• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SkinTrack

  • Lightest Gear
    • Skis
    • Boots
    • Bindings
    • Skins
    • Packs
  • Skimo Training
    • Training Plans + Skimo Manual
    • Transitions Videos
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

The Power of Four

February News Shorts: Skimo racing in USA, Europe and Canada

March 4, 2016 By Stano Faban 3 Comments

Tom Goth on Guide's Ridge at US National Championships. Grace Owens Photo.
Tom Goth on Guide’s Ridge at US National Championships. Grace Owens Photo.
We’ve been a bit behind with our news updates, mostly because we’ve been busy racing. See what has been happening in skimo racing over the last month!
» For previous weekend’s racing news see here.

USA West

Santa Fe Fireball:
In New Mexico, racers met at the Santa Fe ski area to compete in the COSMIC race Santa Fe Fireball.  The race is primarily inbounds with ~4000ft of climbing. More sparsely attended than some COSMIC events, the Fireball featured the veteran Pete Swenson who took the top step ahead of ultra-runner turned skimo racer Paul Hamilton. The women’s race was handily won by Stevie Kremer almost uncontested with Sarah Stubbe finishing in second and Kate Ferlic in third.
Results
US Nationals:
The focus of North American skimo turned to the town of Crested Butte in mid-February for the US National Championships event featuring a vertical race as well as an individual and teams race, both on the infamous Guide’s Ridge course. Conditions in CB were firm and sunny throughout the weekend with uncharacteristically warm temps for February in Colorado’s high country. With a starting elevation of ~10,000 feet, altitude was a major factor in all races.
In the Vertical, John Gaston and Rory Kelly pulled away from the field with local Marshal Thompson chasing strong. Megan Kimmel gave a strong performance on the all-groomer course with a healthy lead above Sara Kadlec and Stevie Kremer. SkinTrack’s Eric Carter came in 5th.
Vertical Results

The youngest competitor at US Nationals: 12 year old Max Kilcoyne racing the vertical. COSMIC Photo.
The youngest competitor at US Nationals: 12 year old Max Kilcoyne racing the vertical. COSMIC Photo.
Saturday’s Individual race featured a long, icy, mogul climb to start with (wouldn’t be racing in the US without at least one of these) and followed by several shorter descents and ascents leading towards the final boot-pack onto and up the Guide’s Ridge. The ridge is ~400 ft of granite rock steps with climbing rope fixed the entire way. Racers use both via ferrata and a handled ascender to scramble up the 4th class terrain. Most find this difficult in the least with some ending up fumbling with their gear or completely gripped. Tom Goth pushed the pace from the start but John Gaston showed his abilities quickly moving into the lead. Max Taam skied from ~10th place up to 2nd by the end of the final descent, with Goth rounded out the podium. In women’s race, Jessie Young stayed well ahead of the field with an almost four minute lead over once-again-strong Janelle Smiley and Stevie Kremer. Also of note is the U-23 and U-18 categories who had strong representation from local collegiate athletes!
Individual Results
The Teams event featured much of the same course as the individual with less climbing and more time on flat terrain but still finishing on the Guide’s Ridge. Marshall Thompson and Rob Krar took off hard from the start while John Gaston and Max Taam lurked behind until taking the lead on the second climb, continuing their unbeaten teams-race streak. Ultra-runners Mike Foote and Paul Hamilton had a strong performance, skiing well into second place! The women’s field had only three teams with the Meredith Edwards – Janelle Smiley duo ending up off the course and receiving a DQ. Jessie Young and Lindsay Plant took the women’s podium (finishing 13th overall).
Teams Results
Want more coverage of women’s racing? We need a female correspondent! Send us an email if you’d like to contribute!
Stevie Kremer and Lindsay Plant racing to victory at the Power of 4. Jeremy Swanson Photo.
Stevie Kremer and Lindsay Plant racing to victory at the Power of 4. Jeremy Swanson Photo.
Power of Four
The Power of Four is a classic Colorado COSMIC series event that brings top teams to Aspen-Snowmass. Racing in teams of two at high altitude, it is a relatively spectator friendly event with good resort access. Local heroes, John Gaston and Max Taam skied tactically, letting Paul Hamilton and Scott Simmons tag along until the final climb and descent before pulling away and smashing the previous course record. Mike Foote and Rob Krar put in a strong performance finishing in third. An unusually strong women’s field was topped by Lindsay Plant and Stevie Kremer finishing with time to spare, ahead of Sarah Kadlec and Lindsay Meyer.
Power of 4 Results
Upcoming in the Western US is this weekend’s Wasatch Powder Keg (and Continental Championships). A classic event at Brighton Resort in Utah that is expertly organized by Chad Bracklesberg and Nick Francis. They had this to say about the upcoming weekend:

We have worked hard on a new individual course this year, which features far more off piste skinning (not gnarly bumps, but good euro style skin tracks through Wasatch forest (Thank God – Ed.)), totalling 6800 feet of gain for the race division.  Race conditions all three days look to be spring-like, with warm temperatures and sunshine, which should make for a fast course.  Overall the course is in excellent condition, with supportable south aspects and some good chalky snow in the northern aspects.  Friday will feature our traditional sprint course, and Sunday is the excellent teams event, covering over 8K of vert through technical climbs and descents around the central Wasatch.
Our predictions are for Tom Goth to take the mens individual and sprint.  On the womens side, it will be a battle between Gemma Arro Ribot, Jessie Young, and Meredith Edwards for the individual and sprint.  The teams event is anyones guess, but will almost certainly feature some of the same fast folks from the individual.  With John Gaston, Max Taam, and Scott Simmons out of the country traveling to Pierra Menta, the leader board will certainly be different than the last few races.  Yet to be seen if some of the new racers from the ultra community will challenge Tom for the top spot, but this weekend will see how they fare…

The next COSMIC race is the Breckenridge 5-Peaks on March 12th.

