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Official Results for the 3rd Annual Black Diamond PowderKeg

4th place World Cup racer Alexander Hug of Switzerland. Ph; John Lee

 March 19, 2005 – Salt Lake City, UT-- Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., a global leader in climbing and backcountry gear, hosted the second ever International Ski Mountaineering Council (ISMC) World Cup Event in North America, Saturday March 19, 2005. A point-to-point style race from Alta to Brighton Ski Area, over 160 competitors ascended and descended multiple peaks with European World Cup racers setting new records for speed and efficiency.

Sponsored by Patagonia, SCARPA, Ski Utah and the Utah Travel Council, the Black Diamond PowderKeg served as the only North American stop this season for World Cup National Team members from Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, and the USA.

Video

Here's a video shot at the start and at checkpoint 3 that will give a feel for the race. Thanks to Wayne Decker who will receive a pair of Cobra R-8 bindings from Telemarktips.com for his contribution to this report..

 39mb Windows Media

 30mb Quicktime

Ski Mountaineering is extremely popular in Europe and an emerging sport worldwide while petitioning the International Olympic Committee to become a future Winter Olympic Sport.

Race Director Butch Adams commented, “The Black Diamond PowderKeg is unique as it melds over thirty nationally sponsored World Cup athletes alongside local Wasatch powder hounds. People can come out to participate in the recreational category with friends or measure themselves against the world’s elite.”

Three Divisions, World Cup, Race and Recreational left Alta at 7 AM to a bagpiper’s call, finishing at Brighton with a festive barbeque and refreshments.

This year the PowderKeg featured the addition of telemark for the Race and Recreational categories, expanding the appeal for alpine touring and telemark enthusiasts.

The World Cup category was dominated by the French with men’s winner Florent Perrier setting a course record at 1:33:08. Stephane Brosse (FRA) was second at 1:33:16 and Manfred Reichegger (ITA) third at 1:34:22. The top American finisher was Brendan O’Neill (Jackson,WY) at 1:45:56.

6th place womens division World Cup racer Emma Roca Rodriguez strips her skins. Ph; John Lee

The Women’s World Cup was won by Gloriana Pellissier (ITA) at 1:56:07, followed by Nathalie Bourillion (FRA) at 2:02:27 and Gabrielle Magnenat (SUI) at 2:03:28. Jeannie Wall (Bozeman, MT) was the top American woman finishing a close fourth at 2:05:28. Complete results are available on Black Diamond's website at www.bdel.com/powderkeg.

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. is an employee-owned manufacturer of equipment for rock climbing, alpinism and backcountry skiing. By consistently building innovative products and actively preserving the mountain environment, Black Diamond has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond and the company's family of brands, including Ascension, Beal Ropes, Bibler Tents, Franklin Climbing Equipment and Scarpa Footwear, go to www.BlackDiamondEquipment.com.

Patagonia, with a 30-year history of designing and developing technical outdoor
clothing, is widely known for its commitment to product quality and environmental responsibility, designing its fleece garments with recycled soda bottles and, since 1996, using only organic fibers in its cotton products. Recently recognized by Outside Magazine as designing clothing worthy of their "Gear of the Year" designation, Patagonia continues to lead the outdoor industry in product development and responsible business practices.

 

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