North American Ski Mountaineering Championships 2012

North American Ski Mountaineering Championships 2012

                                                              

Crested Butte, Colorado January 27-29

Race course profile

  

The Crested Butte Mountain Resort hosts, with representation from the International Ski Mountaineering Federation, the North American Ski Mountaineering Championships. The race involves two days of racing: Saturday will be a Sprint venue. Sunday will be the Traditional Individual race. The combined times of both days reveals the winner.

                                                             

                                                         

The course follows the ridges to the Peak



Saturday’s Sprint venue will consist of a quick technical uphill/downhill/boot-pack/transition course. The vertical will be approximately 600 feet. The course will start with an uphill skin, downhill ski, uphill skin followed by uphill boot-pack and skin to top then a final downhill. A lot of transitions and a super fast pace throughout the race is expected.

Big views from Crested Butte

                                                                

Sunday’s Individual race venue boasts approximately 5,300 feet of vertical gain. The starting elevation hovers at 9,375 feet and the first limb takes us to the summit of Peak 12,162. A via ferrata system on fixed ropes will be used while ascending a Class 5 ridge to the summit of Peak 12,162. Three major climbs will be involved as well as two boot-packs. Three long downhills will provide some relief to the lungs.

                                                                

The weather forecast calls for a quick storm tonight with some snow and then cold temperatures dropping below zero for both race days.

Terrain near CB

                                                          

The race will draw the best racers from the United States, Canada, and rumors have some of the Italian Team members competing as well. The Italians are currently the top Team in Europe on the 2012 World Cup ski mountaineering circuit.

The weekend looks to be busy. Tomorrow I plan on checking out the Individual course in the morning and the Sprint course later in the day. There is a mandatory meeting/gear check from 4-7pm on Friday. I look forward to seeing all the good friends and racers. Today I briefly ran into friend and race coordinator Bryan Wickenhauser and two Canadians. Another update tomorrow. Fortunately, the good friends and supporters at JHMR and CBMR provided excellent slope side accomadations.

                                                                  

Sleep well for the big races