USA East

Burke:
After the Northeastern U.S. skimo season kicked off on January 23, the action shifted to the very northern tip of Vermont at Burke Mountain, which also attracted a large Quebec contingent.  Snow conditions have been rather ungenerous to New England so far this season, but Burke still had enough snow (barely) to pull off all the ascents and descents on natural snow.  The ~5,400’ cumulative vertical included seventeen transitions with six separate bootpacks, with lots of especially tricky skinning on the first ascent up a narrow twisty hiking trail. Dynafit athlete Marshall Thompson, visiting family back East, took first, followed by Quebec leader (and former MTB pro) George Visser, and  Andrew Drummond (in his skimo debut).  Skimo East co-director and former Canadian Olympic cyclist Lyne Bessette was the top woman and also took fourth overall.

Jonathan Vass racing on the East Coast. Burke Mountain Photo.
Jonathan Vass racing on the East Coast. Burke Mountain Photo.
Berkshire East
The circuit took a hiatus for traditional races until February 27, when the Mount Greylock 100% backcountry race with 0% snowpack was moved to Berkshire East. Jerimy Arnold won the hour-long crit-style race and followed up with another win in the dual-elimination multiple-round sprint race. But the final event threw a monkey wrench into the overall standings with an equalized-teams relay race, as newcomer Mark Trahan took the win for the day, with Race Director Jonathan Shefftz as runner-up.
Wildcat
The following day, Wildcat Mountain, literally across the street from New Hampshire’s famed Mount Washington, held its inaugural race, with local Andrew Drummond taking the win. Fortunately our unfortunate snow conditions actually improved the course layout, forcing the race organizers to abandon their initial plan of driving racers to a nordic trail network for a flat ascent back to the downhill resort, instead using the resort’s very efficient dedicated uphill route. However, as he skied both descents with his climbing skins in his hands, and also relied on a passing skier to bring down a dropped skin without hiking back up all the way, clearly the ISMF-adjusted win belonged to British national team member Daniel Gay only four seconds behind. Brian MacIlvain rounded out the podium.
Upcoming:
The Catamount Trail Association’s weekly series continues each Wednesday night at Bolton Valley VT.  The first race – and the first of its kind anywhere in New England – attracted a field of 78 skiers, led by Middlebury College sophomore Peter Howe and QT2 Systems triathlete coach John Spinney.
Coming up on March 5 is a rematch with Equipe Quebec at Jay Peak, just barely on the U.S. side of the international border. The 2015 course layout was the most challenging in the East, and currently Jay is one of the few venues anywhere in New England with a decent snowpack. Some U.S. racers might also venture across the border the next day for a race at Owl’s Head that is combined with the Jay race for overall weekend results.
Results and Photos (NE Rando Race FB Page)
Many more Burke professional pictures at:
https://daimo.smugmug.com/SkimoEast-Burke-VT-2016/
Thanks to our Skimo East Skintrack.com Correspondent Jonathan Shefftz!
Men and Women's podium at ROAM Randonne Rally in Nelson, BC.
Men and Women’s podium at ROAM Randonne Rally in Nelson, BC.

Canada

ROAM Randonne Rally – Nelson BC:
February was quiet in Western Canada with the exception of the ROAM Rando Rally in Nelson, BC. Held at Whitewater Ski Area, the ROAM Rando Rally has the most reliably deep powder of any race in North America. The race features three ascents and descents in-bounds and in the Whitewater slack country. In typical Nelson fashion, soon after course officials finished placing wands and setting skin tracks, the clouds closed in and snow started falling. Racers woke Saturday morning to 20+cm of fresh snow blanketing the skis area and covering tracks. A strong contingent of Canadian athletes as well as racers from Montana started up the groomed runs and quickly encountered deep trail breaking on course. With no-one keen to break trail, the pace stayed mellow and a large group formed on the first untracked powder descent.
After trading trail-breaking duties, the lead pack arrived at the top of the ridge on the final climb where they found freshly broken trail and the race spread out with a sprint down the final descent between Eric Carter and Ben Parsons while Peter Knight skied into third. Michelle Katchur-Roberts handily won the women’s field with Katarina Kuba in second and newcomer Lori Anne Howard in third.
ROAM Recap and Results
Upcoming:
The next race in the Canadian Ski Mountaineering Cup Circuit is the Ken Jones Classic – serving as Canadian National Championships – in Lake Louise, AB.
Registration is LIVE

