Redemption!

I've been dabbling in ski mountaineering racing for 3 seasons now. Unless you are supremely talented, the sport takes some time to figure out. It's true that the winners of the gene pool lottery, the guys who get out of bed with a VO2 max in the 80's are going to have an easier time. But if you can't get down the descents on tooth picks without stacking heavily or transition smoothly without dropping your skins in the snow, you're going to be playing catch up. And if you aren't one of the aerobically gifted, you can make up some time on those guys by being better in the other aspects of the game.

This past Saturday, the United States Ski Mountaineering National Championships took place at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, right here in my backyard.  Now, I can't complain much about my genetics.  I have had success over the years in various endurance sports. My physiology is well-suited to randonee racing. However, I'm pushing 48 years old now and have to give up some to my younger competitors. There are a few aspects of the aging human engine that become a liability. Maximum heart rate declines, cardiac output goes down and VO2 max drops making it harder to keep up with the front of the pack. That said, working on and excelling at the other parts of the game can reduce some of the deficit. It may not be enough to overcome all of the competition but it does allow some of us to continue to play.  

Frankly, the subtleties of the sport and their execution are so compelling that I find I don't need to podium or even come close to feel good about a race. Let's face it, there are very few individuals competing in anything who will ever have the privilege to be the best on any given day. In many endurance sports, if you don't place high and get that kind of affirmation, you only have your time to be satisfied with. In this type of ski racing, times from race to race are rarely comparable due to huge course differences and condition variations. So, what do the also-rans like me have to look forward to? The challenge is putting together your own perfect race. If you have a fellow competitor or two nearby to battle, all the better.

My performance this weekend had all the components I live and race for. I rested well, my gear was tight, I took care of my nutrition, I overcame looming disappointment, transitioned like a pro, skied without falling, battled it out with friends and fellow competitors and ripped the final 4,100 feet without stopping. I cannot think of another sport that offers so many opportunities for success and, sometimes, crushing failure.

In my previous post about the Powder Keg I wrote about my failure to prepare for the race by not getting enough rest leading up to the event. I took that lesson and applied it to my preparation for Nationals. I didn't ski for 4 days after the Keg and only rode my bike. I was nervous about how little I was doing. But I knew that there was nothing I could actively do in the week leading up to the race that would make me faster but plenty that would make me slower. So, rest I did and I came to the line with guns blazing.

The field this year was stacked. We had some of the top talent in this area on the line, the best from Montana, the fastest guys from Colorado and a few heavies from Canada. It really was a representation of the best that North American ski mountaineering has to offer. I was realistic about my chances of throwing down with these guys. I went into the race thinking that top 7 would be sweet. Standing at the line and looking around, top 10 seemed more realistic. But there was an unknown to my expectations as I had not raced in Colorado this year. Perhaps maybe....

The gun went off and the usual insane anaerobic sprint ensued. These starts are always interesting as we charge off waiting for someone to ease back and settle into race pace. If you go too long, the oxygen debt hangs on you like a lead moo moo for the next 20 minutes.

The mad start. PHOTO Jeff Vanuga

Spreading out. PHOTO: Jeff Vanuga

Time it right, shutting it down at the optimum moment and you have some momentum to carry you for the first few minutes of the race. It's funny how all the fast guys shut it down at the same time. Oh sure, there are psychopaths like Salt Lake's Jared Inouye who seem to hit off the line for twice as long as one would think humanly possible. He eventually comes back to the fold a few minutes later but not before putting a scare into the rest of us. On this day, Jared was home recovering from his experience at France's Pierra Menta and catching up on being a dad. We were spared.

As I settled in it became obvious that my previous, most realistic assessment of the day's potential was probably going to be the most accurate. A pack of seven slowly crept away with Cary Smith and I just off the pace. I could hear pole plants behind me so there were others lurking behind.

Everyone finding their own pace. PHOTO: Jeff Vanuga

I stayed close to Cary which is rare but he was still feeling the effects of 31,000 vertical feet raced in France just a few days before. In fact, racing on this day was almost an afterthought for him after doing much of the event organizing. The climb up to Apre Vous always seems longer than it should. It's also quite steep in places which is challenging when the corduroy is frozen and slippery. By the time we got to the transition, the field was spread out and the front pack had separated.

