Comments on: Vertfest 2010 Race Recap

By: Andy Traslin

Andy Traslin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:02:31 +0000

I had a similar path to the rando.Racing as a Pro/elite mounain bike racer.
This is the best event I race it every year.OR and Pro Guiding understand how to run the event.Keep the RULES to a minimum grab your pack and gear,marked course and just go hammer.

My brother and I would have actually been racing at the World Championships for Canada but politics got in the way.So I prefer to race in the states and try and have fun.

It’s all about the backountry skiing.Racing is just a good way to stay fit,push your limits and a be strong for epic trips.

Last year my brother thought it was a hockey game and body checked me at the finish line, so I was a happy to put a few minutes on him this year.Stoked too get some racing shots.

By: Mike Traslin

Mike Traslin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:19:21 +0000

Thanks for the report Kirk!

Growing up North Vancouver ,British Columbia Canada it is fun to be called a local.

But I have spent a large part of my life in Washington,(Soccer and hockey exchange in my youth,skateboarding in Seattle,skiing and climbing,road and mountain bike racing,not exactly things that will change the world but fun either way.

Yes Louie the over fifty crowd is very impressive…..

I think I have done this event seven times now….. Great event I have met some really cool people along the way….. Cheers!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:40:17 +0000

I was skiing that day at Alpental and watched the race from the comfort of the lift. Cool thing was that on every ride up the list, someone asked what was going on. Great exposure for backcountry skiing in general. Most people had heard about it but never actually saw people doing it or understood the difference between it and XC skiing.

I will verify the bowling pin effect on the first hill. Pretty entertaining. Liked the guy who’s binding detached too. Put on a new demo set of boots and skiis and headed right back up. Kudos to Pro Guiding Service.

By: Greg Louie

Greg Louie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:57:52 +0000

Nice write up, Kirk, and nice race as well!

It was a beautiful day for the event, and great to have the sponsors step up in this economy to keep Vertfest going. I can’t sing enough praises about OR, Pro Guiding, and Summit-at-Snoqualmie for all their work.

BTW, several of us “over 50′s” did 2 laps, including 4th place Lowell Skoog!

By: kirk

kirk — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:14:22 +0000

I agree, super great race we need many more like them! I’m also a fan of the late starts, 4AM is just so earlyyyyyy.

However, I believe the problem is that most resorts don’t want to deal with the logistics/liability of having a live race going on in-bounds or crossing boundries, so they just want the racers off of the hill by they 9am race time. Honestly? It worked just fine at Alpental….

*Some minor corrections:
-Alpental is not a “new venue” as there have been Vertfests there the past few years. Just new from Crystal last year

-Benj is with the Friends of NWAC, not NWAC.