Europe

Giulia Compagnoli (ITA) going face first into the cow pasture at Valtellina running to the finish line. (ISMF Photo)
Giulia Compagnoli (ITA) going face first into the cow pasture at Valtellina running to the finish line. (ISMF Photo)
Valtellina:
There was no instagram exaggeration for this one. There was literally no snow at the start line of the third World Cup event of the season. Racers sprinted uphill through a farmer’s pasture before skinning up an icy road. With only 40cm of snow on the ground at the high point of the race, coverage was sparse to say the least. Rocks were everywhere on descents waiting to bite and racers skinned over patches of grass throughout the race. Despite the conditions, the town of Valtellina Orobie rallied around their golden boy Michelle Boscacci and made it happen. With a sketchy run back down to the finish line on the steep farm field, Boscacci and Kilian Jornet decided mid-race not to contest the win and instead walk down hand in hand. Much to Kilian’s consternation, he was awarded the win over Boscacci according to ISMF rules that take finish order off chip time. North Americans in attendance were Nick Elson, Melanie Bernier, and Eric Carter.
Alpiniski/European Championships:
A three day race featuring Vertical, Individual, and Sprint events, the World Cup and European Championship races in Les Marecottes, Switzerland (very close to the site of last year’s World Championships) were a major departure from the preceding weekend. A dump of snow in the Rhone Valley transformed the venue into a winter wonderland. The Vertical event utilized a unusual time-trial start format due to low snow at the starting elevation, with racers starting alone, every 30 seconds. Kilian Jornet won the event, probably trying harder than usual because of being unaware of his placement until crossing the line.  Victoria Kreuzer won for the women.
Jornet and Palzer battle in Les Marecottes. Ski and Run Photo.
Jornet and Palzer battle in Les Marecottes. Ski and Run Photo.
Vertical Race Video
In the Individual, the race took advantage of the excellent terrain offered in the Les Marecottes ski area and the new snow. Skin tracks were soft but established and the course was slightly shortened due to avalanche danger at the high point. Racers started off hard as always and Kilian battled it out with Anton Palzer of Germany and the Italians. Sadly, Emelie Forsberg crashed out of the race with a knee injury.
The Sprint at Les Marecottes was dominated by Laetitia Roux and Robert Antonioli. Check out our analysis of their transitions here.
Sprint Race Video
Nick Elson and Eric Carter represented North America at the Alpiniski World Cup and Eric posted about his races here.
Roux and Antonioli are the European Sprint Champions! ISMF Photo.
Roux and Antonioli are the European Sprint Champions! ISMF Photo.
Transcavello:
Kilian pulling away from the field in Transcavello. Kilian FB Photo.
Kilian pulling away from the field in Transcavello. Kilian FB Photo.
With conditions pretty grim in much of Europe, it was not looking good for the World Cup held in the Italian Dolomites. Luckily a dump of snow arrived just in time and the races were confirmed. The Transcavello course is a test event for next season’s 2017 World Championships. As usual this season, the Men’s race was contested between Kilian Jornet, Anton Palzer and Michele Boscacci finishing in that order. Kilian took the lead early in the race and gradually build while the others chased hard. Similarly, Latetia Roux skied away from the field not to be seen again with a 5min gap over the second place women.
Individual Race Video
The sprint race was eerily similar to that of Alpiniski with Antonioli and Roux repeating as champion. This is the second to last event in the ISMF Sprint circuit which will conclude in Mondole, Italy in several weeks. Of note is the young Italian women Alba DeSilvestro taking the third spot on the podium.
Altitoy Teruna:
The first Grande Course (Long Distance World Cup) race of the season was held over the weekend in the Pyrenees despite heavy snowfall preceding the event. Two days of racing were dominated by the Spanish-French duo of Kilian Jornet and Matheo Jacquemod while the French wonder team of Latetia Roux and Axelle Mollaret won the women’s event ahead of the Spanish and Italian teams.
Jornet and Jaquemod running to the finish of Altitoy. Grande Course Photo.
Jornet and Jacquemod running to the finish of Altitoy. Grande Course Photo.
FINAL MEN:
1. Jornet – Jacquemod
2. Eydallin – Lenzi
3. Boscacci – Antonioli
FINAL WOMEN:
1. Roux – Mollaret
2. Miro – Farres
3. Valmassoi- Tomatis
Upcoming:
The ISMF Grand Course calendar is just getting wound up with the Pierra Menta and the Tour du Rotur just around the corner in March and April. Expect Jornet-Jacquemod to be a force to be reckoned with but don’t rule out any of the Italian combinations or the French team led by William Bon-Mardion. The US will be represented at the Pierra Menta by Gaston and Taam who will be looking to increase the top American finish benchmark of 15th place and hopefully keep things together to break into the top 10!
ISMF Racing News
Check out our big 2015/16 skimo calendar for upcoming events this week and into the future. Still lots of racing left this season!
 

Filed Under: Events & Races, News Shorts Tagged With: Canada, Crested Butte, Eric Carter, Europe, Janelle Smiley, John Gaston, Kilian Jornet, Max Taam, National Championships, Skimo, Stevie Kremer, The Power of Four, USA, Whitewater ski resort

Feb 15-16 & Feb 22-23 Weekends Skimo Racing Roundup

February 27, 2014 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

It has been a busy couple of weeks at SkinTrack.com with Stano and I travelling to races. So while we missed the weekend roundup last week, here, we are bringing you two weekends worth of race reporting. Enjoy!

International

European Champ Latetia Roux
European Champ Latetia Roux
Start of the European Championships Individual Race
Start of the European Championships Individual Race
World Cup racing action took a break last weekend for the European Championships in Andorra. The weekend started with a vertical event and Robert Antonioli (ITA) and Laetitia Roux (FRA) are the new European Champions.
» Vertical results
Roux continued her domination in the individual race and William Bon Mardion (FRA) stepped up to take the men’s title. Throughout the race, Mardion was trailed by two Italians but he managed to keep ahead using his superior downhill skills on the technically demanding descents. The women’s race was well established in the lead with Roux occasionally looking back to keep an eye on improving Maude Mathys. But the real excitement was the race for bronze among three women, eventually won by Axelle Mollaret who also cinched the Espoir category (under 23).
» Individual results
Vertical race video – it would be great if they didn’t make such fast cuts and showed more long-shot footage.

Individual race:

North America – Feb 15-16 Weekend

Racers climbing the first ascent at Vertfest Alpental
Racers climbing the first ascent at Vertfest Alpental
Another weekend passed without any racing in Canada but a large contingent of Coastal skiers were able to attend the Subaru Vertfest at Alpental Resort in Washington. Marshall Thompson came from Colorado to represent Team Dynafit and won the Men’s race while Holly Davis of Seattle won the Women’s. Here you can read Stano’s more detailed report on the race.
» Alpental Results
Also, the same weekend was the CROWBAR race at Sink Hollow in Utah. The lead group (including Gemma Arro i Ribot leading until a binding breakage on the first descent) took off hard from the gun with Nick Francis taking charge. The race was on for the remainder of the podium places with Chad Brackelsberg powering away from his pursuers on the last climb. In the Women’s race, with Gemma out of the way, Sarah Cookler took the lead and let Emily Brackelsberg and Emily Sullivan battle for second, with Emily B eventually landing on top. Also of note was the 5 Junior racers (13-18 years old) who competed!
Winners of the 214 Crowbar Race
Winners of the 214 Crowbar Race
2nd Chad Brackelsberg had this to say about the race and the course:

The Crowbar is the only 100% backcountry races in the US that I know of.  The organizers decided to step up the race this year adding an additional 1000′ climbing and 2 booters. In the week prior to the race, Logan Canyon received 12″ of snow water equivalent. The course was their best one yet with gradual ridge climbs and moderate tree (often tight) descents.

