Ready? Skimo Rando Racing Season 2014/2015

by Lisa Dawson
written by Lisa Dawson
Glory days -- Lisa wins Black Diamond's Powder Keg in 2007, AT women's rec division.

Glory days — Lisa, Black Diamond’s Powder Keg, 2007.

Keep cross training — winter is almost here in the northern hemisphere. This season add a ski mountaineering race or two to your alpine experience. Races are an excellent way to get motivated for peak fitness, and to fine tune your gear and skills.

Gignoux Morpho 400 ski boots might give you the edge, but more economical (and more comfortable) race packages are available too. When I won the women’s rec division of the Powder Key in 2007, I didn’t have special race skis. I used my sturdy everyday AT skis and boots which luckily worked to my advantage since the snow was chopped up and hard. Admittedly skis back then were narrower underfoot and perhaps lighter than many of the backcountry powder setups we use these days.

Below is this coming 2014-2015 season’s race schedule for easy reference. Things change, of course, so always check http://ussma.org for the latest.

USSMA United States Ski Mountaineering Association

  • Wolf Creek Ski Mountaineering Race, 11/22/2014. Wolf Creek Ski Area, CO
  • Irwin/LaSportiva Skimo Race, 12/6/14, Crested Butte, CO
  • Crested Butte Vertical Race, 12/7/14, Crested Butte, CO
  • Wyoming Rando Roundup – Grand Targhee Ski Mountaineering Classic, 1/10/15, Grand Targhee, WY
  • Wyoming Rando Roundup – Snow King Hill Climb, 1/10/15, Snow King Resort, WY
  • Wyoming Rando Roundup – Jackson Hole SkiMo Race, 1/11/15, Jackson Hole, WY
  • The Heathen Challenge, 1/17/15, Sunlight Mt. CO
  • Berkshire East Rando Race, 1/24/15, Berkshire East, MA
  • Divine Incline, 1/31/15, Powderhorn Mountain Resort, CO
  • Crowbar SkiMo Race, 1/31/15, Logan Canyon, UT
  • COSMIC Sprint Race and SIA Uphill/Downhill Challenge, 2/2/15, Copper Mountain Ski Resort, CO
  • Santa Fe Fireball Rando Race, 2/7/15, Ski Santa Fe, NM
  • Rio Hondo Rando Raid – Taos NM, 2/8/15, Taos, NM
  • The Five Peaks, 2/21/15, Breckenridge Ski Area, Co
  • Rally on Burke Mountain, 2/22/15, Burke Mountain Resort, VT
  • The Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race, 2/28/15, Aspen/Snowmass, CO
  • Mt Greylock Thunderbolt Ski Race, 2/28/15, Mt Greylock, MA
  • Wasatch Powder Keg Sprint, 3/6/15, Brighton Ski Resort, UT
  • Wasatch Powder Keg Individual Race, 3/7/15, Brighton Ski Resort, UT
  • Jay Peak Rando Race, 3/7/15, Jay Peak Ski Resort, VT
  • Owl’s Head Quebec Touring Challenge, 3/8/15, Owl’s Head Quebec
  • Wasatch Powder Keg Team Race, 3/8/15, Brighton Ski Resort, UT
  • GORE-TEX US Nationals Ski Mountaineering Vertical Race, 3/13/15, Crested Butte, CO
  • Magic Mountain Rando Race, 3/14/15, Magic Mountain, VT
  • GORE-TEX US Nationals Ski Mountaineering Individual Race 3/14/15, Crested Butte, CO
  • GORE-TEX US Nationals Ski Mountaineering Team Race 3/15/15, Crested Butte, CO
  • Bromley Mountain Rando Race, 3/21/15, Bromley Mountain, VT
  • Cody’s Challenge 4/4/15, Steamboat Springs, CO
    • 5 comments
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    5 comments

    Kerry October 16, 2014 - 12:41 pm

    Anyone know the 2015 dates for Gothic Mountain race and the Grand Traverse, both at Crested Butte?

    Lisa Dawson October 16, 2014 - 1:49 pm

    Hi Kerry,
    The Grand Traverse is March 26, 2015 to March 28, 2015. More info here.

    Lisa Dawson October 16, 2014 - 2:58 pm

    Gothic Mountain Tour race is Saturday, Feb 21, 2015

    Rachel Bellamy October 20, 2014 - 11:12 pm

    Great post Lisa! I don’t have plans to do any races like this in the near future but I really appreciate you putting in the work to compile such a comprehensive list of events. Hopefully this gets some people inspired 🙂

    Scott Swallow October 21, 2014 - 10:29 am

    I’m inspired and ready to race.

    Comments are closed.