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Julie Matteau

Canadian team summer skimo training camp – Revelstoke, Sep 15-16, 2012

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Since 2009 Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Team have been meeting every September for our summer training camp.
Previous camps were usually hosted in Canmore, AB by Steve Sellers but this year we thought it’s time for a change and organized it in Revelstoke, BC.
The team was pretty much complete with one exception – everyone’s favorite and North America’s fastest, Reiner Thoni, couldn’t make it as his old truck started to come apart a day before his departure.

Camp concept

The idea behind this camp wasn’t about training hard. It was about getting together and have good times.
We are also trying to blend in some younger blood into the team before people find themselves sharing a room at World Championships in February, 2013.
Attending: Melanie Bernier, Martha Burley, Steve Sellers, Stano Faban, Brad Schalles, Peter Knight, Adnrew McNab, Ian Gale, Jeff Colvin, Julie Matteau.

Day 1: hiko-running-scrambling Mt Cheops (2605m)

Summary of day one and all photos are from Brad Schalles (WestCoast Skimo – http://westcoastskimo.blogspot.ca/), one of new additions to the Team. Watch out for Brad this year, he will be the NA dark horse this year.
On Saturday the group split up, with five of us heading up to Rogers Pass for a run and scramble up 1300m to summit Mt Cheops. After meeting up with Steve, who had spent a cold night at the pass, we headed up the trail in the crisp morning air.
The run up to Balu Pass was fast and we all felt light on our feet on the superbly maintained trail. We made it to Balu in an hour and thirty minutes – we all remarked on how much faster it was to run up the valley rather than ski.

Just below the summit rock atop Cheops Mountain, from left: Steve Sellers, Martha Burley, Melanie Bernier, Stano Faban, Brad Schalles.
After a quick snack on top of the biggest rock we could find, we scrambled along the ridge to the top of Mt Cheops. At the summit we pulled a few bouldering moves to ensure that we were on the tippy top of Mt Cheops. We had a snack and took a group photo in our team Rab jackets, and then we set off down the ridge towards our next stop: an ice cold dip in Connaught Creek (which just might be the coldest creek in Canada).
We made a light-speed trip back to Revelstoke (thanks to Slovakian over-drive), and we regrouped at a fine local establishment with Andrew and Peter. They had spent the day at the Martha Creek Melt Down where Peter placed 1st and Andrew 4th. After a great night caching up and talking all things skimo, we headed home to rest up for the next big day of the camp.
Descending from Cheops with the Trans-Canada highway one vertical mile below us.

Day 2: Skimo pentathlon + bike ride

Watching the summer London Olympics left me with lots of inspiration and so on Sunday morning we all met at Revelstoke high school stadium. The leader for this session was Jeff Colvin – one of the fastest Canadian skimo racers few years back – who is a track & field coach at the school.
Under Jeff’s leadership we all completed the following “skimo pentathlon”:

  • 100m sprint
  • shot put
  • star run (agility run)
  • long jump (from stand-still)
  • 800m run

Everyone had loads of fun as none of us knew what to expect from each discipline. On top of that, by the time our heads somewhat grasped one skill it was time to move to something else – testing our adaptiveness in the process.
Women’s pentathlon was won by Melanie Bernier and men’s main prize went to Brad Schalles who blew everyone in the 800m run on top of winning the 100 dash.
» Revealing video coming soon 🙂
Afternoon
After a season planing meeting during the lunch we split into road and mountain biking groups.
In fact, it was only me and Brad riding the road. We had a good 3h ride in the sunset lit valley north of Revelstoke, riding the always twisting road on the shores of 130km long Lake Revelstoke.
The mountain bike group rode the shadowy side of the valley, however, great Revelstoke trails kept them warm too.

Next camp

Team’s next camp is in the works. It will likely be already on skis somewhere high in the beautiful Canadian mountains.

Face shots at ROAM Randonnee Rally – ski mountaineering race at Whitewater (Nelson, BC)

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With Whitewater’s excellent ski resort terrain, backcountry and an original vibe it is only logical that it hosts an event from Canada’s skimo racing calendar. The race is also one of many events that take place over the weekend-long annual Cold Smoke Powder Fest.
And why ROAM? Simply, ROAM (Rivers, Oceans and Mountains) is a great store with the best outdoor equipment in the center of Nelson, BC.  It is one of the main forces behind the whole festival and the skimo race, to which the store lends its name.