» Crowbar Results

North America – Feb 22-23 Weekend

There were four big races over the weekend:

  • ROAM Rando Rally Coldsmoke Powder Fest in Nelson, BC
  • The Five Peaks in Colorado
  • Vertfest – Mt. Bachelor
  • Mad River Valley Race in Vermont
Men's and Women's Podium at the ROAM Rando Rally in Nelson
Men’s and Women’s Podium at the ROAM Rando Rally in Nelson
At the ROAM Rando Rally a full contingent of Canadians battled it out in Nelson for spots on the National team due to two race cancellations so far this season. Reiner Thoni – the usual favorite – set a strong pace off the start, not to be seen again until the finish. A major miscommunication between a course official on the second to last descent and a group of chasing racers sent a small group off course, adding extra vertical. Andrew McNab chased hard to get back on course and pulled in to a strong second, out-sprinting Travis Brown from Calgary and Stano Faban. Despite losing the course as well on the last descent, Melanie Bernier won the Women’s race with Michelle Roberts and Marg Fednya rounding out the podium.
L) Reiner Thoni wins the ROAM Rando Rally. R) Ben Parsons - Montana's skinniest fireman - places third in huge upset at fire building competition!
L) Reiner Thoni wins the ROAM Rando Rally. R) Ben Parsons – Montana’s skinniest fireman – places third in huge upset at fire building competition that was one of the festivals Backcountry Olympics.
Also of note is that Ben and Jen Parsons who went on to compete in the full Coldsmoke Powder Fest King of the Mountain competition, finishing 2nd and 4th overall!
» ROAM Rando Rally Results
For The Five Peaks race we received a short and sweet report from Tim Zander. Thank you!

The 5 Peaks race was a cold and windy affair, but not as bad as last year. The turnout was amazing with 132 racers in 66 teams competing. Last year saw 72 racers, over 80% growth. The course was quite enjoyable with three short bootpacks, some good switchback sections, fun descents and plenty of alpine wind exposure. Max Taam and John Gaston took first with an impressive time of 2:35:35. Marshal Thomson and Stevie Kremer came in 3rd overall and 1st for Coed Duo. Annie Gonzales and Jessie Young did quite well in the Womens Duo at 3:10:01.

» Five Peaks Results

Vertfest continued in Oregon at Mt. Bachelor. The race course was a bit unclear beforehand but it looks like the end result was three climbs and descents race with the final climb to the summit crater of Mt. Bachelor. Definitely an interesting race that I will consider in the future! The sun was out for the race, uncharacteristic of Vertfest events! Aaron Talbot and Brandon Kern were the local favourites battling each other to a close finish with Patrick Fink trailing behind to round out the Men’s podium. Molly Grove won the Women’s race with a healthy lead over Hailey Garside and Laurel Manville.
» Bachelor Results

Mad River Valley Rec Category.
Mad River Valley Rec Category.
Mad River Valley in Vermont sported an updated course with some challenging skiing restored on Mount Ellen (via a bootpack and subsequent ski of Upper FIS), and the pointless nordic skate skiing section eliminated at Lincoln Peak.  Total competitor-measured vertical was 4,722’ across 11.4 miles.
Jan Wellford repeated his 2009 and 2013 wins, by the largest margin ever recorded since the race first started in 2006 thanks apparently to a competitive focus on nordic ski racing. Competition  for the rest of the podium was fierce, with Jerimy Arnold battling a very strong Equipe Quebec seeking to repeat its dominance two weeks earlier at the Burke race. Daniele Poirier took third only 19 seconds behind Jerimy, with Philipe Deguire in fourth less than half a minute later.  George Visser (5th) would have been a favorite to win with his new Dynafit-rebranded Pierre Gignoux boots and bindings.  Unfortunately, the release pin broke on one of his toe units during the first ascent. Even with all that, Jerimy, Daniele, Philipe, and George all traded places multiple times in the final course segment, with Jerimy finally benefitting from his course familiarity.
On the women’s side, Manon St-Pierre took first, with Burke winner Danielle de Guire less than half a minute later.  We look forward to more of this strong international competition from our friends across the northern border in future races!
» Mad River Valley Results:
Results- MRV 2014, reformatted
(Thanks to Jonathan Shefftz for his East Coast submission)
Did you race at any of these events? Write a blog post about it or take some pictures? Post up in the comments so we can read your take!

Upcoming Races – Feb 22-23 Weekend

This weekend World Cup racing action resumes in Switzerland at Diablerets with an individual race on March 1st and a vertical race the following day. We have not received word of any North Americans on the start list but will be covering the race regardless.
March 1st marks the Audi Power of Four race in Aspen, Colorado. Expect big guns in attendance and a very challenging race course for all racers. The rest of the continent will be busy preparing for the Wasatch Powder Keg in Utah on March 7th-9th which we will be attending as well.

