Sunlight 2012 Race Report

Next on tap for Team CB is the COSMIC Sunlight event called the Heathen Challenge, just outside of Glenwood Springs Colorado.  Jon, Jari and I made tracks (litteraly) for Kebler Pass.  We got about 100 yards from the summit and lost traction.  We hooked up with Teocalli Tamale for some fat burritos and Jari hooked up some sweet new movies.  Although it was nearly 11 when we arrived at our hotel in Glenwood the trip went quickly.  While taking our gear out of the vehicle Jon realized he didn't pack his ski boots (SCARPA Alien 1.0).  After a night of trying to help Jon strategize about racing the event with his nordic gear, Jon got a 3am phone call from Stevie and Marshall.  They were leaving CB for the event and were going to pick up Jon's boots in Gunnison!  Jon told me the next morning hoping he hadn't woken me in the night.  Game on JB!

We arrived at the resort at just past 7 for an hour of prep and warming up.  Jon and Jari looked pumped and I was psyched to represent on our new and insanely light gear!  This was going to be my first race of the season on the Ski-Trab Duo Race World Cup skis and Trab Race binding.  The pace at the front was fast and furious for the first 30 minutes.  Greg Ruckman ran to the front and kept a gap of 5-10 seconds for the first 15-20 minutes.  Marshall Thomson, Pete Gaston, and myself were in the chase group.  Marshall put in some hard efforts and left Pete behind.  I passed Pete and about 5 minutes from the top we were all together.  When I turned on a switchback near the top I saw Jon working his way up.  On the first descent there was confusion about the direction and there were about 6-8 racers bunched up.  Pete had an awesome descent and was alone at the second transition. Unfortunately Pete had some major skin issues and was passed by myself, Marshall and Jon.  I attacked the first ascent and was steady on the boot pack.  By the last skin ascent to the top I had 15 seconds.  Marshall dug deep and had me reeled in by the top.  From there to the last skin strip on Defiance we yoyo'd.  I blasted the last descent and held a 27 second margin to Marshall.  Jon blazed to the line less than five minutes later for his first COSMIC podium.  Jari had a strong race and finished on the podium for 3rd as well.  Sari Anderson took the woman's race with CB local Stevie Cramer in second.  A solid showing for the locals of Gunnison County!

Men's Podium All CB! L-R Marshall, Smithy, JB

All in all our new gear met and exceeded my expectations for lightweight performance.  The Alien boots were super stable with the new bellow-less lower shell.  The skis and bindings were not only lighter but performed better than anything else I've raced on.  Turning was effortless and precise.  The Piuma vertical poles were light enough to keep nordic race tempo on low angle approaches and accelerations.

Next stop for the team is the North American Championships on their home mountain.  With home field advantage to Team Crested Butte, top results should be expected.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more podiums.

CB team member
Brian Smith

Webisode II of Team CB

Hit this link to YouTube to listen and see how Team CB maintains there fierce race pace....one secret, hard work and having fun!

Get down to CB this weekend for the GoreTex North American Ski Mountaineering Championships...it will be the event that puts mountaineering back in ski mountaineering!

...and Yes its finally snowing out!!

Team Crested Butte Video Blogging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uokEOvRfoeM&feature=youtu.be


Clink on the link above to see what Team CB has been up to this early season for training.  Basically a bunch of snow dancing, a few races (Irwin and US Nationals) and fighting the high winds.  We've land on the podium five times at three races so far this season...with Brian Smith capturing the most recent victory at Sunlight last weekend.

Finally its snowing and the extended forecast is actually looking great for once this Winter.

Get signed up for the GoreTex North American Ski Mountaineering Championships coming to Crested Butte at the end of the month....event the Italian National Team is coming! 

Ski Fast!

2012 US Nationals

It’s been a tough year for snow in the West, and CB & Jackson Hole are not immuned to this dry spell.  The drive to Jackson is usually a dreaded affair as the roads are slick and plain old long (11+hrs).  Great roads this year meant one thing, firm snow on the resort and fast driving!

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has been the host for US Nationals for the last 11 years.  This race during a World Championship year is always one of three qualifiers, in order to make the US Team that competes over in Europe.  This is a non World Championship year, so the race has slightly less significance, but it still crowns the Men’s and Women’s National Champion.

Team Crested Butte sent three of our four athletes to Jackson Hole, with Brian Smith sitting this one out, due to work.