The race the strongest man won

After about 30h of snowfall, combined with a newer (longer) course, the race was set to be a “skins’ glue game” and a great endurance challenge. These conditions also meant that the pack of front hounds was kept somewhat together until the second to last descent.

ROAM randonnee rally race course 1
This shows the first loop of the course dominated by a long traverse on a wide ridge leading over the top of White Queen. The descent (marked red) under the big alpine basin brought racers back to the ski area.
From the very start Andrew McNab took it by the horns. Only on few occasions I (Stano Faban) was able to bridge up to him and break the trail. Others were always very close; among them Canada’s fastest girl Melanie Bernier.
First climb was a short 3min sprint up a cat track road. Then a quick treed descent onto cross country trails for about 5min of on-and-off skating. After that a long climb (500m) in the trees took us up on the shoulder. We followed it up and down (about 200m) for another 20+ minutes. Then finally a proper descent with lots of face shots brought us to the heart of the ski area.
Andrew left this bottom transition with 1-2 minute lead with another 5 of us closely together. From here on he marched like a man possessed. I managed to keep his lead in check and shed the others but only by following in his tracks. This climb (about 350m) was split with a tough boot-pack and delivered us on top of a great powder run called Elevator Shaft.
ROAM randonnee rally skimo race course 2
The start/finish are was just below the skins-on transition Andrew left with some lead. Course lead up Mother Load, boot-packed to the ridge, ski down Elevator Shaft and the drainage below. Then back over the long ridge, ski down through the saddle and Mother Load to the finish.
Throughout the whole race, especially on the last climb (about 500m), Andrew did huge amounts of work and even though I caught him before the top I was totally happy to let him ski for glory from this last top transition. And that is not to say that he needs any head start when it comes to skiing 😉
Behind us, over the last hour of racing, positions were exchanged regularly until the very end. Peter Knight bested Melanie Bernier and Nick Elson to the line and rounded the men’s podium while Melanie took the women’s top prize in front of Julie Matteau and Alexandra Dubois.
The race was long (new snow and 1610m of climbing in total) with Andrew winning in 2h 47min and the rest of us trickling in behind him in about 1-2min intervals.

Full results

» Men’s Race course
» Women’s Race course
» Men’s Rec course
» Women’s Rec course

Canadian Ski Mountaineering Racing Championships – Golden, BC

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Over the weekend Golden’s Kicking Horse Mountain Resort hosted the Canadian Ski Mountaineering National Championships for a fourth time.
Saturday saw the championship race over the 6000 ft course while most of the participants battled on the Enduro’s 4000 ft route. On Sunday, in a cozy atmosphere, elite racers helped the new guys with some skills tips and both raced on a short but a very technical course relay style.

Katarina Kuba and Eric Carter finishing their relay races on Sunday.
The facts of the weekend were:

  • great overall turnout despite missing some regular racers
  • 14 racers were women
  • and, the previous champions are king and queen once again

How it happened

This video captures the atmosphere, write up below provides more details. Enjoy.

43 people took part in racing on Saturday. This number could have been more than 50 if schedule conflicts or illness didn’t take out a   couple of regular participants. Large groups came from Calgary and Valemount, and challenging the size of the home crowd. Overall, it is a good sign of things to come because we saw lots of new faces.
In men’s elite category Reiner Thoni captured his 4th straight national title with a commanding performance. He completed the 6000 ft course in 1h 49min and shaved over 10min from his last year’s winning time! The podium was rounded by Andrew McNab and Steve Sellers.
Three new names –  Erich Peitzsch,  Eric Carter,  Nick Elson – and mixed with Peter Knight gave a good chase to the top three and only at late stages of the race Steve Sellers secured his 3rd place.
Women’s elite race went down less dramatically but with great performances from all. Third national title went to Melanie Bernier who is Canada’s most committed racer and is progressing dramatically every year. Her long time challenger,  Julie Matteau, came in second with  Billie Velisek taking third. It is also notable that Michelle Roberts was the 4th woman completing the whole challenging 6000 ft course and once gaining more experience she should become a force because 3.5h on such a course would put to shame a majority of strong ski touring men.
The 4000 ft Enduro course saw the biggest field and couple of great battles:
Igor Bernas won the men’s category ahead of Dominic Unterberger who is only a junior. Third place was decided after a fierce sprint to the finish line by two local ski patrolers –  Brad Lorrimar and Ken Macdiarmi. Fifth overall was the second in junior’s category, Martin Carnogursky, who was still leading Dominic after 3/4 of the race.
The women’s category top spot went to only a junior racer Katarina Kuba who lead with a good gap in front of the other women – Amber Steed, Sheena Johnson and Jana Skerlak.
Enduro course was also completed by four splitboarders where top honors went to Nigel Fisher and Nicole Walker.

