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View Full Version : USSMA Mountain Hardwear Ski Mountaineering Race - Feb 8



ski_it
02-04-2009, 09:36 AM
FYI the USSMA Mountain Hardwear Ski Mountaineering Race is this Sunday, February 8, 2009.

Info here:
http://www.ussma.org/race/2009-02-07/mountain-hardwear-ski-mountaineering-race

http://www.madriverglen.com/press/Press_Releases/?Page=mtrace.html

I'm doing this race for the first time this year. I expect to get my butt kicked but hope to have some fun too.

Last Tracks
02-04-2009, 01:09 PM
i did it last year and it was fun even though i was overpowered with full tele gear and skins.... the ski across the LT from MRG to north is very nice..

They had some good giveaways afterwards...

Treeskier
02-04-2009, 04:04 PM
I am again manning Grand Junction in the middle of Slidebrook. I look to see all you racing. Gregg

ski_it
02-09-2009, 08:33 AM
Thanks Gregg and all of the other volunteers, organizers, and Patrol who helped make for a great race yesterday. It was definitely a lot of fun, and everyone that donated their time to keep racers on course and safe not only made a great event but showed off Sugarbush and MRG in a very positive light. Thanks!

I look forward to racing again next year.

atkinson
02-09-2009, 12:38 PM
It was an awesome race this year, with the largest field ever, 101 entrants, including 11 youth racers. Sugarbush's Mountaineering Blazers, a new seasonal program for 2008-2009, had 10 kids in the race. The final youth competitor came from MRG's tele program. They ran a slightly different course than the adults, starting at the Glen House at Mount Ellen, climbing Rim Run to the top of Lower FIS, then joining the rec division course for the remainder of the race through Slide Brook, up to the top of Gate House lift, across to Castlerock, down to Header, up Header to Lower Jester and Coffee Run to the finish.

The Mountaineering Blazers have been training especially for this race all season, skinning and hiking each weekend, practicing and reviewing the course at every opportunity. They all finished and were really fast. MB Damon came in first, at 1:28, with MRG Hannah close behind.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img016.JPG
Damon and Hannah, our 1st place youth finishers.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img018.JPG
Great job Nate and Chris!

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img025.JPG
Emma packing up after the race. Tired, but happy.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img027.JPG
All the youth racers, with Coaches Diggity and Rick, who provided support to the entire field for the whole race.

Many thanks to all the racers, volunteers, employees and parents for their dedication and support!

John

freeheel_skier
02-09-2009, 12:45 PM
^^^^^^^^^

AWESOME JOB GUYS!!!!! 8)

The smiles tell the whole story!

notorious
02-09-2009, 02:16 PM
It was an awesome race this year, with the largest field ever, 101 entrants, including 11 youth racers. Sugarbush's Mountaineering Blazers, a new seasonal program for 2008-2009, had 10 kids in the race. The final youth competitor came from MRG's tele program. They ran a slightly different course than the adults, starting at the Glen House at Mount Ellen, climbing Rim Run to the top of Lower FIS, then joining the rec division course for the remainder of the race through Slide Brook, up to the top of Gate House lift, across to Castlerock, down to Header, up Header to Lower Jester and Coffee Run to the finish.

The Mountaineering Blazers have been training especially for this race all season, skinning and hiking each weekend, practicing and reviewing the course at every opportunity. They all finished and were really fast. MB Damon came in first, at 1:28, with MRG Hannah close behind.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img016.JPG
Damon and Hannah, our 1st place youth finishers.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img018.JPG
Great job Nate and Chris!

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img025.JPG
Emma packing up after the race. Tired, but happy.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol49_img027.JPG
All the youth racers, with Coaches Diggity and Rick, who provided support to the entire field for the whole race.

Many thanks to all the racers, volunteers, employees and parents for their dedication and support!

John


I understand that this was the first time that there has been a youth division in the history of this race series. Diggity and Rickity deserve bonus credit for their leadership, as do you (JA) as director of group programs for the ALC. Egan, of course, gets credit because his vision enabled these coaches to create a curriculum for self-reliance and removal (literally) of the boundaries that most no-Bush ski-school programs endure.The parents of these kids also deserve mention for their support of this pioneering program, after all they pay for the equipment, program, etc, get the kids to early sessions, even earlier on powder days. The parents faith in coaches Diggity and Rickity is noteworthy. They must have had some doubts as to whether their kids were ready for this type of hardship. The kids themselves deserve the most credit of all because they have already learned that by hard work and personal discipline that they can surpass expectations. They have already been to places in the MRV that few veteran skiers have seen. This is the enduring lesson that all parents hope that their kids get from youth sports, i.e. hard work pays off, but how many really do learn that lesson? The kids have already learned that they can achieve something which most adults will never achieve. I think that ownership and management of the Bush should take note of this tremendous achievment, and that this unique program deserves attention in the national ski press.

In the near future, these kids will bring the Bush to its rightful role at the top of the Eastern skiing experience,---One ridge, one valley, open from gap-to-gap. "Sugarbush---..way out of bounds".

chuck
02-09-2009, 04:02 PM
Notorious - Very well stated! Kudos to the children, parents, coaches, and administration. You should all be very proud of your achievements! Keep it going!

Treeskier
02-11-2009, 09:50 PM
Here are some pics from the race.
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/060.jpg
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/062.jpg
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/064.jpg

First adult racer through
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/065_1.jpg

Second
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/067.jpg

First Lady
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/074.jpg

And there was plenty of snow!
http://www.clubxtaski.com/090206-8_Mad_River/photos/044.jpg

Doing my snow dance~~~~

mattlucas
02-12-2009, 07:56 PM
awesome photos, i wish i could have been there....

did any gmvs kids compete?