What is it?

Yes, exactly. What is the Scarpa Craigieburner? Well it has taken many forms in it's 30 plus year existence but today it lives on in two simple categories.

The Open Craigieburner is a ski mountaineering race in the classic sense. Yeah but what's that? Well imagine a day out with friends skinning up one hill, down another, back up there, down over there, hiking that ridge and rolling back down to the trail head. Just imagine doing it quite fast without stopping (much). That's pretty much it. Will it hurt? Probably. However I like this little article Grant posted on his blog on the benefits of these events
http://www.pawprince.com/pawprince/writings/text_versions/fast_furious.htm

The Classic Craigieburner is a ski mountaineering race in a unique, kiwi, Craigieburn Range/Arthurs Pass style of way. Pretty much as per the above but you use the ubiquitous rope tow to do the work going up (mostly that is). Because we are slightly sadistic we will make you walk or skin a short distance. Nothing more than an average day at Craigieburn or Temple Basin might require.

I am toying with the idea of tequila at the finish line. I am angling for a shot for each competitor after an uphill finish. I did say it would hurt.