jshefftz
12-29-2008, 06:01 PM
Sorry for the short notice, but I just finished scouting out the route today, and the only possible dates I could organize a race this season would be January 10, 11, 17, or 18.
If interested (even in the slightest), please contact BEastRandoRace.com ASAP so we can determine the best date for everyone and firm this up.
Copious details below (sorry for the lack of formatting -- quick cut&paste from a Word file):
BERKSHIRE EAST SKI AREA
CHARLEMONT, MA
January 10? … 11? ... 17? … 18?, 2009
RANDONNÉE RALLY / SKI MOUNTAINEERING RACE
BEastRandoRace@gmail.com
Welcome to the first-ever randonnée rally / ski mountaineering race to be held in Southern New England! Please pay attention to the following information very closely so as to help facilitate a safe and fun event.
Note however that skiing entails many inherent risks, backcountry travel entails even more inherent risks, and combining both of them into a race format entails even further inherent risks. Although this event is designed to manage and mitigate such risks, your safety will depend in large part upon your own actions, so please read the following information very carefully and exercise your best judgment at all times.
Schedule
8:15 Registration Opens (probably free this year)
8:30 Registration Closes; Pre-Race Briefing
9:00 Assemble Outside Lodge to Traverse Over to Start (at base of snowmobile trail)
9:10 Start [will be delayed for epicly good snow conditions or epicly bad weather]
12:00 Backcountry clinics and demos start, including:
- avalanche beacon practice/demo (e.g., S1, Pulse, DSP, FreeRide, Tracker, iProbe)
- steep skinning technique (i.e., uphill kick turns with ski crampons)
- possibly other reps/demos too (to be determined...)
- emergency backcountry sled assembly demonstration and practice
- any other avy topics of interest (from NSP & AIARE avy instructor)
Course Layout [see attached maps]
Start is at the base of a snowmobile trail (near condos). Before the race, we will traverse over there as a group, then line up our skis for a “Le Mans” start (i.e., we run a short distance to then click into our skis).
The ~1,000-foot-vertical ascent is generally low to moderate angle, with some flat sections, although no downhills. You can probably get away with just kicker skins. Be prepared to step over a few very narrow and shallow streams – no worse than any typical New England backcountry tour though.
At first you will follow the orange snowmobile signs and flagging. (The snowmobile trail flagging is a mix of their faded orange and my brand-new bright orange, but both variations indicate the snowmobile trail.) For the few large blowdowns that obstruct the trail entirely, you can either find your own way around them, or (preferably) follow my blue flagging.
Near the summit, the snowmobile trail comes out at a plowed road. Look for my blue flagging for the skin route. When you come out onto the “Outback” ski trail, continue on the ski trail (wide and flat) about 100 feet to the summit (and triple lift unloading zone). Deskin here, and ski down the trail that would be on your left if you were unloading from the summit triple lift.
A short steep pitch will take you to the top of the near-summit double lift. Now ski down [depending on which is open: {Liftline trail, which is underneath the triple, immediately to the skier’s left of the double}, or, if Liftline not open: {Flying Cloud, which is underneath the double}, or if Flying Cloud not open: {Upper Competition – very wide! -- which is two trails to the skier’s left of the double}, or if Upper Comp has a race: {Big Chief, which is to the skier’s right of the double}].
When you are almost at the bottom of the ski area, all the trails merge into an open area. Traverse hard to the skier’s right (be careful of downhill traffic!), above the abandoned old lodge, past the condos (down and to your left), and down a short moderate pitch to where we started: this is the same route we took to get to the start as a group before the race. Now just do the previous ascent-descent all over again!
If you’re in the Shortened Course (i.e., "Heavy Metal Division"), then two laps and you’re done. (And congratulations!) If you’re in the Full Course, do a total of four laps. (And wow are you tired!) When you arrive at the base area, look for my backpack in the designation spot, and record your finish time (using my watch) on the notepad.
Rules
Very detailed international rules exist for ski mountaineering races (e.g., carrying crampons on outside of pack = two-minute penalty).
But we are NOT following them!
However, we do have some rules derived from them, plus some additional rules for this venue.
1. A helmet must be worn at ALL times: both descents and ascents. Helmet can be certified for any outdoor sport, not just skiing, e.g., biking, skating, climbing.
2. Do not deviate from the ascent route! This is:
a. For your own safety, since if anyone does not check in at the finish, I will sweep the course route; and,
b. because these races are NOT supposed to be about route finding.
3. On the descent:
a. Do not deviate from the descent route! I chose the most challenging route possible so as to test skiing skills (and hence help out those on heavier gear).
b. On groomed portions of the descent, keep the speed under control and stand up (i.e., no tucking with elbows in front of knees). The time advantage you gain from an all-out super-g/downhill approach will be trivial, yet imperil the safety of the recreational public and imperil the chances of holding this race again.
c. The recreational public – not the racers! – has the right of way.
d. On any difficult (i.e., slow) portions of the descent, be courteous to other competitors trying to pass you: no deliberate hindrance!
