World Skimo Championships - Team Race Recap

Submitted by brackec on

What a day. The US had amazing finishes at the Team Race. We had our best ever finish with the Women's Team of Janelle and Stevie who finished in 5th place. At their first World Championships, McKenna and Kim finished a very strong 9th place. On the men's side the field was extremely competitive and Max and John were able to finish 10th place. Luke and Marshall come in at 17th place. Andy and Tom were 21st and they just barely beat Greg and Scott at the finish line sprint who finished 22nd. These strong placings show just how far skimo racing has come in the US. It wasn't that long ago that It would have been a successful race for the US to finish 30th. There were 32 men's teams and 11 women's teams. The race was long. It was published as ~7,500', but the men had 8,500' and women had 7,900' on their watch at the end of the race.

Now for the details. It was a cold day at the start. It was cold enough that the race required all racers to have 2 pair of gloves and 4 upper body layers. The racers did what they could to stay warm while warming up and preparing. It was a great atmosphere to see all the racers getting ready.

Janelle and Stevie at the start

After dropping off the racers at the starting line and making sure every one was ready to go, Meredith, Matt, and I (Chad) drop up the mountain to get on the course. We needed to be at the top of the mountain at the only feed zone. We had hoped to get over by the crampon booted, but this was the only area we could provide support and after close to 5,000' of climbing, we new the racers would likely need water.

Photo of Meredith and Chad

We watched all of the US teams come through the check point, then headed down to the finish.

Unfortunately, we missed the top teams finishing, but it was a great atmosphere to watch all the US Team s comes through especially with our strong finishes!!!!

Here are some finish line photos from the US Team

Max & John: 10th place

Luke & Marshall: 17th

Tom, Andy, Scott, & Greg: 21st & 22nd

Janelle & Stevie: 6th

Kim & McKenna: 9th

Results

After everyone finished, we had a team lunch, then back to the hotel so the people who raced today could rest and those who race tomorrow could prepare. Meredith, Micah, Matt, and I went out to the sprint course and did 6 laps so they could practice their transitions. Meredith and Micah were able to learn and perfect their double skin transition which will be very helpful for them during Monday's sprint. The US will have Max, Luke, Andy, Tom, Nina, Meredith, Matt, and Micah all racing in the sprint. The sprints are a lot of fun. They are 100% maximum effort for 3-4 minutes where racers will climb ~300 feet with 5 switchbacks and a booted, then race GS gates down. The top racers proceed to the quarter finals, semi finals, and finals. Here is a map of Monday's sprint course.What a day. The US had amazing finishes at the Team Race. We had our best ever finish with the Women's Team of Janelle and Stevie who finished in 5th place. At their first World Championships, McKenna and Kim finished a very strong 9th place. On the men's side the field was extremely competitive and Max and John were able to finish 10th place. Luke and Marshall come in at 17th place. Andy and Tom were 21st and they just barely beat Greg and Scott at the finish line sprint who finished 22nd. These strong placings show just how far skimo racing has come in the US. It wasn't that long ago that It would have been a successful race for the US to finish 30th. There were 32 men's teams and 11 women's teams. The race was long. It was published as ~7,500', but the men had 8,500' and women had 7,900' on their watch at the end of the race.

Now for the details. It was a cold day at the start. It was cold enough that the race required all racers to have 2 pair of gloves and 4 upper body layers. The racers did what they could to stay warm while warming up and preparing. It was a great atmosphere to see all the racers getting ready.

Photo of start (from Bryce)

After dropping off the racers at the starting line and making sure every one was ready to go, Meredith, Matt, and I (Chad) drop up the mountain to get on the course. We needed to be at the top of the mountain at the only feed zone. We had hoped to get over by the crampon booted, but this was the only area we could provide support and after close to 5,000' of climbing, we new the racers would likely need water.

Photo of McKenna and I

We watched all of the US teams come through the check point, then headed down to the finish.

Photo of US racers (from Bryce)

Unfortunately, we missed the top teams finishing, but it was a great atmosphere to watch all the US Team s comes through especially with our strong finishes!!!!

