ski mountaineering race

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The Heathen

Posted by sarianderson on January 17, 2011
Posted in: Race Coverage, Race Results, Race Updates, Training after pregnancy. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Lyndsay Meyer & I at the finish of the Heathen Challenge

The third and final qualifier for the ski mountaineering worlds was this weekend at Sunlight. I have raced this COSMIC race three or four times and it keeps getting better. This year the course was changed up a bit to add some more kick turns and a final short ascent before the finish.

As has been the case for the last few years, the Heathen Challenge brought gorgeous weather. During the race, I once again had issues with my skins and got to ‘practice’ a few extra skin changes. Thankfully, I felt pretty strong and still managed to pull off a victory.

Unfortunately the photographer taking photos on the second ascent just missed me fumbling through a kick turn. Despite not always having perfect form, I got the job done. Most importantly, I’m really getting comfortable in my La Sportiva Stratos boots and Sportiva skis and my descending skills and speed have improved dramatically.

Monique Merrill, Jari Kirkland and Jessica Philips raced very well for the women. Unfortunately both Lyndsay Meyer and Molly Zurn were sick and couldn’t complete the course. I’m looking forward to the next race in Crested Butte as all of us learn more each race.

Pete Swenson, COSMIC founder, won the men’s race with Scott Simmons, Jan Koles, Max Taam and Travis Scheefer rounding out the top five.

With the three qualifiers complete, the US ski mountaineering worlds team is:  Men: Brandon French, Travis Scheefer, Pete Swenson, Scott Simmons, Luke Nelson, Bryan Wickenhauser, Max Taam and Greg Ruckman; Women:  Sari Anderson, Monique Merrill, Janelle Smiley, Nina Silitch, Jari Kirkland, Amy Fulwyler, Jessica Philips and Jaime Falcon.

Check out Crested Butte Photography for Kevin Krill’s photos of the race. Also, Daniel Dunn will be posting some on the USSMA site in the near future.

Finally, if you are going to be at the OR show this week in Salt Lake City, please stop by the La Sportiva booth on Thursday to have a beer and fund-raise for USSMA. Enter to win a pair of Sportiva skis!

Axel came to watch the finish thanks to my parents. Photo by Daniel Dunn

Axel came to watch the finish thanks to my parents. Photo by Daniel Dunn

Happy to be finished

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Squeezing In A Little More Summer

Posted by sarianderson on November 22, 2010
Posted in: Training, Training after pregnancy, Upcoming Races. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Our family squeezed in one last trip to Moab this past weekend. The weather wasn’t perfect but the company was great. Despite 30 mph winds on Saturday, both Ian and I enjoyed rides on Flat Pass and Porcupine Rim. The trails were still very rideable with only very small patches of snow on Porcupine Rim. I know I should be training for the upcoming ski mountaineering race at Irwin Lodge but it was really nice to get one more mountain bike ride in before winter is here to stay.

After a lull in the wind late on Saturday evening I thought we’d be set for a calm morning on Sunday. Nope, I was wrong. The wind picked up right where it left off on Saturday so I ventured up a dirt road close to the condo (thank you Degenhardts!) to do a little exploring while running. I made it to a nice overlook but need to get back another time to put in some more miles of checking out the area.

We returned home to winter with the ‘big blizzard’ dumping a whole two inches in Carbondale. Aspen opens this week so it is officially time to get on my skis and start training for the next racing season. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll motivate to get out of bed early tomorrow and train before Ian heads off to work.