NEWRY — Sunday River Ski Resort will host its sixth annual Tough Mountain Challenge, where 3,500 participants will compete in a 4-mile mud race featuring a variety of natural and man-made obstacles on the slope’s trails.

Spokeswoman Sarah Devlin said the Tough Mountain Challenge was created in 2010 to bring people to the mountain during the summer to compete on an obstacle course that utilized “the most well-known mountain features and pinned it against willing participants.”

Two hundred racers made up the first Tough Mountain Challenge, a far cry from the 3,500 who have applied six years later.

“We get people from all over the place applying for this competition,” Devlin said. “A large portion of Mainers make up the competitors, but we still get a lot of people from out of state applying.”

Devlin said the challenge itself has sold out, but those who wish to watch the participants compete can watch free of charge from the sidelines.

The obstacle course will consist of a mix of obstacles from previous years, along with new obstacles, including “Snow Carrying,” where competitors will carry the slope’s snow guns for 270 yards, “The Big V,” where competitors race down a ravine before hiking back out, and “The Scraper,” where participants will navigate a course of Jersey barriers left over from January’s Red Bull Frozen Rush truck race.

Devlin said that every year, Event Director Caroline Ochtera and her team construct the course and figure out what obstacles will be included.

“We have an Events and Competitions Department that are always thinking of interesting ways to get people on the mountain,” Devlin said. “In terms of making the course, Ochtera and her team are the masterminds.”

While the adults compete in the Tough Mountain Challenge, children between the ages of 4 and 12 will compete in their own obstacle course: the Mini Mountain Challenge.

“I think this is our second year doing this competition,” Devlin said. “The reason they put it together is because a lot of people bring their kids to this event. It’s a good way to get the kids involved and keep them active. Kids see their aunts and uncles doing the race and want to do it themselves.”

The Mini Mountain Challenge will be split into three age brackets, with each course consisting of a “kid-friendly mud-run obstacle course,” Devlin said.

“Each of the courses will adhere to the specific age group,” Devlin said. “The young kids will have an easier course, while the older ones will have it a little bit tougher. You’re not going to see any razor wire obstacles on this course, though.”

The Tough Mountain Challenge will allow teams of four or more competitors to race together or separately, and average each of the team member’s finish times. Team awards will be given to each of the top three teams, Devlin said.

For more information on the competition, contact Devlin at sdevlin@sundayriver.com.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net