Filed Under: Skimo Racing Tagged With: Five Peaks, ROAM Randonnee Rally, Roundup, skimo World Cup, The Power of Four

$5,000 prize purse: The Power of Four Skimo Race set for March 1st, 2014

December 9, 2013 By Stano Faban 3 Comments

Registration just opened for one of the most popular events on the North American skimo calendar and here is the official press release with all the details:
The Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race – one of the most challenging events in Aspen/Snowmass – is back and will test the endurance of athletes as they race in teams of two across all four area mountains. The course covers approximately 25 miles and more than 12,000 vertical feet of climbs. A two mountain category is also an option, covering ground on Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain.
2014-power-of-four-pr-1
The race is on Saturday, March 1, 2014 starting at 6 a.m. in Snowmass Base Village and will continue into the afternoon where athletes will finish at the base of Aspen Mountain. The summer version of this race tested mountain bikers as they raced up and down all four mountains or two mountains in one day.
New this year, the race will offer a $5,000 prize purse – largest in North America – split evenly between men and women. The first place team will take home $1,500, second place will go home with $700 and third place takes $300.
2014-power-of-four-pr-2
Sport Race Course:
Teams will start in Snowmass Village and skin up to the top of Elk Camp. Then racers will traverse from Elk Camp to West Buttermilk. Once at West Buttermilk, racers will ski down to the bottom of Tiehack. From there, athletes will cross the bridge by the Aspen Recreation Center and head to Aspen Highlands Village. From there skiers will skin to the summit of the Highland Bowl and ski down to Castle Creek Road via the Congo Trail off of the Grand Reverse. Teams will then cross Castle Creek and head up Midnight Mine Road until they reach The Sundeck. In the final descent of the race, athletes will ski down Aspen Mountain, ending in Gondola Plaza.
Recreational Race Course:
There will also be a half race starting at 8 a.m. following the same course on Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain, finishing on Gondola Plaza. This race is perfect for recreational uphillers looking for a new challenge.
More Details:
There will be four categories of racers: Vets, Men, Women and Coed teams. Only the Men and Women categories are prize eligible, Coed and Vet categories are for time comparison only. Coed teams will be grouped into the Men’s category for prize purposes. Alpine Touring (AT) gear, Telemark gear or snowboard Splitboard gear is required.
Registration is now open at www.aspensnowmass.com/poweroffour.
Registration is $225 per team if registered before January 5, 2014.
Call for Volunteers:
Volunteers are still needed for the event. Those interested in volunteering should contact Brendan Collins at bcollins2@aspensnowmass.com.
More info
More information on the race series and maps of the course, please visit www.aspensnowmass.com/poweroffour or call 970/925-1220.

Filed Under: Industry Press Releases Tagged With: The Power of Four

Interview with Cripple Creek BC ski mountaineering store owners Doug Stenclik and Randy Young

November 2, 2013 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

Four weeks ago you had a chance to read the very first store owner interview on Skintrack as I spoke to Jason Borro of Skimo.co.
Today, the spotlight is on the two owners of the Cripple Creek BC store and their website – CrippleCreekBC.com. Doug and Randy also choose to specialize on light & fast ski mountaineering gear which means more choice than ever for all North American ski mountaineers.
Q: You are a small store but you sell online as well. Where are you based?
cripple-creek-bc-thumb
Doug: We are at the foot of the Elk Mountains in Carbondale, Colorado just down valley from Aspen.
Q: For how long have you been open?
Randy: This dream has been about 4 years in the making. Doug and I were in different states and very different jobs and out of frustration with gear selection we decided this sport needed its own dedicated shop.
We were incorporated within the year and after a lot of grunt work we were officially open for business at the start of 12/13 season.
Q: Who are the people behind the store? Do you also rando race or only ski tour?
Doug: We are both avid rando racers. To commemorate the decision to officially go into business we did the Power of Four race as partners. After nearly 12,000 feet and 26 miles of racing we were still friends so it seemed like we’d have a chance in business.
Randy: I would also like to say Doug is a real sweet dude and while starting this business and waiting tables at night he still had the energy to race in nearly every COSMIC event in Colorado as well as the national championship in Jackson Hole. For me, on a good year I take on the Grand Traverse and sometimes even finish it.

Doug racing the Power of Four.
Doug racing the Power of Four.
Q: What are your backgrounds?
Randy: I worked at Surefoot as a boot fitter for a couple of seasons and at an outdoor equipment store in Aspen before we started Cripple Creek.
Doug: I also started at Surefoot and then The Gear Exchange in Burlington, VT and then onto Oregon Mountain Community before moving to Carbondale.
Randy and Doug have draft beer right in their new store.
Randy and Doug have draft beer right in their new store.
Q: Are you involved in any races as an organizer or a supporter?
Doug: Last year I helped Pete Swenson set the course for the Heathen Challenge at Sunlight Mountain. This year we’re officially taking the race over and hope to run even more COSMIC events in future years.
Randy: We also want to get new racers that may not know just yet how much they like wearing Lycra. We started a town series race at Sunlight last year, this year upping it to 6 races along with weekly training/recreational group skins.
Q: What gear do you focus on? And what brands do you carry gear from?
Doug: Our passion is taking it real deep. In skiing that means we take it deeper into the backcountry for bigger tours and higher peaks and lightweight gear from brands like La Sportiva, Dynafit, Scarpa, Ski Trab and Hagan are what we like to get us there. We also support other brands that are still on the light end of the spectrum, but appeal to those looking for hard charging equipment.
cripple-creek-store-skis
Q: Do you have gear packages? Thus people can save money.
We work with customers on an individual basis to get them in the best setup for their budget.  This is true in our shop in Carbondale and world wide through our website. We have a survey on our site to start the conversation, but we bend over backwards, through trade-ins and wild combinations to get people in lighter gear.
Q: You carry lots of bindings and all are Tech (Dynafit) technology based. Is that on purpose or just a coincidence?
Doug: Randy and I both started on plate bindings and although it got us started on touring it wasted money and time dealing with busted gear. I was so frustrated popping out of my Naxo bindings on kick turns and having them explode on the downhill, I almost never saw a second season.  We hope that by strictly carrying tech bindings we can help avoid that rough learning curve.
Randy: We have seriously considered a used car salesman campaign “We pay cash for your plate bindings”, then get them on tech fit and bury the rest at sea.
Q: What are your future goals for Cripple Creek Backcountry?
Doug: We want to take our dedication specialty that we’re able to offer to people locally to the whole country through our website – CrippleCreekBC.com – especially for those that don’t have a gear shop in their hometown.
boots-at-cripple-creek-store
austera-peak-north-cascades

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Cripple Creek BC, Doug Stenclik, Randy Young, skimo race gear, The Power of Four

Exclusive interview with Max Taam and John Gaston: On training, gear and life with a team that dominated the 2013 US skimo racing circuit

October 25, 2013 By Stano Faban 2 Comments

There must have been very few people in the skimo racing community that would have picked Max Taam and John Gaston to dominate last season’s (2012/13) American racing circuit the way they did.