4. Assistance:
a. With one exception (below), no outside assistance. That means no water, no food, no gear, no repair help, etc. (You can of course ask questions though of anyone if you're confused about the route, but we hope that won't be needed.)
b. Okay, the exception to outside assistance: in the spirit of nordic ski racing rules, where poles frequently break, you can grab a replacement pole. I'll put a couple random poles of mine at the start and finish.
5. Booting:
a. No hiking, walking, booting, climbing, snowshoeing: any and all travel must be done with skis (or snowboard) on, for both ascents and descents. In other words, if your skis are off, that means you're at a transition area and not moving. (Well, unless you crashed!)
6. Emergency communication:
a. The avalanche beacons are for the clinics *after* the race – don’t wear them during the race (unless you really want to for . . . practice?).
b. I will have a FRS/GMRS two-way radio with me, set to channel 3-13. Feel free to bring your own radio if you want the emergency back-up of being able to contact me. (I’m an NSP ski patroller at another ski area, plus I can skin up quickly and reach the Berkshire East patrol.)
c. Note that cell phones have no reception at Berkshire East.
7. Although this is a "race" take as long as you want, and feel free to drop out if you're really hurting (although be sure to check in at the finish so we know you're okay – unless you're not, in which case go straight to the ski patrol or call me on the radio). Maybe someday these races will be super-serious and all competitive like other kinds of ski races, but for now, especially out east, they're pretty casual, and our priority in hosting this race is for everyone to have a safe and fun event.
8. Prizes will be . . . well, very limited, or mainly even nonexistent, given the short preparation time to pull off this event, the likely small field, and the generally obscure nature of the sport. However, if I do manage to scourge up anything, then prizes will be drawn from a pool of donated items from sponsors, with the top finishers in the Full Course choosing their items, and rest going into a raffle for everyone. (Top finishers in the Shortened Course (i.e., "Heavy Metal Division") enter the raffle like everyone else – sorry, but we don't want to create incentives for "gaming" by fast-but-not-super-fast racers to run the Shortened Course.) The order of choice will be:
a. Fastest racer overall
b. Second-fastest racer overall
c. Third-fastest racer overall
d. Fastest female racer
e. Second-fasted female racer (if we have three or more female racers)
f. Third-faster female racer (if we have four or more female racers)
g. Fastest racer 50 years or older
h. Fastest female racer 50 years or older
Note that the order above will be overridden if the actual finish order is something other than listed above (e.g., a 50+ racer beats all the young whippersnappers).
If interested (even in the slightest), please contact BEastRandoRace.com ASAP so we can determine the best date for everyone and firm this up.
Copious details below (sorry for the lack of formatting -- quick cut&paste from a Word file):
BERKSHIRE EAST SKI AREA
CHARLEMONT, MA
January 10? … 11? ... 17? … 18?, 2009
RANDONNÉE RALLY / SKI MOUNTAINEERING RACE
BEastRandoRace@gmail.com
Welcome to the first-ever randonnée rally / ski mountaineering race to be held in Southern New England! Please pay attention to the following information very closely so as to help facilitate a safe and fun event.
Note however that skiing entails many inherent risks, backcountry travel entails even more inherent risks, and combining both of them into a race format entails even further inherent risks. Although this event is designed to manage and mitigate such risks, your safety will depend in large part upon your own actions, so please read the following information very carefully and exercise your best judgment at all times.
Schedule
8:15 Registration Opens (probably free this year)
8:30 Registration Closes; Pre-Race Briefing
9:00 Assemble Outside Lodge to Traverse Over to Start (at base of snowmobile trail)
9:10 Start [will be delayed for epicly good snow conditions or epicly bad weather]
12:00 Backcountry clinics and demos start, including:
- avalanche beacon practice/demo (e.g., S1, Pulse, DSP, FreeRide, Tracker, iProbe)
- steep skinning technique (i.e., uphill kick turns with ski crampons)
- possibly other reps/demos too (to be determined...)
- emergency backcountry sled assembly demonstration and practice
- any other avy topics of interest (from NSP & AIARE avy instructor)
Course Layout [see attached maps]
Start is at the base of a snowmobile trail (near condos). Before the race, we will traverse over there as a group, then line up our skis for a “Le Mans” start (i.e., we run a short distance to then click into our skis).
The ~1,000-foot-vertical ascent is generally low to moderate angle, with some flat sections, although no downhills. You can probably get away with just kicker skins. Be prepared to step over a few very narrow and shallow streams – no worse than any typical New England backcountry tour though.
At first you will follow the orange snowmobile signs and flagging. (The snowmobile trail flagging is a mix of their faded orange and my brand-new bright orange, but both variations indicate the snowmobile trail.) For the few large blowdowns that obstruct the trail entirely, you can either find your own way around them, or (preferably) follow my blue flagging.
