News Shorts: Powder Keg, US Nationals, Pierra Menta

The last two weekends were full of skimo racing action on both sides of the Atlantic. While many of the best US racers fought during 3-day long back-to-back racing weekends a couple of their colleagues and Canadians took Pierra Menta by the horns.

Wasatch Powder Keg at Brighton, UT (Mar 6-8, 2015)

Personally, I was planning to make the trip to the Wasatch country and then head over to Colorado for the US Nationals but the snow conditions and weather played enough with me that I decided to cancel the trip and shuffle work schedule back into normal. Turns out I missed some good skiing at the end but heck, who knew?
As usual, the organizers, Chad Brackelsberg with his wife Emily, prepared three courses to challenge everyone over the three days.
Sprint on Friday:

1. John Gaston (men) / Michela Adrian (women)
2. Max Taam / Sarah Cookler
3. Michael Barlow / Lauren Kuennen

Individual race on Saturday:

1. John Gaston (men) / Stevie Kremer (women)
2. Max Taam / Jari Kirkland
3. Jon Brown / Lauren Kuennen

Teams race on Sunday:

1. John Gaston & Max Taam / Stevie Kremer & Jari Kirkland
2. Rory Kelly & Michael Barlow / Michela Adrian & Lauren Kuennen
3. Jon Brown & William Laird / NA

» All results from Powder Keg 2015

US Skimo Nationals at Crested Butte, CO (Mar 13-15, 2015)

The three day racing weekend in Colorado had a similar format as the Powder Keg, except on Friday night it was time to race the vertical instead of a sprint.

Vertical on Friday:

1. John Gaston (men) / Stevie Kremer (women)
2. Rory Kelly / Lindsay Plant
3. Joe Howdyshell / Megan Kimmel

Individual on Saturday:

1. Max Taam / Jessie Young
2. John Gaston / Stevie Kremer
3. Jon Brown / Lindsay Plant

Teams race on Sunday:

1. John Gaston & Max Taam / Lindsay Plant & Jessie Young
2. Rory Kelly & Michael Barlow / Sarah Cookler & Ann Gonzales
3. Brian Smith & Stig Somme / NA

Pierra Menta at Areches, France (Mar 11-14, 2015)

The 30th edition of Pierra Menta, the famous four-day stage skimo race, attracted a couple of the top North Americans this year.

For the men’s race, my co-author on the Manual For Ski Mountaineering Racing e-book, Eric Carter (USA), partnered with our mutual friend Nick Elson (CAN), and the boys did superbly well! They finished 15th overall, thus, repeating the North American maximum in this race after Reiner Thoni & Andrew McNab (both CAN) finished at the same place in 2013.
A bit further down the results but with the same dedication and enthusiasm the USSMA had its president, Nick Francis, race to 135th place with Eric Bunce.
In the women’s race, Melanie Bernier (CAN), lined up for her 4th Pierra Menta with Malene Blikken (NOR) and the girls raced to a very nice 6th place overall! Historically, North American maximum, and Bernier’s as well, is 4th place overall for women.
» Full 2015 Pierra Menta results
For photos and to read our daily Pierra Menta coverage see these posts:

• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Stage 4

East Coast events

There were couple of races taking place on the other side of the continent but I have no reports or results from there.
If anyone from the East is reading, you can get in touch with me here.

Upcoming events

Mar 21 – Ken Jones Classic (Lake Louise, AB)
Mar 21 – Bromley Mountain Rando Race, VT
Mar 27-28 – Grand Traverse, CO
Mar 28 – Bear Valley Adventure Race Series, CA
April 4 – Cody’s Challenge, CO
May 2 – Ram’s Head Randonee, OR