First Wasatch Citizen Series Skimo Recap

Last night we held the first race of our new Wasatch Citizen Skimo Series.  Brighton was gracious enough to allow us to have the event under the lights even though we are not paying customers (we tried to make up for that at Molly Green's afterward).  The turnout was FANTASTIC with over 40 people racing through the still single digit air.  The format was "vert style", meaning we would try and lap a short course as many times as possible in a predetermined amount of time.  I pushed for 75 minutes but wanted 90.  The masses demanded 60, so 60 minutes of suffering was the name of the game.  After the fact, I wish it had been 45. 

The planned meeting time was 7PM, and at 7:03 I looked around and saw only 5 others.  Thinking the race was a bust or that there may have been an accident in the canyon that was holding up traffic, I decided we should wait.  Then word came that everyone was waiting at the other end of the parking lot.  Running over, I found another 35+ folks, milling about in the cold, wondering why we weren't getting started. 

Warming up

Up the Great Western we skinned, 40+ strong, headlamps bobbing in the darkness.  Insufficiently warmed up, I muttered a few words about the course, rules, and the newly forming Wasatch Skimo Team (custom speed suits being ordered for those interested) and then a sick samurai gave the commands while his studly 10 year old son toed the line for his first race.  We started fast to warm up and eventually completed a varying number of laps depending on gear, experience, fitness, etc. 

Some highlights include everyone yelling and cheering for eachother, the boot track through the woods, and for me seeing others get excited about the sport.  Out of the newcomers, Teague had the most laps - just shy of 7, Emily edged out Emily again for the women's win, and Ethan won the biggest pie for being the youngest participant. 

Ethan Inouye claiming the prize for youngest participant

Teague winning the little pie

The biggest boner move of the night came when I came into the uphill transition zone and went down, sliding into the patroller who came by to make sure we were being safe and staying out of the way of downhill traffic (of which there was very little).  Damn.  I am a total dumb ass.  Period. 

He was a good sport and I apologized profusely.  Instead of assaulting patrol, I was hoping to genuinely thank them, Brandon Dodge in particular, for supporting our shenanigans.  We will be having more races over intermittent Thursday evenings and there is one in the works for Friday morning next week.  Check out http://citizenseries.wasatchpowderkeg.com/ and subscribe to get all the updates. 

Who cares that there is no snow?  We are having a great time getting fit and playing the skimo game.  Spring will come and with it stable snow and coverage for our bigger goals.  But until then, come join us and find out what skinny skis and tights are all about.