Most of the team was able to preview the course on Friday, with the only change to the course being that the “landmark climb” up Corbet’s Coliour was not included due to a lack of snow.  Instead they had us go around Corbet’s, with a longer but mellower boot pack.  The course preview as expected was hard packed snow with descent coverage, setting up a technical race with challenging skinning conditions.

The race started with a deep US field…more and more talent (and skin suits) each year….a great sign for the sport!.  Jon and I positioned ourselves in 4-6^th place for the first climb with Scott Simmons (Durango, CO) leading the charge. 

The first descent was a steep, bumped out run testing one’s gear and skiing abilities.  The new SCARPA Alien 1.0 were awesome as they are even lighter, and without the bellows….perform soooo much better on the downhills…..they inspire confidence!  Perfect conditions today for the boot.

Leads were swapped back and forth depending upon each skier’s downhill and uphill skills.  If you could find some efficiency on the skinning sections, it would pay dividends later in the race.  Two boot packs separated the field and Luke Nelson (Idaho Falls, ID) was able to reel in Scott Simmons and challenge for the lead.  Marshall Thompson (CB, CO) established 3^rd and myself in 5^th.

The second last downhill started at the top of the tram and descend over 4100ft …..I can only guess but I bet this took at least 9-10 minutes.  Its super techie, bumped out with refrozen “death cookies”, looking to take out the tired racer.  I was not able to reel in 4^th  (Jason Dorais SLC, UT) but at the last uphill transition I noticed Marshall Thompson was not up front on the skin track.  I could only assume he got lost on  the long descent. 

This last climb was south facing with skin purchase at a premium….you're blown and the most technical climb of the day was standing in the way of the finish line. 

As I got to the top of the last climb, 5^th place (Ben Parsons Kalispell, MT) about two minutes behind me, so I felt comfortable I cold hang on to fourth with one last techie descent.

At the finish line I got fourth (yeah I’m in “that position” …the 1^st guy just off the podium).  My suspicions were confirmed about Marshall….he indeed did get lost on the second last down hill.   Unlucky, but that’s racing.  He is talented and will clearly be a force to be reckoned with. 

Luke Nelson ended up taking the National Championship Title by a minute over Scott Simmons.  Jason Dorais end up in third and my self in 4^th, Ben Parsons rounded out the top five.

In the women’s race Sari Anderson (Carbondale, CO) was crowned National Champion, with Stevie Kremmer (CB, CO) in second and Gimma Arro Ribol, from Spain in third.  Listening to Sari at the finish the Gimma was wicked fast on the uphills but not as aggressive on the downhills. 

The race is tough for a lot of reasons already mentioned, but the stats don’t lie.  8000 ft of vertical gain/loss and over two hours and forty minutes of racing for the guys and probably over three hours for the women….how’s that for many athletes first skimo race of  the season?!

Jon Brown end up 9^th in the men’s division and Jari secured tenth in the women’s division.

The weather was reasonably mild with bright sun.  I personally ate two gels and about 8oz of Acli-mate during the race.  I certainly think I could have benefited by eating one additional gel to have some energy for the last 30-40 minutes of the race. 

A great day of racing!

A video of the action from Saturday's race:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wt9zSLO4S4

Results can be found here: 

http://jacksonrandoneerace.blogspot.com/

Kevin Krill's photos here 

Happy New Year from Team CB

Its been an ugly start snow wise, but we are thankful for the snow we do have.  No sitting around and complaining about the lack of snow for this crew....  Take for instance this morning....the last day of 2011.  We joined Chris Miller for an attempt at some ski touring video.

 Wind Gusts to 95 MPH on Scarp Ridge?!?!? No Problem....let's go ski!  Take it all in stride, get out there and ski!  No Bad Days.....

Off to Jackson Hole later this week for US Nationals on Saturday the 7th. Targhee on the 8th.

Pray for snow.

Happy New Year

Team CB

Irwin Rando Video

Videographer Chris Miller was out capturing footage from the 12/10/11 skimo race.

click here to get to the Youtube footage.

Do your snow dance!

2011 Irwin CSOMIC Rando Results

Thanks to the volunteers for helping with results.  As you know we don't use a Tag Hauer or Rolex timing system...its better than a sun dial but is not accurate to the second.  That being said here are the results:

Thanks for coming out to this 2nd annual event.  Its quickly becoming an instant classic.  Jackson Hole US Nationals on the 7th of January. 

The CB race will be the GoreTex North American Skimo Championships, presented by Arc'teryx.  You will need Crampons, ascender, harness, and via ferrata set up to race.  We will have fixed rope lines up the Guide Ridge.  It will add a technical element to the race never seen before in North America.  Do your snow dance!