Here are some finish line photos from the US Team

Max & John: 10th place

Luke & Marshall: 17th

 

Tom, Andy, Scott, & Greg: 21st & 22nd

 

Janelle & Stevie: 6th

 

Kim & McKenna: 9th

Results

 

After everyone finished, we had a team lunch, then back to the hotel so the people who raced today could rest and those who race tomorrow could prepare. Meredith, Micah, Matt, and I went out to the sprint course and did 6 laps so they could practice their transitions. Meredith and Micah were able to learn and perfect their double skin transition which will be very helpful for them during Monday's sprint. The US will have Max, Luke, Andy, Tom, Nina, Meredith, Matt, and Micah all racing in the sprint. The sprints are a lot of fun. They are 100% maximum effort for 3-4 minutes where racers will climb ~300 feet with 5 switchbacks and a booted, then race GS gates down. The top racers proceed to the quarter finals, semi finals, and finals. Here is a map of Monday's sprint course.

World Skimo Championships - Day 1

Submitted by brackec on

See post below the official race poster.

The World Skimo Championships are officially underway.   This is the 7th World Championship Race with 3 continents, 23 countries, and 220 athletes participating.  This is an important World Championships as the IOC is present to evaluate the races as part of the ISMF bid for ski mountaineering to be a demonstration sport in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The final submission is due at the end of February and we are hoping for a decision in May.

The US Team started arriving to Pelvoux, France on Wednesday and the last team member arrived this afternoon.  The Team's travels weren't without issues.  On Wednesday, Kim and McKenna had rental car issues when their rental car was unable to navigate the stormy, slippery roads and they had to  abandon the car and take a taxi into Pelvoux.  On Thursday, Luke, Andy, Micah, Scott, and John picked up the car from Wednesday, but they did get one of Micah's bags.  The crew leaving the US on Thursday had the worst problems.  Chad and Tom's flight to Chicago was 2 hours delayed out of SLC so we would have missed our Paris connection.  we were rerouted to Seattle and then Paris, but ended up with very little time to catch that flight in SLC and only a 30 minute layover in Seattle.  As we tracked out bags, we found that they went to Detroit and were handed off to Air France to the flight to Paris.  Max was supposed to arrive at 10AM, but also ran into huge delays and didn't arrive until 1:45PM.  Greg was also delayed due to Chicago weather and didn't arrive until 2:15. Bags were another issue.  Between the 5 of us that arrived on Friday, we had 10 bags and only 3 arrived.  As of Saturday night Greg is still without any bags and Micah's bag has also not arrived.  Luckily the team has extra gear that can be borrowed, but it is always hard to race on gear you are not familiar with.

Once we all arrived in Pelvoux on Friday, we had a team dinner followed by our first nightly team meeting to go over plans for the week and specifically for Saturday.  

US National Skimo Team loading up in Pelvoux

Saturday was registration, course recon, and pre-race briefing.  Since we were short gear, Tom was able to borrow skis and boots from Andy, Chad loaned my boots to Greg and he borrowed Bryce's skis.  Unfortunately, this mean that Chad couldn't get out on the course to try to figure out where to meet the team during Sunday's Team Race.  Saturday Registration turned into another endeavor.  What should have taken 20 minutes for the entire team to get checked in, took 2 hours.  Luckily after 1 hour we were able to send the team out on the course and Bryce and I finished up the registration process.

 

Team Registration

In the afternoon, were the opening ceremonies which was a festive affair feature a parade of athletes, welcoming speeches from various officials, and music.

ISMF World Skimo Championships Opening Ceremony

Each evening is the coaches briefing with details of the following days race.  The official races start at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning with the Men''s Team Race followed at 9:45 with the Women's Team Race.  Here is a link to map of the Teams Race Course.

Maps of the ISMF World Skimo Championship Team Race maps.

We will continue to tweet photos and updates that can be viewed at www.twitter.com/USSMA_SkiMo or by following @USSMA_SkiMo from your Twitter account.

