jshefftz
09-23-2008, 01:59 PM
Save the dates:
- February 16 (Monday)
- March 14 (Saturday)
. . . for the first-ever eastern randonnee races not held in way-northern New England or NY.
And the first-ever eastern randonnee races to feature backcountry safety clinics (plus maybe Dynafit demos too).
Then again, should be expected from the first eastern ski area to actively promote in-bounds skinning during operational hours:
http://www.magicmtn.com/static_page.php?id=38
Tentative Details So Far:
(and suggestions for any changes are most appreciated)
Race starts promptly at 9:00 am.
Registration that morning or prior to race date.
Registration fee will be $20, which will include prizes for the top finishers and some schwag for all. (A discounted lift ticket option will be available for the afternoon.)
Course layout will depend on snow conditions.
If natural snow cover is lacking, then just three laps at Magic, for about 5,000 vertical.
The hope though is for a course that ascends to Magic’s summit, but then crosses over to Timber Ridge / Timberside:
http://www.nelsap.org/vt/timber.html
. . . skis a bit there, then crosses back to Magic. (Yes, the new owner keeps many of the trails clear, is fine with skiers, and is being approached to make sure he’s okay with all this.)
Whatever the exact layout is, the course will be marked and staffed (i.e., so it’s *not* a race that entails routefinding, etc.).
Backcountry clinics and demos will start at 1:00 and include:
- avalanche beacon practice/demo (e.g., S1, Pulse, DSP, iProbe, plus Tracker2 if it exists by then)
- steep skinning technique (i.e., uphill kick turns with ski crampons)
- possibly (depending on rep status) Dynafit demos (both ski/binding setups *and* boots)
- possibly other reps/demos too (to be determined...)
- any other avy topics of interest (I am an AIARE and NSP avy instructor)
I’m starting an informal preregistration list now, just to try to gauge potential interest – so if you might be interested, just email your name to MagicRandoRace@gmail.com along with a rough estimate of your likelihood of participating in either date.
And as mentioned earlier, suggestions at this stage are most welcome!
Plus as with just about any rando race, any snow sliding device with climbing skins is okay (as opposed to just randonnee gear): so 8.5-ounce ATK/Dynafit race bindings, Diaxos, NTN, other tele monstrosities, splitboards, Alpine Day Wreckers, whatever. (Just no snowshoes and no booting.)
(Oh, and about the Monday date: yes, we know that not everyone can stay all day Monday, since although it’s a federal holiday, some skiers might need to take off early to return to Big City reality after a three-day weekend. But the previous two weekend days are way too busy, the prior two weekends already have rando races – Jay Jan 31, MRV Feb 8, the weekend prior to that I might stay up further north after the Jan 23 Stowe superg, and any earlier in the season is too iffy for natural snow cover.)
- February 16 (Monday)
- March 14 (Saturday)
. . . for the first-ever eastern randonnee races not held in way-northern New England or NY.
And the first-ever eastern randonnee races to feature backcountry safety clinics (plus maybe Dynafit demos too).
Then again, should be expected from the first eastern ski area to actively promote in-bounds skinning during operational hours:
http://www.magicmtn.com/static_page.php?id=38
Tentative Details So Far:
(and suggestions for any changes are most appreciated)
Race starts promptly at 9:00 am.
Registration that morning or prior to race date.
Registration fee will be $20, which will include prizes for the top finishers and some schwag for all. (A discounted lift ticket option will be available for the afternoon.)
Course layout will depend on snow conditions.
If natural snow cover is lacking, then just three laps at Magic, for about 5,000 vertical.
The hope though is for a course that ascends to Magic’s summit, but then crosses over to Timber Ridge / Timberside:
http://www.nelsap.org/vt/timber.html
. . . skis a bit there, then crosses back to Magic. (Yes, the new owner keeps many of the trails clear, is fine with skiers, and is being approached to make sure he’s okay with all this.)
Whatever the exact layout is, the course will be marked and staffed (i.e., so it’s *not* a race that entails routefinding, etc.).
Backcountry clinics and demos will start at 1:00 and include:
- avalanche beacon practice/demo (e.g., S1, Pulse, DSP, iProbe, plus Tracker2 if it exists by then)
- steep skinning technique (i.e., uphill kick turns with ski crampons)
- possibly (depending on rep status) Dynafit demos (both ski/binding setups *and* boots)
- possibly other reps/demos too (to be determined...)
- any other avy topics of interest (I am an AIARE and NSP avy instructor)
I’m starting an informal preregistration list now, just to try to gauge potential interest – so if you might be interested, just email your name to MagicRandoRace@gmail.com along with a rough estimate of your likelihood of participating in either date.
And as mentioned earlier, suggestions at this stage are most welcome!
Plus as with just about any rando race, any snow sliding device with climbing skins is okay (as opposed to just randonnee gear): so 8.5-ounce ATK/Dynafit race bindings, Diaxos, NTN, other tele monstrosities, splitboards, Alpine Day Wreckers, whatever. (Just no snowshoes and no booting.)
(Oh, and about the Monday date: yes, we know that not everyone can stay all day Monday, since although it’s a federal holiday, some skiers might need to take off early to return to Big City reality after a three-day weekend. But the previous two weekend days are way too busy, the prior two weekends already have rando races – Jay Jan 31, MRV Feb 8, the weekend prior to that I might stay up further north after the Jan 23 Stowe superg, and any earlier in the season is too iffy for natural snow cover.)