TR: Stevens Pass rando rally, 3/9

[Lowell_Skoog]

Here are the results from the men's racing division (20 racers):

 

Andrew McLean, 2.31.38

Brendon O'Neil, 2.32.51

Miki Knizka, 2.32.53

 

Women's racing (5 racers):

 

Polly Samuels, 3.06.53

Dawn French, 3.12.58

Heather Paul, 3.13.10

 

Men's recreational (17 racers):

 

Bob Lowe, 1.45.18

Matthew Collins, 1.50.19

Jerry Sanchez, 1.57.01

 

Women's recreational (7 racers):

 

Holly Walker, 2.35.38

Tana Beus, 2.39.01

Sarah Bruce, 2.45.07

 

The course started and finished at the race shack near the foot of Big Chief.

It climbed Hogsback to the knoll at the top of Cloud 9, then skied down to

Skid Road. Then it climbed to the Tye Mill saddle and skied down Gemini to

the base of the Southern Cross chair. It climbed to the top of Southern

Cross, then skied Big Chief bowl to the starting point, where the recreational

race finished. The racing division continued up Skyline Express and climbed

Nancy Chute to the top of Seventh Heaven. The final descent went down Cloud 9

and Rock'n Blue to the finish.

 

It was snowing hard the whole time and the leaders did a lot of trail

breaking. On the climb up Andromeda Face a group of six exchanged the lead

while a lone racer climbed the groomed slopes of Orion and passed them all.

(He was later overtaken and finished 6th.) On the descents it was hard to see

due to the driving snow and many racers finished the course soaking wet.

 

It was interesting to watch the lead switch back and forth. Brendon O'Neil

was the fastest climber generally, but had skinning trouble in several places.

He was in the lead starting up Nancy Chute, but was overtaken by Andrew right

near the top. Miki Knizka also managed to pass Brendon there (he took his

skis off and was penalized a minute for it) but Brendon squeaked by him on the

descent.

 

The rallies are getting more competitive. Most of the top racing division

finishers have done several races this season and traveled to the race from

other parts of the country. The Life-Link guys are aware that some Northwest

skiers chose not to enter this year due to the higher fee. They want to get

the cost down and build the race into a sort of backcountry skiing festival

that will be attractive to many skiers. I suggested that they consider age

groups (like the Pole-Pedal-Paddle in Bend) or maybe a Dad's division.

 

--

 

Hey, looks like they've posted the full results already:

 

http://www.life-link.com/raceresults_stevens.htm

 

[pete_a]

Hey Lowell, thanks for posting the report....sounds like a great race. Really glad to hear the Life-Link folks are going to work on bringing the cost of the rally down a bit. I'm sure efforts on their part will be accepted with great appreciation by the cheapskate dirtbag backcountry crowd (myself included).

 

[To_The_Top]

Lowell,

Thanks for the post. I wish I could have gone, but unemployed and thats a lot of cash. Oh, yah go JERRY!

TTT