Brandon French, Jon Brown and Ben Parsons PHOTO: Jeff Vanuga

Ben Parsons and Brian Wickenhauser battling. PHOTO: Jeff Vanuga

Pete Swenson was already establishing his domination in the event being the first to scream past us where the first descent parallels the initial climb. The others were close behind with Cary and I a little further back. I managed to transition a little faster and started up Moran Woods just in front. I felt the monkey on my back soon enough and Cary closed and passed me in short order. I was fading. Behind, the familiar face of Scott Coldiron was closing with Zahan Billimoria not far behind. It was getting a little desperate and I thought that my position was seriously in jeapardy. I tried to stay steady and reminded myself to feed at the next transition.

It was cool ascending the long climb and seeing the lead pack spread out above us. Scott passed me and Zahan got closer. I stayed with Scott and it looked like we were bringing Chris Kroger back. Perhaps I was going to rally afterall! By the top I was definitely feeling better. I ripped skins, but before taking off down C1, I took a big swig off my gel flask. I had loaded it with one double caffeine Cliff Shot, a regular caffeine Cliff shot and a plain one.  The rest I filled with water. The result was 300 easy-to-down calories with a little speed injection!  Hopefully, that would kick in soon.

The skiing was challenging down the frozen chute but straight forward enough. We quickly arrived at the base of Greybull for the first booter. I was hot on Scott's heels, hoping for what I lacked last weekend. It was coming. I came up on Scott's tail, just shy of asking him to let me pass. Instead, I gave him some encouragement, which would either crack him or push him. Either way, I was going to see where he was at.  As I was thinking it was time to make my move, my skis suddenly fell out of my attachment system. Shit!  Not what I needed just then. I quickly adjusted things and tried to catch back up. At the top, we put our skis back on sans skins for the skate along the ridge toward the Cirque. Scott had left his boots loose and seemed to be struggling with the skating. I quickly closed and, with some surprise, propelled myself right by him. I got a shot of adrenaline there and doubled-polled my ass off to gain some advantage. I was pegged!  

In the gut of Corbet's. PHOTO: Jeff Vanuga

I relaxed, trying to recover as I dropped in under the Cirque headwall and headed to the base of Tensleep Bowl. I managed to re-skin and get going before Scott showed. Time to bury it! I started feeling better and better as I skinned toward the Corbet's booter. Scott and Zahan were close together but minutes behind as I threw my skis on my back for the final climb. I pistoned my way upward, ensuring that I would lose no advantage.

Bryan Wickenhauser pulling into third in Corbet's Photo: David Bowers

Pulling up and over the final ladder at the top is always a thrilling experience. You're done with most of the suffering.

Zahan Balmoria and Scott Coldiron finishing off Corbet's Photo: David BowersYour's truly trying to keep down lunch a the top of Corbet's. Photo: David Bowers

There is usually an enthusiastic crew up there and I always see encouraging friends. I was pumped! I got my skis on, high-fived David Bowers, fellow Exum guide and JHMR patroller, and headed down for what was sure to be a thigh burning 4,100 feet.

Amy Fulwyler about to feel the 4,100 foot burn! Photo: David Bowers

Rendevous Bowl was hard skiing but things softened as I descended. We were all worried about Lower Sublette Ridge. When frozen, the skiing is desperate. My thighs were screaming as I settled into a tuck on the cat track prior to dropping off onto Sublette. As I hit the turn off the cat, I knew the gods were smiling on us.  It was corn o'clock boyz and our timing was perfect! I kept the pressure on, glancing uphill just in the unlikely event someone was descending like Herman Maier. What a relief it was to finally see the Union Pass road.  

The little mushroom clouds rising off my quads dissipaited as I skated toward the final 100 foot rise before the finish. I was giddy with excitement heiring-boning up the last meters before coasting to the finish. I had accomplished a huge goal. 

