Newlyweds to tackle The Epic Race for honeymoon

When Zephyr Cove newlyweds Dave and Jessica Schnoll first heard of The Epic Race — a contest offering the chance to win lifetime ski passes from Vail Resorts — they realized they’d found the ideal honeymoon.

“This race popped up,” Jessica Schnoll said, “and we thought, ‘this is perfect for us.”

Starting in South Lake Tahoe and ending in France, the couple will attempt to ski every Vail Resorts mountain before 10 people beat them to it.

Several people have registered for the race, but lifetime passes to all 26 resorts will only be given to the first 10 to finish.

The Schnolls, who married in March and got engaged at the top of Heavenly last year, said they have a good chance of wining for several reasons: both have extensive traveling experience, flexibility in their work and a lot of saved airline miles.

“I think everything’s stocked to our advantage,” said Jessica Schnoll, 28, who works at home as the owner of Zephyr Cove Consulting.

Vail’s local resorts are still a week away from their planned opening. But already, Dave and Jessica Schnoll have developed their “strategy” for the race, they said.

The duo will ski Lake Tahoe’s resorts, then travel to Colorado and stay with Jessica’s family, she said. They will then ski every Vail resort in the state before making their way to Michigan, Minnesosta and then Europe.

“I honestly don’t think we could do it faster and plan it better than we have,” Jessica Schnoll said.

Dave Schnoll, a work-at-home business development manager for Seer Tech Solutions, said he’s using most of the frequent flier miles he accumulates from work for the adventure. So the cost of the trip should stay relatively low.

“What we’re worried about now is the resorts not opening in time,” the 29-year-old said.

If the resorts don’t open as expected, the locals could end up spending more money on hotels and travel expenses, he said.

“There are lots of variables,” he said. “There are lots of things that could go wrong or right.”

However, the competitive couple said they are prepared to finish the race. They are also eager to claim their prize.

“Part of it is saving money,” Dave Schnoll said of pursuing a lifetime ski pass. “Part of it is bragging rights.”

But win or lose, the newlyweds plan on enjoying their honeymoon.

“If we lose, it would be a bummer,” he said. “But it would still be a hell of a trip.”