Alba De Silvestro

This is our first recap of the 2020 skimo racing season!

We are looking forward to bringing you results and analysis of both North American and International races again this winter.

Whether you are an athlete or race organizer, please, let us know if you’d like to help contribute news from events (especially from the women’s field). Don’t hesitate to reach out via SkinTrack’s Facebook Messenger.

International Race News

ISMF World Cup – Aussois, France – Dec 20-21, 2019:

Individual and Sprint Races

The first stage of the ISMF World Cup opened this weekend in France with an individual and sprint events.

The first day (individual race) was marked by difficult weather conditions that necessitated a course reduction. Robert Antonioli (ITA) and Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (FRA) each ran away with their respective senior victories. The men’s podium was rounded out by Matteo Eydallin (ITA) and Werner Marti (SUI), and the women’s podium by Marianne Fatton (SUI) and by the young Guilia Murada (ITA).

The sprint event was featured on TV in Europe, with better weather than the previous day. The Swiss team performed very well with Iwan Arnold and Marion Fatton winning the senior events. Robert Antonioli (ITA) and Damiano Lenzi (ITA) chased hard but had to settle for 2nd and 3rd. Déborah Chiarello (SUI) and Marianna Jagercikova (SVK) took the podium in the women’s race.

North Americas were represented in the individual race by Sierra Anderson (USA) who placed 10th in the senior women’s race and Grace Staberg (USA) who placed 3rd in the junior women’s event! Sierra finished 13th in the sprint while Grace notched another top-10 with an 8th place finish.

> Full results for both events

USA and Canada Race News

Wolf Creek Skimo – Colorado – Dec 14, 2019:

Thirty-one racers met at the Wolf Creek Ski Area for December’s COSMIC race.

Scott Archer won the overall in snowy conditions with Arthur Whitehead just two-seconds behind in the nearly two and a half hour race, with Paul Mumford in third. Leora Wallace won solidly over Ashley Carruth and Gina Base.

> Full results

Vert180 – Calgary, Canada – Dec 7, 2019:

Vert180 changed its format slightly and now the event lasts 120 minutes instead of the original 180.

The traditional season opener in Canada requires athletes to repeat laps of about 120m vertical on the Canada Olympic Park ski hill in Calgary. The winning men completed 14 laps total with Tyson Smith taking the win over Peter Knight and Nathan Smith in third. Marg Fedyna completed 10 laps to win over Alison Walford and Martha Burley.

> Full results

Upcoming North American Events

Castle Mountain Skimo Race – Alberta, Canada – Jan 4/5, 2020:

The Castle races feature an Individual and Sprint event. The individual race offers difficult skinning followed by a ridge-top portion on foot – usually accompanied by cold winds. The descents are fast and steep with a finish down the powder cat skiing terrain. Expect good competition between athletes from the Rockies, the Coast, and usually a few from Montana!

For accommodation at Castle visit StayCastle.ca

Heathen Challenge – Colorado – Jan 4, 2020:

This is one of the bigger races in Colorado at Sunlight Ski Area. Expect big climbs and difficult off piste descents and the infamous Heathen descent to the finish.

Skimo racing season is wrapping up around the World. The Canadian Cup is complete and the final World Cup was contested over the weekend. Just a few races remain to be held in the US including a postponed Irwin Guides event, and several events in the Sierras.
Most skiers in the Pacific North West and Rockies are turning their eye towards big spring objectives and steep skiing while athletes in Colorado and the East Coast are already thinking about the start of their cycling and running seasons.

USA and Canada Race News

Cody’s Challenge – Steamboat Colorado – April 8, 2018:

Max Taam was challenged by Charlie Macarthur but ultimately stayed ahead by slim two seconds while it took another five minutes for the third place finisher to complete the 2 hour course. Sarah Cookler was unchallenged for the female win and Grace Staberg finished in second. Alex Pond rounded out the men’s podium.
> Full Results

International Race News

ISMF World Cup – Italy – April 6-8, 2018:

Italy continues to dominate in the final World Cup of the season on their home turf. The racing in the Italian Dolomites, at Madonna di Campiglio, was incredibly beautiful and a perfect example of why skimo is such an amazing sport.
Individual Race
Robert Antonioli sniped Michele Boscacci for the final individual win with Matteo Eydallin rounding out the Italian podium. William Bon Mardion was the lone Frenchman in the top five. There were many notable absences including Kilian Jornet after breaking his leg at Pierra Menta, and Anton Palzer citing “health reasons”. Americans Cam Smith and Rory Kelly made the trip to Europe racing to 41st and 42nd respectively.

The French had better luck in the women’s race with Laetitia Roux winning both the individual and sprint, reminding the field that she’s not ready yet to step down from the podium. Her French teammate but Pierra Menta rival, Axelle Mollaret finished almost four minutes behind with Alba DeSilvestro taking the final step on the podium.

Sprint Race
Michele Boscacci and Laetitia Roux won their categories in the sprint event. Cam Smith had a respectable finish in 31st, just out of qualifying, while Rory Kelly placed 37th.
> Full Results

Lofoten Skimo – Lofoten Islands, Norway – March 10, 2018:

This race recap was sent to us by the local organizing committee.While this event took place a month ago, it is worth including it in our report as the route and scenery are truly spectacular.
The second edition of The Arctic Triple – Lofoten Skimo was on Saturday March 10^th. The race is organized in “the world’s most beautiful archipelago” – the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway, and the participants are overwhelmed by the experience. The weather was perfect and happy athletes finished what turned out to be an amazing arctic adventure.
Lofoten Skimo consists of two distances and there were both national and international participants at the first edition of the race. On the longest distance the racers cross 8 mountains tops and ridges and 4000 height meters in spectacular terrain. The shortest distance takes the athletes across 2 mountains and 1200 height meters.

The French athletes Mathèo Jacquemoud and Lèo Viret won both distances on the men’s side, while Norwegian Kristin Brandtsegg Lome was the best female on the long distance. The shorter distance on the women side was won by Chloè Guellerin. The winner time by Matheo for the Lofoten Skimo 4000 was 5 hours and 29 minutes. Leo won the shorter distance in 1 hours and 29 minutes, which is a new course record. The winner times on the women side was 7 hours and 19 minutes and Chloe spent 2 hours and 31 minutes finishing Lofoten Skimo 1000+.
“It was a really beautiful race. The race course, the friendly crew and the amazing nature in Lofoten really blew me away.” –  Mathèo Jacquemoud, France (winner of Lofoten Skimo 4000+)
Three races – three seasons
The Arctic Triple consists of three annual races set in week 11, 22 and 33. 2018 is the second year with all three races set up and Lofoten Skimo was first out. Next comes Lofoten Ultra-Trail in week 22 and the triple year is finalized with Lofoten Triathlon in week 33.
“We think Lofoten represents a unique arena for adventure races and with our concept we offer three amazing adventures in three different seasons in the arctic. Lofoten Skimo is in the middle of the northern lights season, Lofoten Ultra-Trail in the midnight sun season and Lofoten Skimo in the beautiful late summer.” – says Director Frank Hagen.

Upcoming Skimo Events

All that remains of newsworthy events is the bi-annual Patrouille de Glaciers! We’ll be watching closely the weather to see if the Patrol will be held as several North American teams plan to contest the route. Download the PDG app to follow along with your team of choice!