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Mountain Hardwear/ Life-Link/Dynafit Ski
Mountaineering Race Series Expands to Seven Races
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming-October 12, 2005-
The United States Ski Mountaineering
Association (USSMA) announces the expansion of the Mountain Hardwear/Life-Link/Dynafit
Ski Mountaineering Race Series to seven races for the 2006 season.
"We are excited to announce the addition of two venues to
this years race calendar Kirkwood Meadows, California and Sugarbush,
Vermont," stated John Scott, Executive Director of the USSMA.
Sugarbush will be our first race on the East coast and we couldn't
ask for a better resort to host our first race east of the Rockies.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort will make it two races in the Sierras
for the race series and the awesome terrain that Kirkwood has
will really challenge our competitors," said Scott.
"We're really psyched to be the first
Eastern host of a Rally Series race," remarked adventure
skier and the head of the Sugarbush Ski and Ride School, John
Eagan. "The terrain that lies between Sugarbush and Mad
River Glen is extremely challenging. It ranks up there with some
of the most technical descents I've done around the world,"
says Eagan. |
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"Kirkwood is excited to be a host
site for the Randonnee Rally Race this season," says Chris
Eckert, Kirkwood's event manager, "Bagging all six of the
peaks that surround Kirkwood will be quite a challenge, and we're
sure the athletes will love Kirkwood's unique terrain and natural
beauty."
This years race series begins with the
Arcteryx Randonnee Rally at Whistler Blackcomb, Canada on January
7th, then the Sugarbush, Vermont Race on February 5th, Crested
Butte, Colorado on February 11th, then to the Outdoor Research
Rally at Alpental Washington February 25th, the June Mountain
Race, California is on March 4th followed by the Marmot Race
at Kirkwood March 11th and culminating in the American Cup Race
in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on March 25th. For more info: www.life-link.com
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There will be both a race and recreation
class for both men and women at all races. The racing division
competitors will be able to earn points towards the overall series
championship.
This year there will be a unique aspect
for those in the racing division as they will also be able to
earn points toward the race championship at the Black Diamond
Powder Keg Race in Salt Lake City on March 18th. |
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Race Video |
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Here's a film from the start, and from checkpoint
3, of last years Black Diamond Powderkeg race. Thanks to Wayne
Decker for the footage. |
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39mb
Windows Media |
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30mb
Quicktime |
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The Randonnee Rally Race Series is a series
of ski mountaineering races held at some of the premier resorts
in North America. The Race Series test the competitor's endurance,
equipment and skiing skills while skinning up and skiing down
some of the toughest terrain that these resorts and their surrounding
mountains have to offer. Proceeds from the race series go to
benefit local avalanche forecasting centers and local search
and rescue groups. Sponsors of the Series are Mountain Hardwear,
Marmot, Arcteryx, Outdoor Research, Life-Link, Dynafit, Petzl,
Couloir Magazine, Backcountry Magazine, Ibex, Off-Piste Magazine,
Crazy-Creek, Suunto, Croakies, Clif Bar, Honey Stinger, Adventure
Medical Kits, Buff Headwear. McNett Revivex, Pro Ski Service,
and Mammoth Mountaineering. |