John Gaston (left) and Max Taam holding on to the lead in teams at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg.
John Gaston (left) and Max Taam holding on to the lead in teams at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg.
It certainly never crossed my mind that Max will be going that fast despite knowing he always was a great skimo racer. And I didn’t even know who John Gaston was until he won US Champs in Jackson Hole on January 5, 2013!
On top of their domination in the US they also achieved a historic finish for North American men at World Championships (not including relay race results). They finished 10th in teams race at the 2013 Worlds in France! Previous NA best was a 16th place by Canadian’s Reiner Thoni and Andrew McNab in teams race in 2011.
So that’s who we are talking to today 😉
Q: Let’s start from the beginning: When did you start racing ski mountaineering?
Max: My first race was the Aspen Highlands Inferno in 2006. The race goes up the boot-pack on Highlands ridge and down the center of the bowl. A year or two after this I started doing a few of the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup races (COSMIC).
John: 2008 Aspen Highlands Inferno was my first uphill/downhill ski race. At the time I couldn’t believe how fast Mike Kloser was compared to everyone else, so I kind of made that my goal to win, which happened in 2010.
I was still very much a downhill-focused skier though at that point, and it wasn’t until 2012 that I finally started racing skimo. I skied myself of course and DNF’d my first race at Winter Park, then got a serious ass kicking a couple weeks later at the Teva Games in Vail. And then I was hooked.
At the start of the 2013 Five Peaks race in Breckenridge, CO. They won this one too.
At the start of the 2013 Five Peaks race in Breckenridge, CO. They won this one too.
Q: What is your background sports-wise? Have you raced anything else before skimo?
Max: I have done all sorts of endurance racing and skimo is definitely my favourite. I started with crew in high school and college, and since then have competed road biking, mountain biking, and trail running.
John: I grew up mountain biking, dirt biking, and skiing in New England. But I think like most kids I wasn’t really into the endurance side of these sports; I liked going downhill but hated climbing so much. It really wasn’t until right after graduating college that I started doing endurance sports for more than an hour at a time.
Q: What gear did you do your first skimo races on? Did you have very light gear right away?
Max: For my first Highlands inferno I was on Garmont Adrenaline boots and Stockli Stormrider DP alpine skis.
By the time I did my first real skimo races I had Scarpa F1 boots, Volkl Snowwolf skis, Dynafit Comfort bindings, and full length and width BD synthetic skins.
John: My first Highlands Inferno races were all done on full alpine gear – Full Tilt boots and 4FRNT EHP’s mounted with Salomon STH 16’s.
But for skimo I definitely had very light gear right off the bat. It wasn’t really a question for me whether it was worth the investment or if I was even going to like the sport. Having sat out nearly all of the 10/11 winter with a back injury and watched Max and my brother Pete getting more into skimo racing, I knew right away that that was going to be my sport. It just made sense, even though I’d never done it, and I wanted to be competitive right away.
Q: Max, I know you from previous racing seasons and World Champs in 2010 and 2011. You have been always fast but obviously you turned some switch to really dig into skimo. When did that happen?
Max steep skiing.
Max dropping into a couloir off Pacific Peak during Chris Davenport’s Ski the 13ers project.
Max: A number of factors contributed to my increased success last year. I spent the winter of 2011-2012 in Chamonix, France and although I trained very little that winter, I learned a lot about the sport.
Then having John around Aspen last winter definitely pushed me to get faster.  The experience I have gained over my years of racing, have made me a smarted racer.  I dramatically decreased the amount of meat in my diet at the start of last summer, which pretty quickly made me a few pounds lighter.
Q: When did you guys started to train together for ski mountaineering races?
John: Max and my brother Pete were training partners way before I came into the mix. He was over in Cham the 11/12 winter when I started racing, so it wasn’t until last season that we ever trained together.
Still, we do most of our training alone just due to schedules and what not. But it’s definitely really fun to have someone to motivate you if you’re not feeling it that day. But we didn’t really need to train a lot together to be good racing together – we knew we were very compatible for team racing.
Q: Where do you live and train?
John booting up a couloir in France in his one piece Strafe suit.
John booting up a couloir in France in his one piece Strafe suit.
Max: I live a mile outside Aspen, CO. I can ride my bike all winter to train on our local hills.
John: I live in Aspen, and Strafe’s office is right in the Highlands base village, so most of my training is done around Ajax and Highlands.
Q: Do you have any sponsors or do you work to support your racing?
Max: I work as a ski patroller on Aspen Mountain. I also have a number of sponsors that make a big difference in my success: Strafe Outerwear, SCARPA, Ski Trab, Oakley, Aspen/Snowmass, Honey Stinger, and POC.
John: I work for STRAFE Outerwear designing and developing some sweet outerwear, but I’m lucky to have a pretty flexible schedule, which means as long as I am efficient I get to ski almost every day.
This sport ain’t cheap and none of the racing would be possible without great support from STRAFE, Oakley, Scarpa, Ski Trab, Honey Stinger, POC, Aspen/Snowmass, and the Aspen Brewing Company. Thanks guys!
Q: You guys are both great skiers. What gear did you race on last season (skis, bindings, boots)? Any changes for this year?
Max: Last year I raced on Dynafit boots, Dynafit bindings, and Atomic skis. This year I will be racing on SCARPA Alien 1.0 boots, Ski Trab TR Race binding, and the Ski Trab Gara Aero World Cup ski.
I love equipment that I don’t have to hold back on, on the descents. I have been skiing in the SCARPA Alien 1.0 since March and have been very impressed.
The first pair of race skis I had were made by Ski Trab and I was amazed at how durable they were and how well they skied, so I am really excited to go back to them. I am also really looking forward to touring and training on the Ski Trab Magico ski.
» Check out the comparison pages for what Max will be racing on this year – lightest boots, skis, bindings.
John: Last year I was on Dynafit boots and binders, and Atomic skis, but I’m really stoked to try out Scarpa Aliens 1.0 this year. They weigh the same as the Evo’s but the walk mode is ridiculous. I weigh a bit more than a lot of racers too so I’m definitely excited for the stiffer support they offer on the downhill.
I’ll also be on Ski Trab Gara Aero World Cup skis and TR Race bindings. It’s pretty cool to be on the same equipment used by the majority of top world cup racers over in Europe.
Q: John, you won all three US qualifying races for the 2013 World Champs, including the Nationals at Jackson. Were you surprised? What did it change or confirm for you?
John: I was a little surprised. I knew I had an outside shot, but there are so many variables in skimo that can and do go wrong all the time.
I didn’t have a lot of racing experience under my belt but what I did have was very helpful. I mean the 2012 Power of Four was one of the most brutal races anyone had ever experienced, so that alone gave me confidence that if I kept my cool I could get a good result.
