please consider entering the Rocky Dog Fun Run on Thursday, June 4 if you’d like to run with your pup!

LOCATION:

• The race starts and finishes in Nature Valley Mountain Plaza.

2025 WAVE 2 RESULTS

2025 WAVE 1 RESULTS

RESULTS ARCHIVE

PRICE

EARLY BIRD PRICING // February 4 – April 1, 2026
$55 – Elite
$45 – Amateur
$85 – Relay – Team of 2*

STANDARD PRICING // April 2 – May 26, 2026
$60 – Elite
$50 – Amateur
$90 – Relay – Team of 2*

FOMO PRICING // May 27 – June 6, 2026
$75 – Elite
$65 – Amateur
$105 – Relay – Team of 2*

• *The first person that registers for the relay team of 2 will serve as the captain and pay the full entry fee. All teams must have both team members register by Wednesday, May 27 at 6:00 PM. 

ALL ATHLETES RECEIVE:

• Athlete Bag with GoPro Mountain Games gear 
• Discounted Mountains of Music tickets [All shows at The Amp] 
• 3-Day Pass to the Athlete Lounge  
• Chance to enter the UNVEIL IN VAIL daily prize giveaway 

PAYOUT

TOTAL prize PURSE: $9,600

elite

MEN
1st – $2,000
2nd – $1,000
3rd – $500

WOMEN
1st – $2,000
2nd – $1,000
3rd – $500

amateur

MEN
1st – $500
2nd – $250
3rd – $100

WOMEN
1st – $500
2nd – $250
3rd – $100

relay team of 2

1st – $500 ($250 per person)
2nd – $250 ($125 per person)
3rd – $150 ($75 per person)

PRIZES