Mountain Hardwear/Life-Link/Dynafit Ski Mountaineering Race

[world'sworsttelemarker]

Last year there was a version of this race at Mad River Glen and Sugarbush. Has anyone seen or heard anything about whether it'll be repeated there or elsewhere in the East this coming season? Or perhaps whether there might be a similar event in the region? I have this whacky idea of entering it -- lured by the promise in last year's promotional materials that there are plenty of people who enter just for the joy of doing it rather than trying to actually compete.

In case you don't know, simply put, these ski mountaineering events have participants skin up then ski down. Thus, they combine aerobic endurance with downhill skiing skill and strength, along with some tactics. In other words, it's just the ticket for people like me, who aren't real good at either but do ok when they're put together.

 

[Jonathan S.]

That is exactly the kind of whacky idea that is to be encouraged!

This year's national-series stop in the Mad River Valley will be February 3 (Sunday).

In previous years, Jay Peak and Bretton Woods have held races. (Bolton Valley also held some sort of version of a race two years ago, but nothing last year, so unclear what's going on there.) Whaleback also held a 12-hour competition last year, as part of a charity fundraiser, so I'm unsure whether that's intended to be an annually recurring event.

Eventually we'll post this coming year's northeastern rando race schedule at:
http://www.nerandorace.com

We haven't done much with the website recently though, since we're focusing on efforts on trying to entice smaller ski areas closer to Boston & NYC to host races. (Suggestions for possible host sites are most certainly welcome -- any hill with vert >=600' is enough for a race with multiple laps.)

But if you go to the results page:
http://www.nerandorace.com/results.html
Then clicking on each race will give you a course description:
http://www.nerandorace.com/MRG_course.html

Other background info here:
http://www.nerandorace.com/primer.html
http://www.nerandorace.com/gear.html

The national website needs lots of updates, but still some good background there:
http://www.ussma.org

Here's the website for a Colorado series
http://www.cosmicski.com/

And here's the page from a rando racer's blog that has the current national & Colorado dates:
http://www.tetonat.com/?p=258

Here's an international website - not much English content (although
check out those NZ pics!), but still fun to browse:
http://www.skimountaineering.org/

 

[astrotech]

I have been doing these races with the 'just-having-fun' mentality and I have been having a blast. The MRG/Sugarbush rally has been the largest, both in length and racer field size, and the course has some nice skiing and touring parts. There are a couple views off of the Long Trail portion that are worth all the effort.

WWT, hope to see you at one of the rallies.

Jonathan, I know I will see you there.

 

[JimG.]

Really nice to see a new member answer another new member's questions. Keep posting these valuable pieces of info!

 

[lepistoir]

Big thanks to Jonathan S for putting out all the info. Y'all NEasters have some cool looking races that I'd love to try.

USSMA.org is currently being completely redone and should go live in a week or so. Keep checking back. Feel free to contact me if you have info that should go on there. There will also be places to share training tips, trip reports, do some pre-race trash talking, etc.
Watch for it!
There are currently 15 races listed there so help us out with any other races or events related to stomping vert.
-H