But to follow up Nationals with 3 more race wins in a week (there was a Highlands town series race on Thursday before Sunlight), that was really cool. In the past it didn’t seem like there were consistent winners, so to train and prepare and work out the details to try and minimize all those variable factors, and then see it really work, and work well, was great.
John after his big win at the 2013 Nationals in Jackson Hole. Jason Dorais was second and Luke Nelson third.
John after his big win at the 2013 Nationals in Jackson Hole. Jason Dorais was second and Luke Nelson third. (Shouldn’t the 
Q: Max, you kept improving throughout the season, from race to race, what was your biggest goal?
Max: I typically struggle to find my speed for the first month of the season. I was really excited to find it by the end of January and maintain it through the end of the season. Worlds were definitely my biggest goal, and finishing 10th in the teams race with John was the highlight.
Q: So let’s talk about the 10th place at 2013 Worlds then. I label it as a superb result! How was that day? What were your hardest moments?
Max: We were pretty slow on the first climb, because I usually struggle early on, especially at lower altitudes. We were probably in 25th or so at the top of the first climb. From the first descent to the finish we continuously made up ground both skiing and climbing.
John and I are usually some of the faster skiers, which always makes things more fun.
John: That day was hard! I felt great from the gun, but kind of over did it on the first climb and felt pretty bad the rest of the race. It was just slow and steady after that I really just had to follow Max’s heels for the middle climbs. Not my best feelings on the up, but we were cruising on the descents, passing a lot of teams and having a blast.
I also really liked the downhill ridge running section and the crampon section. That was my first time racing with crampons and it definitely made it way more interesting. But I was totally blown by the final skate and really happy to see the finishing chute!
» Here’s a short report from that day.
Team USA checking out the race course at 2013 Worlds in France.
Team USA checking out the race course at 2013 Worlds in France.
Q: How did you like other disciplines at the Worlds you raced in and the event as a whole?
Max: I really like the individual race, even though it’s usually a bit short for me. As with the teams race I fell back early on, but made up ground during the second half of the race. I didn’t have a great sprint race, but it’s something I would like to do some specific training for in the future.
John: The individual race was definitely my favourite, mainly because the course was still really cool, and I just felt and raced a lot better. It started off just crazy fast, and the intensity stayed so high the whole time. I know the 31st place isn’t nearly as impressive sounding as the 10th from teams, but I was really proud of that.
And the relay was way more exciting than I was expecting. I didn’t think too much of it beforehand since it was a ten-minute effort, but that was some of the most pain I have ever experienced in my life.
Everything about the Worlds is really incredible if you’re coming from the grassroots American scene. The courses, the fans, the atmosphere – all of it is next level!
Q: Do you plan on racing team races together in the future?
Max: Yes, I feel like our skills complement each other really well.
John: For sure. I think we work very well together, and it’s especially nice to be the same speed on the descents. Climbs are one thing – if someone’s going faster you can tow and vice versa, but that’s not possible on descents and it would suck to have to hold back.
Max took the the overall at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg, with John second (left), and Tom Goth third (right).
Max took the the overall at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg, with John second (left), and Tom Goth third (right).
Q: Which race would be the ultimate goal for you – Pierra Menta, Trofeo Mezzalama…?
Max: I raced the Pierra Menta in 2012 with Pete Gaston, John’s brother. I would love to go back and race it again.
John: I would love to race the Pierra Menta.
John Gaston with his brother Pete (right) after taking the win at 2012 Power of Four teams race.
John with his brother Pete (right) after taking the win at 2012 Power of Four teams race.
Q: Seems like you both spent time in Europe this summer. Was it for training or just tripping?
Max: I spent September in France guiding road bike trips for Cycle the Alps. My friends Liz and Miles Smart, who are mountain guides in Chamonix, France, started the company, and I am excited to be apart of it. This years trips brought me to some incredible places and were a great few weeks of high volume training.
John: I actually wasn’t over there this summer – my brother Pete was guiding mountain bike trips over there so maybe you were thinking of him! 😉
I did take a trip over in the Fall though to go to Oktoberfest! I love Europe though and definitely plan on spending more time over there in the future.
Q: How do you train in the summer? Do you also race?
Max: I used to do a lot of bike racing. Since I started focusing more on skimo a few years ago, I reduced my summer racing to a select few mountain biking and trail running races.
John: Summer is all about mtb racing. I end up racing the same amount summer and winter.
Max on a ride.
Max ripping above Camp Hale.
above Camp Hale
Q: What does your racing calendar looks like for this season, only US races or will you visit foreign countries as well?
Max: I am excited about our growing US schedule, in particular the 3 ISMF sanctioned races in the US. I would love to race in Europe again this winter, if the opportunity arises. I would really like to make it up to Canada sometime to race as well.
John: Not totally sure yet. I’m not going to start racing until January, when it’s Jackson/Targhee/Sunlight time. I’d love to go to Europe and race some World Cups after that, but I think Pierra Menta may take priority. And I guess it’s about time Max and I give the Grand Traverse a go, even though the race itself doesn’t really appeal to me from a skiing standpoint.
Q: Do you have any goals in the backcountry? Descents, traverses…?
Max: I would like to do some big traverses in Colorado. It’s a pretty new thing for Colorado. We don’t always have the right conditions, but when we do, I think some epic days are possible.
John: I want to get more comfortable in bigger, more technical mountains. That’s always been a weak point of mine, as I have zero climbing background. That pretty much means following Pete and Max around on their objectives and trying not to kill myself.
Max touring.
Max skinning towards Castle Peak.
Q: Let’s each of you give a tip to less experienced skimo racers. One on climbing, one for skiing – anything you consider a very important detail.
Max: I really like to preview courses. This allows me to know exactly what I have coming up on every climb and to ski the descents faster with more confidence.
John: I think eating and drinking is really important in any race over an hour. Maybe it’s because a lot of racers come from running backgrounds, where apparently starving yourself is the norm, but most skimo racers don’t eat or drink nearly enough to sustain their level of intensity.
For downhill, I think people who spend most of their time in the backcountry should vary it up and ski the resort once in awhile. Ski Areas allow you to ski much harder, steeper terrain in a wider variety of conditions, at faster speeds, more often.
Q: How would you advise an absolute skimo racing novice to start besides just jumping into a race? Give me three most important things in order of priority.
Max:

