Endurance Society
Blueberry Hill Inn
Goshen, VT
02/28/2015
1st place overall
6 hrs 45 mins
Frigus consists of a couple different race options, any of which would have been a blast! The longer races included: 60k ski, 60k snowshoe, or a triathlon of 30k ski/30k snowshoe/5k sled. I decided to participate in the ski race due to its uniqueness. There are a number of winter ski races, but none like this! This two loop course wound through the ungroomed trails of Blueberry Hill, up Mount Romance, hit some short sections of snowmobile trail, and returned on the Catamount trail. It totaled just over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Many sections were lightly tromped by snowshoes before the race, while the Catamount was skied over a bit moire, and it was definitely a backcountry ski race. I think the trail presented itself best as a ski trail. Most of the course was completely skiable on skinnier waxless skis with NNN bindings. The conditions this year were perfect, so the only place I really had to herring bone was up Romance. For the second loop it was a much tougher climb after all of the snowshoe competitors chewed up the cold snow and left it very 'dusty' and difficult to grip.
Overall the snow was soft, the morning started at -5F and it warmed up to the upper teens, all making for a perfect day on the skis. The first lap I skied just behind the winning 30k competitor and comfortably finished the first lap faster than I thought it would go (about 3:15). Since no one else was around us I stopped to eat some food, drank some Nuun and continued on my way. It was a pretty lonely second loop, but it didn't matter with the blue skies and beautiful skiing. I stopped for about 10 minutes at the one aid station about halfway around to talk to Matt and some other folks while eating frozen bagel bites and pounding more lemon lime Nuun. I cruised the last part of the course and felt good all day.
After eating a foot long upon finishing, Hillary and I went our for another 4 miles on the skis to enjoy the rest of the day before packing up. All in all it was a great, low key event put on by Andy and Jack that had a local Vermont feel with great people. A perfect start to the season!
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