Full results

» Saturday’s event – Canadian Ski Mountaineering Championships
» Sunday’s relay event

2012 North American Rando Ski Mountaineering Championships in Crested Butte

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This is article was submitted by Melanie Bernier – an elite skimo racer and a member of the Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Team. Read her previous article here – Grand Teton: adventures are essential for skimo training…
Last weekend (Jan 28-29, 2012) saw the biggest event of this winter on the North American skimo racing calendar. Six of us, part of the Canadian National Team, traveled to Crested Butte to compete in the first ever official North American Championships.
We arrived few days earlier to have a chance to get somewhat used to CB’s high elevation (CB is at 2,715 m) and explore the race routes. The “No Climbing Uphill Policy” at the ski hill got in the way of our course scoping but we were blessed with beautiful sunny days so we were able to at least have a great visual of the individual’s race course.

Sprint race – day 1

On Saturday morning, we woke up to a very brisk -30 C for the sprint race. The venue was mid-mountain near a beautiful restaurant where racers gathered to keep warm until the start.
The course started on a flat groomed sections changing quickly to switch-backs in the trees then flatter terrain before gaining the first transition to the first descent. Through gates, over moguls, racers had to zigzag back down for a second transition. Then to a short boot-pack and skin again to reach the final descent.
The women were the first out of the gate going at 30 seconds intervals. Sari Anderson was the first one to go, I was second, Janelle Smiley just after…
My race went very well as I closed the gap on Sari at the top of the second climb and completed the course in 5:39 which was enough to win the race.
Top 3, top North American and all Canadian women:
1. Mel Bernier (CAN)
2. Janelle Smile (USA)
3. Sari Anderson (USA)
6. Julie Matteau (CAN)
Our Canadian men did very well too! With a strong Italian presence, the Canuck boys rose to the challenge. Manfred Reichegger (Italy’s top racer) topped the podium as expected. Behind him, our unique “Reinerian” earned second ahead of Lorenzo Holzknecht (Italy) who was followed closely by our Andrew McNab. It was very impressive to see them all run and give all they had.
Top 3, top North Americans and all Canadian men:
1. Manfred Reichegger (ITA)
2. Reiner Thoni (CAN)
3. Lorenzo Holzknecht (ITA)
4. Andrew McNab (CAN)
5. Jan Koles (USA)
6. Travis Scheefer (USA)
12. Ian Gale (CAN)
27. Steve Sellers (CAN)
» Sprint race full results

