Feb 2, 2010 by Stano | 
Sunshine 5000 skimo race: Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
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.
Racers should be accessing the Delirium Dive down these stairs and making a bootpack traverse to where I am. Skiing is to lookers right.
People standing at the entrance to Delirium Dive.
Looking down from where the people were standing. Snow coverage looks good.
Looking up after about 130m vertical of skiing.
To me, these seem like the possible lines for the race course down the Delirium Dive.
Last year, we skinned up to the yellow dot then boot packed the rest. On Saturday, we should be reaching the boot pack from my position. Or there might be a slightly different line for a boot pack.
What next?
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8 Responses to “Sunshine 5000 skimo race: Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010”
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Gonna be a goodin’. Dave indicated on another post that they are contemplating changing the course so it starts at Gondola mid station and takes a more northerly ascent up through the trees to the first transition. Then the race would be pretty much the same but end again at the Goat’s Eye Gardens at Gondola mid-station. Any word on this Stano? Same vertical overall but ending on a descent instead of a climb. I kind of liked ending on the climb.
I haven’t heard of that version. Will have to see on Friday night what it is.
Check back for photos from Delirium Dive today…if the visibility is good enough.
nice stano
Thanks for the pics Stano. I skiied the dive a month ago it certainly was more bony that that so this looks promising!
thanks for the pics Stan. When I skied it on Mon. there were several rocks at the top. Bre-X chute and entrance were closed due to lack of snow, so the drop in line you pointed out will most likely be where we go. Mon. it was rock hard and I’ve seen people fall and not be able to self arrest themselves until they slide a couple hundred meters. The new snow should make it a little less spooky that way, but overall the addition of the Dive into the race makes it bordering on “Epic”!
Fine to finish with a climb, but the skins on finish from mid-station to the base wasn’t much of a climb at all.
We’re going to be starting/finishing the course from someplace close to the Gondola mid-station, to enable racers to hang out closer to the line when they’re done, have a warm place nearby, better communications with the patrol, etc. Thanks for the photos Stano, better than I got in the clag when Ryan and I were last up there.
Woop woop, nice work this weekend everyone!