Ten people started the Water-Slide-Athon but only three people were still running up the stairs to the slide four hours later.
Tiffany Bergman, climbed 39 stairs 222 times to win the champion’s belt Thursday night. She was closely followed by Vanessa Jergensen who completed 212 laps to win a cheeseburger.
Event organizer Bill Whitacre took third with 173 laps. He took home a 10-foot wooden plank.
The small crowd rallied as the three dedicated competitors finished the very last lap. But the timer keeper showed little mercy.
“You must be on the slide when the timer stops, otherwise you must walk down the stairs,” called the judge.
The Water-Slide-Athon finishers all managed smiles after a long endurance race that left many competitors tired and dizzy.
mshinn@durangoherald.com