Individual race – day 2

The following day, in friendlier temperatures, we gathered at the base of the mountain for the individual race. The course was not so impressive for its vertical but for its challenging route.
We climbed a groomed run for a thousand feet before getting into what seemed like 100 switch-backs with a single skin track. From there, it was skis and poles on the pack, jacket on, and via-ferrata and ascender on the rope – we climbed the “Guides Ridge” to the summit of Crested Butte at just over 12 000 feet.
From there, we ran down the other side of the peak, then skis on, we descended to the bottom of Paradise Bowl, from there we climbed 1000 through the trees and on the rocky ridge back to the top transition. We had to complete this same lower loop twice before going down a single track in trees, steep icy moguls to crazy fast groomer to moguls again and high speed rollers to finish with an excruciating skate ski.
My race – I guess my strategy was not quite right for this race. I was holding back at the start a bit too much and got stuck behind at the switch-backs. Then by the time I got to the ridge there was a big bottle neck.
Here the race got stopped twice because of rock falling and miss communication between the race marshals which resulted in an hour spent on the ridge getting cold and waiting to move forward at a turtle pace.
Fortunately, the view was pretty nice and people around me were friendly so it was quite pleasant and relaxing… but not much of a race at that point.
When finally at the summit, I literary sprinted down the bootpack and skied like mad to try to catch up. At the first lap up paradise bowl I left the transition way too fast and forgot that this was not a great idea while racing at such altitude – I burned myself solid for the second lap and I was barely hanging facing the “Bunk Wall”.
Finally at the top of the last climb, I knew I could gain some time and positions with a fast descent. Reaching the final section I completed the skate with below zero juice in the tank. It was a great learning experience as I have never (or not in a long time) reached such low energy levels while racing.
For few other Canadians the race went rather smoothly. Reiner Thoni and Andrew McNab escaped the bottle neck and had a fantastic race while the rest of us were still on the ridge those two were batteling for 3rd and 8th place respectively.
A big congratulation to our Continental Champs Reiner Thoni and Janelle Smiley.
Top 3, top North Americans and all Canadian women:
1. Janelle Smiley (USA)
2. Sari Andreson (USA)
3. Stevie Kremer (USA)
5. Melanie Bernier (CAN)
7. Julie Matteau (CAN)
Top 3, top North Americans and all Canadian men:
1. Manfred Reichegger (ITA)
2. Lorenzo Holzknecht (ITA)
3. Reiner Thoni (CAN)
4. Luke Nelson (USA)
5. Jason Dorais (USA)
8. Andrew McNab (CAN)
18. Ian Gale (CAN)
28. Steve Sellers (CAN)
» Individual race full results

Interview with Julie Matteau – Canada's ski mountaineering champ enjoys every day in the mountains

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A year ago, not many people involved with ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing knew Julie Matteau, except her touring friends and a couple of work related contacts. That is not the case anymore.