 

Meet the Skimo Racer - Marshall Thomson

Submitted by brackec on

Birthplace: Springfield MA

Current hometown and mountain range: Crested Butte

If you were not born in the mountains, what drew you to them or enabled you to move to there:Grew up in the small ski town Ludlow VT

Age when you started skiing: 2

Number of years you have been skiing: 31 with many of these spent on a snowboard

How long have you been skimo racing: 3 yrs

How did you get into skimo racing:Training for the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse

Was there a moment of realization that helped you step it up to the next level of competition: My girlfriend and SkiMo racer Stevie Kremer was stronger and faster than me

What is your favorite thing about skimo racing: Being in the Mountains skiing and the people I have met

What is your favorite skimo race: Irwin and all of the ones I have yet to do

What is your most memorable skimo moment:  Watching my brother finish the 2013 Jackson Hole race

What do you do to keep in shape for skimo racing in the off-season: Trail Running

What is your favorite non-skimo sport of hobby: Riding Dirtbikes / best workout ever

Skimo race wins:

  • 2011 Irwin SkiMo 1st place
  • 2012 5 peaks of Breckenridge 1st Coed 2nd Overall
  • 2012 Elk Mountain Grand Traverse 2nd place
  • 2012 Race the Divide Monarch 2nd place
  • 2012 Teva Mtn Games SkiMo 1stplace
  • 2012 Heathen Challenge at Sunlight 2nd place

Skimo race you have not done that you would really like to do: Pierra Menta

Preference of skimo race format (technical vs. non-technical; in-bounds vs. backcountry; etc): They are all fun, I like technical Climbing

Preferred skimo gear (skis, bindings, skins, boots, pack, etc.):

  • Skis: Dynafit DyNA
  • Boots: Dynafit DyNA Evo
  • Bindings: Dynafit Low Tech Race
  • Poles: Dynafit DyNA Race Carbon
  • Pack: Dynafit RC20
  • Suit: Dynafit Speed Up race suit
  • Helmet: CAMP Speed
  • Visor: Rudy Project
  • Glasses: Smith PivLoc V90

Favorite piece of skimo gear: Dynafit DyNA race Skis

Best skimo training tip: With everyone being super fit races are becoming more about the down. Ski your little skis more

Best advice for beginner skimo racers: Slow down and avoid careless transition mistakes

Skimo race nutrition preference:   Anything that doesn’t freeze. I really like Hammer Nutrition Perpeteum

Favorite post race beverage: Beer

Personal website/blog: www.karliracing.com

Meet the Skimo Racer - McKenna Douglas

Submitted by brackec on

Birthplace: Maryland

Current hometown and mountain range: Vail, Colorado

If you were not born in the mountains, what drew you to them or enabled you to move to there: CU Boulder, love for the outdoors and snowball making

Age when you started skiing: 3

Number of years you have been skiing: 30 and change

How long have you been skimo racing: 2 years, don’t discount the “newbie”

How did you get into skimo racing: Heard about a backcountry “race” in Irwin, outside of Crested Butte- and thought that is right up my alley.

Was there a moment of realization that helped you step it up to the next level of competition: Probably my first race. I fell hard for the sport

What is your favorite thing about skimo racing: The ups and downs. Never a dull moment

What is your favorite skimo race: All the races keep me on my toes

What is your most memorable skimo moment: Post first race reflection and an upslope

What do you do to keep in shape for skimo racing in the off-season: Hit the dirt … endurance trail racing with a side of road riding and other odd activities

What is your favorite non-skimo sport of hobby: Anything that involves getting my heart rate up-sledding with team M&M, hucking snowballs

Skimo race wins: Always a bridesmaid, never the bride- I’ve had many top 5er’s

Skimo race you have not done that you would really like to do: Pierra Menta

Preference of skimo race format (technical vs. non-technical; in-bounds vs. backcountry; etc): as long as I’m on two planks it’s all good

Preferred skimo gear (skis, bindings, skins, boots, pack, etc.):hagan skis, pdg dyanfit boots, low tech race binding, camp/dynafit packs

Favorite piece of skimo gear: my suit!!!

Best skimo training tip: up up and climb some more then lap a chair.

Best advice for beginner skimo racers: learn the tricks of transitions

Skimo race nutrition preference: Stinger gels bars chews and waffles, green drink,nun

Favorite post race beverage: Up Slope Beer

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