  1. Focus on good skinning technique. You can beat far fitter people, with good technique.
  2. Practice a few transitions before the race. They don’t need to be perfect, but this will help you relax in the transitions.
  3. Be familiar with the course and race format, so that there are no big surprises.

John:

  1. Make sure you have comfortable boots! Nothing turns people off from skinning like massive blisters.
  2. Build up some solid base fitness. Racing is more fun when it doesn’t feel like you’re dying the whole time.
  3. Go touring with friends, preferably some that have a little racing experience. You’ll learn basic race technique in a way more fun and casual manner.

» For more skimo tips check out this article – 10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Skimo Racing
Q: A bit off topic now: What did you wanted to be when you were 15? And what do you want to be now?
Max: When I was 15, I knew that I loved skiing. Now, I get to spend most of my day on skis!
John: I wanted to be pro big mountain skier. I think that was the year MSP’s Ski Movie 3 came out. Seth Morrison was the coolest skier in the world (still is), and Hugo Harrison had just come onto the scene, skiing faster and harder than anyone. I wanted to do what they did. I guess I still do, but now I have this endurance itch that needs scratching, and sometimes gets in the way of the more fun aspects of the sport!

Filed Under: People (Interviews), Skimo Racing Tagged With: 2013 US Skimo Champion, 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Championships, Aspen, Jason Dorais, John Gaston, Luke Nelson, Max Taam, Scarpa Alien 1.0, Ski Trab Gara skis, Strafe Outerwear, The Power of Four

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Our Facebook Page

skimo-manual-banner-300px
 

Recent Articles

  • Kilian Jornet Interview: About His New Foundation, His Own Environmental Impact, and How He Wants To Help Athletes and The Outdoor Industry To Protect Nature
  • How Fast Are Glaciers Really Melting? How Will This Affect Your Mountain Adventures? Interview with Pascal Egli
  • Book Review – Art of Freedom: The Life and Climbs of Voytek Kurtyka
  • Forest Skis: Innovative, Custom Build, For Backcountry Skiing and Freeride
  • Lighter and Completely Redesigned: New CAMP Ultralight Ski Mountaineering Ice Axes

Categories

  • Contests & Giveaways
  • Crazy Tracks
  • Events & Races
  • Gear, Tech & Food
  • General News & Articles
  • Industry Press Releases
  • Movies & Books
  • News Shorts
  • People (Interviews)
  • Racing 101
  • Reports & Results
  • Reviews
  • Skimo Racing
  • Training, Tricks & Tips
  • Trip Reports & Conditions

Footer

About SkinTrack

Travelling through snowy mountains on skis is like flying… and experiencing life at its core.

Gear reviews, interviews, adventures, contests, skills, skimo training, race reports – we connect you to all things related to self-propelled skiing.

SkinTrack.com, created by Stano Faban, was born out of passion for ski mountaineering and ski touring. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular ski mountaineering blogs in North America.

Recent Articles

  • Kilian Jornet Interview: About His New Foundation, His Own Environmental Impact, and How He Wants To Help Athletes and The Outdoor Industry To Protect Nature
  • How Fast Are Glaciers Really Melting? How Will This Affect Your Mountain Adventures? Interview with Pascal Egli
  • Book Review – Art of Freedom: The Life and Climbs of Voytek Kurtyka
  • Forest Skis: Innovative, Custom Build, For Backcountry Skiing and Freeride
  • Lighter and Completely Redesigned: New CAMP Ultralight Ski Mountaineering Ice Axes

Useful Links

Comparing the lightest: Skis | Boots | Bindings

Skimo Training: Training Plans | Videos

Stay in Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 SkinTrack.com. All rights reserved.