by Evan Matthews | [email protected]
For the first time in the resort鈥檚 history, Marmot Basin is hosting a Skimo race.
Ski Mountaineering Competition of Canada is looking for volunteers to help set up Marmot鈥檚 Revenge on Mar. 16, as well as volunteers to work the event on Mar. 17.
Ski mountaineering or Skimo is a winter sport combining uphill and downhill skiing and mountaineering skills.
The races typically welcome skiers, snowboarders, telemark skiers and backcountry enthusiasts, according to race organizer and participant Alex Stieda.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very intimidating. I鈥檓 pushing the edge of my endurance capability. People always want to push their boundaries,鈥� says the 56-year-old Stieda. 鈥淎nother way to think about Skimo is that it鈥檚 a triathlon on skis,鈥� says Stieda. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all encompassing of one鈥檚 athletic ability on the hill.鈥�
The elite category is 鈥渉ardcore鈥� but as is the case with many Skimo events, there is a recreational race for the more casual crowd.
Some of the course requires participants 鈥渟kinning鈥� up snowy slopes, while other portions involve boot packing (hiking) with skis or a board attached to a backpack.
The Skimo community is small in Canada comparatively to Europe and even the United States, but the sport is growing here.
鈥淛ust like cycling or cross-country skiing or running, there are youth, boys and girls, men and women, all the way up into the intermediate and master categories,鈥� Stieda said. 鈥淧eople who are lifelong athletes love it鈥� The demographics are all over the map.鈥�
The event isn鈥檛 just for those racing.
Marmot Basin vice president of marketing Brian Rode says Skimo is quite the spectacle, and can be fun for those who aren鈥檛 participating, too.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy to watch. They go up the hill, down the hill. The racers only weigh 130 pounds soaking wet,鈥� Rode said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e just super fit. The route is insane.鈥�
