Champion randonnee racer Pete Swenson is working hard to create a Colorado race series. He just sent me this press release. Looks like fun!
Introducing the
2007 COLORADO SKI MOUNTAINEERING CUP SERIES – COSMIC
The Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup (COSMIC) is a new series of ski mountaineering events. COSMIC is a response to skiers, retailers and manufacturer’s desire for more racing and backcountry skiing events in Colorado.The COSMIC series will be the premier regional series and introduce new participants to backcountry skiing as well as challenge the veteran skier.
COSMIC EVENTS:
· Races are modeled after European randonee events with competitors beginning on foot and running to clip into their skis.
· Athletes skin uphill to the first gate, remove their skins, ski down to the second gate and back up to the third. This continues for four to five ascents and descents (including a boot pack for the race division).
· Race category vertical is approximately 4,500 ft, recreational 2,500.
· Race categories include: race, recreational, telemark, junior and snowboard divisions.
· Points will be collected at races throughout the series.
· All events have a post-race party and raffle.
· Event venues include Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Sunlight Mt. and Silverton Mountain. Events will be added/confirmed to the schedule in July.
· COSMIC events will often run concurrently with telemark and backcountry ski festivals.Scheduled Races (more to come)
Sunlight Mt. Resort: Sunday, January 14th
– We’ll show off the undeveloped area to the west of the area and the Gibson Glades area.Arapahoe Basin: Sunday March 4th
– We’ll use the new back bowl area and the East Wall.For more information about the COSMIC series please contact Pete Swenson at 720.289.6547 or pete@mayfire.com.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