Near the summit, the snowmobile trail comes out at a plowed road. Look for my blue flagging for the skin route. When you come out onto the “Outback” ski trail, continue on the ski trail (wide and flat) about 100 feet to the summit (and triple lift unloading zone). Deskin here, and ski down the trail that would be on your left if you were unloading from the summit triple lift.
A short steep pitch will take you to the top of the near-summit double lift. Now ski down [depending on which is open: {Liftline trail, which is underneath the triple, immediately to the skier’s left of the double}, or, if Liftline not open: {Flying Cloud, which is underneath the double}, or if Flying Cloud not open: {Upper Competition – very wide! -- which is two trails to the skier’s left of the double}, or if Upper Comp has a race: {Big Chief, which is to the skier’s right of the double}].
When you are almost at the bottom of the ski area, all the trails merge into an open area. Traverse hard to the skier’s right (be careful of downhill traffic!), above the abandoned old lodge, past the condos (down and to your left), and down a short moderate pitch to where we started: this is the same route we took to get to the start as a group before the race. Now just do the previous ascent-descent all over again!
If you’re in the Shortened Course (i.e., "Heavy Metal Division"), then two laps and you’re done. (And congratulations!) If you’re in the Full Course, do a total of four laps. (And wow are you tired!) When you arrive at the base area, look for my backpack in the designation spot, and record your finish time (using my watch) on the notepad.
Rules
Very detailed international rules exist for ski mountaineering races (e.g., carrying crampons on outside of pack = two-minute penalty).
But we are NOT following them!
However, we do have some rules derived from them, plus some additional rules for this venue.
1. A helmet must be worn at ALL times: both descents and ascents. Helmet can be certified for any outdoor sport, not just skiing, e.g., biking, skating, climbing.
2. Do not deviate from the ascent route! This is:
a. For your own safety, since if anyone does not check in at the finish, I will sweep the course route; and,
b. because these races are NOT supposed to be about route finding.
3. On the descent:
a. Do not deviate from the descent route! I chose the most challenging route possible so as to test skiing skills (and hence help out those on heavier gear).
b. On groomed portions of the descent, keep the speed under control and stand up (i.e., no tucking with elbows in front of knees). The time advantage you gain from an all-out super-g/downhill approach will be trivial, yet imperil the safety of the recreational public and imperil the chances of holding this race again.
c. The recreational public – not the racers! – has the right of way.
d. On any difficult (i.e., slow) portions of the descent, be courteous to other competitors trying to pass you: no deliberate hindrance!
4. Assistance:
a. With one exception (below), no outside assistance. That means no water, no food, no gear, no repair help, etc. (You can of course ask questions though of anyone if you're confused about the route, but we hope that won't be needed.)
b. Okay, the exception to outside assistance: in the spirit of nordic ski racing rules, where poles frequently break, you can grab a replacement pole. I'll put a couple random poles of mine at the start and finish.
5. Booting:
a. No hiking, walking, booting, climbing, snowshoeing: any and all travel must be done with skis (or snowboard) on, for both ascents and descents. In other words, if your skis are off, that means you're at a transition area and not moving. (Well, unless you crashed!)
6. Emergency communication:
a. The avalanche beacons are for the clinics *after* the race – don’t wear them during the race (unless you really want to for . . . practice?).
b. I will have a FRS/GMRS two-way radio with me, set to channel 3-13. Feel free to bring your own radio if you want the emergency back-up of being able to contact me. (I’m an NSP ski patroller at another ski area, plus I can skin up quickly and reach the Berkshire East patrol.)
c. Note that cell phones have no reception at Berkshire East.
7. Although this is a "race" take as long as you want, and feel free to drop out if you're really hurting (although be sure to check in at the finish so we know you're okay – unless you're not, in which case go straight to the ski patrol or call me on the radio). Maybe someday these races will be super-serious and all competitive like other kinds of ski races, but for now, especially out east, they're pretty casual, and our priority in hosting this race is for everyone to have a safe and fun event.
8. Prizes will be . . . well, very limited, or mainly even nonexistent, given the short preparation time to pull off this event, the likely small field, and the generally obscure nature of the sport. However, if I do manage to scourge up anything, then prizes will be drawn from a pool of donated items from sponsors, with the top finishers in the Full Course choosing their items, and rest going into a raffle for everyone. (Top finishers in the Shortened Course (i.e., "Heavy Metal Division") enter the raffle like everyone else – sorry, but we don't want to create incentives for "gaming" by fast-but-not-super-fast racers to run the Shortened Course.) The order of choice will be:
a. Fastest racer overall
b. Second-fastest racer overall
c. Third-fastest racer overall
d. Fastest female racer
e. Second-fasted female racer (if we have three or more female racers)
f. Third-faster female racer (if we have four or more female racers)
g. Fastest racer 50 years or older
h. Fastest female racer 50 years or older
Note that the order above will be overridden if the actual finish order is something other than listed above (e.g., a 50+ racer beats all the young whippersnappers).