With better nutrition, I managed to summon the energy needed to compete and triumph over my closest competitors. Aside from the ski carry issue on the Headwall, I had no technical problems. I skied all the descents non-stop and without crashing. I stayed positive and aggressive even as it looked like I would be the vanquished. My perfect race? Not quite. The perfect race results in a win. But given the talent of my competitors and my own abilities, this may be as close as I'm going to get. Certainly, it leaves me satisfied with the season and looking forward to more battles next year. - Brian

COMPLETE RESULTS BELOW
MEN - RACE 

Place Bib # Name Time

1. 99 Swenson Pete 1:52:47
2. 116 Scheefer Travis 1:54:37
3. 68 Wickenhauser Bryan 1:55:16
4. 70 French Brandon 1:56:33
5. 120 Parsons Ben 2:00:32
6. 85 Smith Cary 2:00:33
7. 81 Kroger Chris 2:01:46
8. 115 Brown Jon 2:03:36
9. 94 Harder Brian 2:07:36
10. 67 Billimoria Zahan 2:12:31
11. 82 Coldiron Scott 2:13:19
12. 52 Wilbrecht Erich 2:15:20
13. 84 Nelson Luke 2:15:40
14. 74 Crowley Jon 2:19:09
15. 86 Colvin Jeff 2:23:41
16. 49 Barry Troy 2:28:44
17. 72 Peitzsch Erich 2:35:30
18. 122 Kilcoyne Jamie 2:38:18
19. 92 Brown Nathan 2:40:06
20. 73 Bunce Eric 2:41:03
21. 98 Peacock Brent 2:42:34
22. 69 Santilices Christian 2:59:22
23. 105 Petterson Leif 3:00:23
24. 118 Hause Jay 3:23:14

WOMEN RACE 

Place Bib # Name Time

1. 91 Merrill Monique 2:19:21
2. 88 Fulwyler Amy 2:29:13
3. 78 Walker Kris 2:48:12
4. 83 Matteau Julie 2:54:20
5. 102 Sweigert Erika 3:02:42

MEN HEAVY METAL 

Place Bib # Name Time

1. 44 Mitchell Davey 2:24:46
2. 77 Stegman Tobin 2:43:30
3. 97 King Jonathan 2:43:47
4. 124 Binstadt Mark 2:58:22
5. 93 Mullen Patrick 3:07:28
6. 111 Neal Eliot 3:19:51
7. 79 Chambers Reed 3:29:01
8. 87 Beegun Scott 3:31:36
9. 96 Lyons Tim 3:36:33
10. 80 Downard Jeff 4:15:00

WOMEN HEAVY METAL 

Place Bib # Name Time

1. 95 Cochrane Jessica 2:57:40
2. 71 French Katie 3:23:39

MEN RECREATION 

Place Bib # Name Time

1. 75 Turner Kirk 1:13:51
2. 100 Urban Jacob 1:21:37
3. 107 Lynch Ryan 1:22:14
4. 45 Saurman Dave 1:26:35
5. 48 marlowe farky 1:28:13
6. 46 john delay 1:29:33
7. 109 Gustafson Brett 1:29:59
8. 117 Burke Keith 1:31:39
9. 90 Olson Kevin 1:34:39
10. 106 Kowalski Daniel 1:37:00
11. 64 burton scott 1:40:28
12. 76 Ripley Peter 1:42:33
13. 103 Miles Barrett 1:42:52
14. 108 Huta Andrew 1:42:56
15. 112 Leigh Chris 1:50:04
16. 104 Angus Jon 1:50:59
17. 114 Berling Walter 2:07:56
18. 123 Neal William 2:10:57
19. 121 Domsky Mark 2:15:48
20. 113 Sherwood John 2:38:43
21. 101 Leeds Hayden 2:50:56

WOMEN RECREATION 

Place Bib # Name Time

1. 65 McCarthy Amy 1:28:33
2. 119 Parsons Elizabeth 1:45:38
3. 110 Neal Mary 2:05:53

Comments

[Ty]

Nice man, now lets see that condition transfer over into killing it on the bike!