Getting ready for a transition at one of the races.
Getting ready for a transition at one of the races.
Last season, Julie became the Canadian Ski Mountaineering Champion, she won the Canadian Ski Mountaineering Cup and won all Canadian skimo races in the process. Also, she clocked more vertical feet during that season than most backcountry skiers would do in ten years.
And while doing that, all of us that know or have met her, were treated to her happy smile all the time and everywhere.
Here is more from Julie in an interview about pretty much anything:
Q: Last season you won everything that Canadian skimo racing scene offers. Was that your goal or it just happened that way?
Last year, with a better pre-season training regime and a healthier body, I was definitely aiming to win as many races as I could.
My ability to focus and my level of skiing were much better which paid off. I was hoping, but didn’t expect, to win all the of the Canadian series races as well as I did.
Q: When did you start ski mountaineering racing and backcountry skiing? How did you start?
I started backcountry skiing back in 2001, the first winter after I moved to BC. It began as something I wanted to do as a recreational sport after being inspired from a friend’s pictures of Rogers Pass.
I slowly got into the sport, starting with renting the equipment and slowly getting my own. Only much later, in the year of 2007, was I made aware of the competitive side of backcountry skiing, ski rando racing, with the visit of European friends with their very light gear.
With a few friends/co-workers of mine at MEC, we all decided to race in Whistler at the Telus World Backcountry Freeride Jam Festival for the first time. Them with light equipment, and myself with my regular backcountry ski gear.
Despite the 2 days of hard racing, I truly enjoyed the course and the vibe within the crowd. I witnessed some serious speed by a few European racers that week-end,  and it began.
Q: Is there anything that sucks being a gal when backcountry skiing and what are the benefits?
Being a gal doesn’t really suck, you can even get special treatment sometimes depending on your partners 🙂 On a more serious note, I have to say I’m very happy to have skied and ski with great partners that treat everyone with a lot of respect.
A lot of male friends appreciate us gals joining their group because it balances the testosterone level. I have heard it many times that “it’s good to mix it up”!
Q: You used to live in Vancouver (before in Quebec) but you moved to Revelstoke. Do you like it there?
I love it here! Not that I didn’t enjoy back east all those years or Vancouver in the last 8 years.  The great living in Revelstoke for me, mainly involves living with my boyfriend and being able to enjoy what I love doing almost every day.
Revelstoke has an amazing outdoor “backyard” that offers limitless options if you like to be active. Its inspiring to live within a very fit and active community and it definitely responds to my love for the mountains.
Q: In Revelstoke, you get to ski with an amazing group. Besides being great people, they are also very strong skiers. What does a day trip with them involve?
Julie ripping powder at Rogers Pass.
Julie ripping powder at Rogers Pass. Photo by Bruno Long.
I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by so many amazing skiers and mountain people. To get to spend so much time with well rounded skiers enables me to improve my skiing and learn more in the mountains.
Their knowledge of the area and their abilities motivate me to be a better “mountain man”. Their fitness and skiing skills push my athletic abilities and allow me to improve on every level.
People I ski with are very efficient: start early, discuss our options for the day and its conditions, take only small breaks during the day to snack and have lunch and pound as much vert as the day allows us.
Everybody pitches in for setting the track and its amazing how efficient big groups can be around here…one day a group of 12 of us skied 9,000 feet in a regular day, everybody knew how to move.
Q: How much vertical feet/metres have you climbed the most in a day?
11,500 feet in one day. It was a long day with some big objectives….came back with our head lamps in the dark, such a good day!
Q: Do you do any specific training for skimo races or you just ski as much as you can, then go race?
Last year I built up my strength from May to January with Crossfit training in Vancouver, at Crossfit Westside with the amazing Jenika. I was lucky not to be working last year from January on, so I spent almost every day skiing. I had an extraordinary winter.
Racing at the US Championships 2009 in Jackson Hole. Photo by Dave Bowers.
Racing at the US Championships 2009 in Jackson Hole. Photo by Dave Bowers.
Although skiing in the mountains got me some serious mileage, I had to spend time working on my skiing with my racing skis and practicing transitions. Going uphill with the light gear consist of a bit of a different technique and skiing down requires some serious practice! [Ed. You can read how lighter gear affects technique here.]
I did a few sessions of interval training as well which I think helped a lot. Racing is such a different mindset and requires a lot physically which is why I think you need to do both.
Q: Do you currently have any sponsors?
In the past I have been well supported by my ex-employer MEC but as of right now I’m on my own. I hope to get some sponsorship this year with the World Championships in Andorra and the Pierra Menta all coming up in 2010.
Q: What are your favorite activities beside ski touring?
I much enjoy mountain biking, trail running, climbing and Crossfit training. This summer I got to do a little bit more sport climbing and light mountaineering which I find very interesting. I’d like to improve my skills in these various sports to be a more well-rounded mountain athlete.
Q: What are your racing goals for the 2010 season? And what are your non racing goals?
My non racing goals always include staying healthy and enjoying every day I spend outside in the mountains!! I also want to improve my skills in less than perfect conditions, and my steep and rocky skiing abilities.
As for racing, I’m aiming to keep my title and continue to push my fitness. I’m shooting for a good result in the World Championships in Andorra and completing the Pierra Menta race.
Skiing McGill Shoulder to Bostock Creek with Sir Donald in the background.
Skiing McGill Shoulder to Bostock Creek with Sir Donald in the background. Photo by Bruno Long.
Q: Do you like to ski tour more with guys or with girls?
I like both depending on the individual. I’ve been skiing with guys the majority of my time since they outnumber us. There are few females that I would love to ski more with but I also enjoy the mixed group.
Q: Your boyfriend is also Canada’s top skimo racer (You are both on the Canadian National team). Do you think about how his race is going when you are racing, or you are totally focused only on your own race?
I always look up to the leading pack in a race and since Jeff [Ed. Jeff Colvin] is always in front of me I often wish he’s having a good race. Races are usually pretty long so it gives me lots of time to think. I definitely think of him while I’m racing but with very short thoughts.
I bring my focus back when I think of anything else other than the actual race I’m in. Everything happens so fast in racing that you want to be focused to minimize your errors.
I very much enjoy crossing either my boyfriend and my ski partner Andrew McNab when I race, its a huge motivation to hear them yell your name!
Q: How does your favourite day in the mountains look like?
My favorite day in the mountains is filled with friends, laughter, good snow, peeking from the sun and some amazing turns.
I like it when you don’t necessarily think the snow conditions are going to be perfect, but on your first turns you start getting little fuzzy feelings and you instantly get a permanent grin on your face 🙂
The non credited photo (the first one) in this article is from Julie Matteau’s collection. Author can contact me at “info(at sign here)skintrack.com” to add his name.