Events & Races

I thought I was challenging myself until I started to play in the mountains more seriously.
I thought I was having lots fun until I started to meet new people that had similar views on life.
Ski mountaineering merged those two things (challenge and fun) for me into one.
Now, I want to challenge you to try it out too because I know at least another 100 people it worked for as well as for me.

Ready for something new?

Poster to the right of this sentence invites you to the best ski mountaineering event in North America, in my opinion.
It is a 2 day event at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, and you can customize the whole experience:

• First day offers 3 racing courses to choose from based on your ability – from the easiest to the hard core.
• Second day offers a team relay race where you can compete against other teams of 2 to 4 people.
• The night in between is purely fun time with a great party at 2400m inside the Eagle’s Eye restaurant.

Here is what others are doing

They click this link – more info – to visit Golden Skimo’s website to read more. Then they register.
Or some just clicked here – online registration – and signed up for their adventure.
Bring your smile and see you there,
Stano Faban – skimo racing lover

Last winter the Tiki Torch Dash was an opening event of a new racing season and proved to be lots of fun.
This time around the date has been moved from December to January to give everyone some time to get their legs ready.
The Tiki Torch Dash is a great night event that is especially suited for starting skimo racers or anyone that just wants to have little competitive fun with friends.
Ski late into the night, have a tasty dinner, then head for the pub 😉

Two events (+ dinner) in one entry fee

Main event
The main event consists of four laps, each including a 600 ft climb and a 600 ft descent. It can be raced solo or as a two person team alternating after each lap.
a 600 ft climb and a descent
The King of the Hill Climb
The King of the Hill Climb is set to start after the main relay race. This event is a solo challenge for Ski Mountaineering Competition of Canada points (SMCC) and involves a climb from the Kicking Horse Plaza to the top of the Pioneer Chair.

Tiki Torch Dash facts:

• date – Saturday Jan 15, 2011
• location – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Golden BC
• very friendly atmosphere
• registration – early bird (before Jan 14th) is $31, and $40 on race day
• both are night events – headlamps are mandatory
• bring also beacon, shovel, probe, helmet (bike helmet is OK)
• everyone is welcome – skimo gear, tele, split-boards, snowshoes
• prizes for costumes as well as fast times
• complimentary dinner

Tiki Torch Dash schedule:

• 2.00pm – 4.30pm: Last min registration at Day Lodge
• 5.30pm: Tiki Torch Dash start (main event) at Plaza
• 7.00pm: Hill climb start (solo) at Plaza
• After: awards and dinner

Vert 180 brings a new format to Canadian ski mountaineering racing that will showcase the sport in an altered way, however, it will showcase it to much bigger masses than ever before.
This Calgary event will be hosted so close to people not even Europeans have had a race like this before. So organize your friends for a relay team and a night of great fun.
This is an opening event of another great Canadian skimo racing season that is ahead of us.

What will be different with Vert 180 race?

Vert 180 name stands for totaling as much vertical as possible in 180 minutes by doing laps on a pre-set course.
This is the vertical you or your team is able to climb. The descent vertical does not count but the race is on during the downhill too, since the faster you schuss the more time is left to do more laps – more vertical.
This format is destined to deliver lots of fun and share great moments with friends, never mind this race will be going on under the star skies.

Vert 180 quick facts:

• date is November 27, 2010
• hosted at COP (Canada Olympic Park) in Calgary
• it is night event with a start at 5.30pm
• atmosphere will be extremely friendly
• everyone is welcome – skimo gear, tele, split-boards, snowshoes
• categories are solo or 2 and 4 person relay teams
• registration is $40 per person, payable the day of the race
  
• mandatory gear is to be determined (but bring a beacon, shovel, probe, helmet – cycling one is good)

More info

To get more information you can either email Vert180Calgary@gmail.com or call 403-678-3200 (ext. 108). Email contact is preferred.

