Believe it or not, the 2013 Canadian skimo racing season marked 10 years of skimo racing in this backcountry skiing obsessed country.
For now, let’s take a close look at the most recent season but more details on the ten year summary are coming soon.
Events every month
Last Saturday, the Canadian racing season ended with its last event, Ken Jones Classic, held at Lake Louise.
The season’s opener, Vert 180, took place in December 2012 and was followed by Castle Mountain Skimo Race in January which brought ski mountaineering racing to this venue for the very first time.
Third weekend in February was traditionally reserved for ROAM Randonnee Rally at Whitewater Ski Resort. The race is always part of a larger event – Coldsmoke Powder Fest.
The biggest race on the Canadian and North American calendar was planned for mid-March when the classic Dogtooth Dash was relabeled to The GORE-TEX 2013 Continental Skimo Champs.
Last race on the calendar, a week after the Dogtooth Dash, was the above mentioned Ken Jones Classic.
Participation grows
This season was the biggest yet in terms of participation:
- Overall, 171 people participated in at least one event which breaks down to
- 119 male
- 49 female
- 2 junior male
- and 3 junior female racers.
- 55 racers (38 male, 17 female) completed at least one Elite race course, and
- 31 racers participated in at least two events.
Canadian Skimo Cup
Points for the Alpine Club’s of Canada ski mountaineering competition rankings are collected by racing in the elite category (long courses). Best three results count where one out of the country race could be taken into account.
Top 5 for the 2013 season:
- Stano Faban
- Eric Carter
- Peter Knight
- Brad Schalles
- Ben Parsons
- Martha Burley
- Michelle Roberts
- Marg Fedyna
- Sheri Foster
- Amber Steed
» Complete rankings file – 2013 Canada Cup Rankings
Stano says
Dave, thank you for the praise.
The young guns certainly make me to reach higher in all aspects. But the toughest part about all the racing over the years is to figure out each year how to pay for it all – whether gear or travels – the training is pure pleasure 🙂
David Dornian says
Excellent. Thanks so much for this, Stano. It’s a great thing for our sport to have these reports in such a timely fashion. The one drawback is that you don’t toot your own horn enough – you’re the Canadian Cup Champion, here at the end of a very competitive year that saw racers travelling more than ever, consistent season long racing (no excuses), and everybody in top shape – congratulations! It proves not only your speed, but your technical ability and tactical approach to both training and travelling. It is not an easy thing to deliver yourself ready to races over a whole season, and you proved your approach by winning, or at least threatening to win, everything you entered. All that, while cheerleading the whole sport, recruiting youth and new racers, and serving as the go-to source for both gossip and hard data for the entire North American skimo community. You’re a model and inspiration to all of us.