United States Ski Mountaineering Association
News
Sari Anderson and Brian Smith win The Heathen Challenge
Submitted by admin on January 14, 2012 - 8:30pmThe Heathen Challenge 2012 Racers enjoyed a sunny day of racing on a technical course with three boot packs and multiple transtions. Brian Smith and Marshall Thompson were together at the the final transition. Brian took the lead on the final descent with Jon Brown taking third. On the women's side, Sari Anderson was followed in by Stevie Kremer and Jari Kirkland. Results are attached.
Next up in the COSMIC series is the North American Championships at Crested Butte on January 28th/29th followed by a Monday afternoon race at Winter Park on the 30th.
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Heathen Challenge at Sunlight is a GO
Submitted by admin on January 9, 2012 - 6:21amJan. 9th update:
Sunlight Mt. has snow. We're a go on Saturday the 14th, likely course map attached. There will be at least two, possibly three boot pack climbs and lots of switchbacks on the final climb. Practice those kickturns and transions. See you soon.
COURSE MAP ATTACHED
Race date for the 2012 Heathen Challenge is Saturday, January 14th. More backcountry this year; we'll be skinning more outside of the "ski area" in the permit area and using the ski area runs for descents.
- Friday pm registration is at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs from 5-7pm.
- 8 AM START, late registration, number pick-up in Sunlight Mt. base lodge from 6:30 am.
The RECREATION course will be approximately 2,500 ft., the RACE COURSE 4,000+.
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CS Irwin Race starts the season
Submitted by admin on December 12, 2011 - 8:52pmOn Saturday December 8th, CS Irwin Lodge outside of Crested Butte Colorado hosted the first race of the season in fine style. Stevie Kremer took the women's race ahead of Sari Anderson and Janelle Smiley. Marshall Thomson won the men's race with Brian Smith and Brian Wickenhauser on the podium.
Event pictures from Kevin Krill are here: http://tinyurl.com/7h8zgjr
See results on the Races tab.
2012 COSMIC Schedule
Submitted by admin on September 5, 2011 - 5:29pmThe 2012 COSMIC schedule is here and includes ten events. More specific event details will be added throughout the Fall.
Of special note for 2012 is a new event at Vail: the Teva Winter Games presented by Eddie Bauer. Ski mountaineering and the COSMIC series is excited to be a part of this world-class celebration of sport. The Elite category prizelist of $5,000 makes this North America's richest skimo race. The Feb. 11th race includes courses for three different categories/distances; there's something for everyone.
San Juans Molas Pass Race Report
Submitted by admin on April 24, 2011 - 9:42amIt's everyone's favorite course but the weather gods didn't co-operate and the event was stopped just over half distance due to low visibility and wet snow. Beer and burritos still tasted good and everyone was a winner at the raffle. We'll be back next year and a big thanks to the Silverton Avi School and Pine Needle Mountaineering for making it all go.
Pictures are here: http://bit.ly/gYVyRE
San Juans Rando course pictures
Submitted by admin on April 16, 2011 - 11:37amThe 2011 San Juans Rando Race course photos are here:
http://sanjuanrando2011.blogspot.com/2011/04/race-course.html
This is North America's ONLY 100% backcountry skimo race.
2011 The Five Peaks results and photos
Submitted by admin on April 10, 2011 - 9:25am2011 Results are attached. Crested Butte Photography photos are HERE.
"Short" course are teams that were moved ahead on the course, "solo" were teams that finished with one team member.
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San Juans Rando race registration is open
Submitted by admin on April 5, 2011 - 8:32pmThe San Juans race is unique in North America - 100% backcountry. All skin tracks, couloirs and big mt. descents. If you've been over Molas Pass you know the area, we're next to the Sultan on the peaks on the west side of the pass. This race ran in 2009 and it was incredible, after a year it's back thanks to the help of Pine Needle Mountaineering in Durango and the Silverton Avalanche School in Silverton.
Registration is here: http://sanjuanrando2011.eventbrite.com/
Yes, it's getting late in the season but plan a day after of mountain biking in Durango or a backcountry ski off Red Mt. Pass. This is a true backcountry ski mountaineering race - well worth making a weekend trip out of it.
April 5th The Five Peaks Update
Submitted by admin on April 5, 2011 - 4:30pmRace day weather - 40 degrees and cloudy, slight chance of snow. Most likely conditions will be few inches of fresh on a solid base, should make for some fast skinning and nice skiing off the tops of Peak 9, 8 and 7.
Note that The Five Peaks Friday packet pickup/late registration (4-7pm) has been moved to Mountain Outfitters at 112 S. Ridge St. in Breckenridge. Post-race happy hour at Kenosha Steakhouse now starts at 1 pm - a good reason to go faster. The raffle and awards will start a little before 5 pm.
March 19th The Five Peaks Update
Submitted by admin on March 19, 2011 - 2:33pmThe 2011 updated course map is attached - 8,560 ft. of good times. We've been skiing around this week enjoying the good snow and tweaking the course to include some new areas. Big news is the final Peak 7 climb is back - and it's bigger. This year's Peak 7 climb starts at the Ore Bucket backcountry gate and ascends via the Dunes area and re-enters the ski area at the new upper backcountry gate on Peak 7.
The new second climb is an ascent of Peak 9 via the The Buttress and north ridge. The n. ridge climb is a perfect blend of skinning/booting/swearing/big views/scrambling... The final 400m of this ridge walk has a great alpine feel and we think it'll be popular. We're including boot crampons in the mandatory gear list in the event of bullet-proof spring corn. The descent off Peak 9 is the same for both the first two climbs.
As with any skimo race, the course is highly weather-dependent but with fair or better weather the attached is a go. In the event of heavy snow the "weather" course will be primarily in the below-treeline lift served areas.
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