During the upcoming Easter weekend Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (near Golden) will host the final round of the Canadian Ski Mountaineering Cup with its second annual Dogtooth Dash event.

Starting gun will go off on April 3rd (Saturday) and once again the event will be coveted as Canadian Ski Mountaineering Championships.
The race is run in partnership with the Alpine Club of Canada, the Golden Ski Mountaineering Club and the Kicking Horse Mtn Safety team.
The course is one the most challenging ski mountaineering race courses in North America, utilizing all three alpine bowls and featuring: technical boot packs, descents on each ridge line and a unique Le-Mans start.
The Dogtooth Dash race course is set entirely within the ski area boundary and will challenge athletes with about 5000 vertical feet of climbing/descending on the competitive course, and 2600 ft of climbing/descending on the rec course.
» If Dogtooth Dash is going to be your first skimo race then make sure to check out an older article that gives tips and advice for your first ski mountaineering race.

Basic facts and wide range of prizing categories

• Two race course options:
  • Competitive (full course) and Recreational (poker run)
• Cash prizing for the fastest male and female racers of the day in the competitive course
• Masters prizing classes for racers 40+ and 50+
• The recreational class poker run with participants grabbing cards at transition stations and playing the best hand for first grabs at prizes at the Eagle’s Eye après
• New junior class for youth 18 and under:
  • With free entry for the first 10 under 19 racers
  • In partnership with backcountrysafety.com
• For more info and to register online see Golden Skimo blog
• Included in the entry fee is the chance to win great door prizes, apres at the Eagles Eye, lift ticket for the whole day and dinner at the pre-race meeting.

Sponsors
More prizes this year from The North Face, Integral Designs, Suunto, Black Diamond, Dynafit, Kicking Horse Coffee, Rossignol and more.
Go, race and have fun!

Updated with current photos from critical parts of the race course. See at the bottom of the article under “Photo updates”.
This Saturday, Sunshine Village ski resort (16km west of Banff, AB) will be the venue for a second round of the Canadian skimo racing series.
There are two courses ready for you – one shorter less challenging and one long that also includes a descent of Delirium Dive run.

Sunshine 5000 quick facts:

• date – Feb 6th, 2010
• two courses
• three categories – Race, Citizen and Introductory
• bring also beacon, shovel, probe, helmet
• everyone is welcome – skimo gear, tele, split-boards, snowshoes

Sunshine 5000 itinerary:

Race course
Race course is a serious challenge for experienced ski mountaineers. It will feature a total ascent of about 1400-1500 vertical metres over a distance of about 18km. Delirium Dive, the steepest line in the resort, is planned also for this course.
The course will feature 5-6 ascents and 4-5 downhill sections. One or two climbs will include a boot pack section were your skis need to be strapped to your ski pack.
Citizens course
A great challenge for novice ski mountaineering racers and for those that don’t feel fit enough for the goods of the race course.
This course will feature 4 climbs and 3 downhills while gaining about 700 vertical metres over 6-7 km.
» As a novice to ski mountaineering racing you may find useful this article – 6 tips to get you ready for your first skimo race.

Sunshine 5000 schedule:

• Last minute registration (7-8pm) and a mandatory pre-race meeting (8-9pm) on Feb 5th in the Heritage Room at the Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse in Canmore
• Feb 6th, 2010 at 7:30 am
  Loading a gondola at Sunshine Gondola Base
• Feb 6th, 2010 at 9:00 am
  Race begins for both categories and race courses from Sunshine Day Lodge start area
• Feb 6th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
  Awards ceremony and draw prizes at Skier Services, Sunshine Gondola Base

More info and registration:

For more detailed information, race maps and registration information visit this page on the Alpine Club of Canada website – http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/ccc/ismc/index.html

Photo updates

I took the below photos on Wed, Feb 3, 2010. During the previous night about 10cm of fresh powder fell and covered an older harder surface. Good skiing overall, didn’t hit any rocks.