Race Calendar, Youth Programs and Training!

The race calendar is up!  As tradition dictates the first race is ‘Skin the Turkey’ Thanksgiving morning (November 24th), 8 am at Brighton Mountain Resort. Looking for a way/excuse to have one more helping of Turkey or slice of pie? Skimo racing is scientifically proven to help increase Thanksgiving eating enjoyment by at least 25% (okay, maybe not science per se, but it sure works for me!). Check out all race dates on the ‘Calendar’ tab on our web page. You can now import the races directly into your own calendar- simply click on the race you want and choose ‘copy to my calendar’. Not enough racing for you? Check out the USSMA page for events across the country!

And if you’ve been racing too much or need a little help in the flexibility/balance department (think transitions/ripping skins) look for our Ski-Yo all levels yoga classes this winter- more details to come!

Have some gently used racing gear you’re not sure what to do with? We’re always looking to build our demo fleet (especially boots!). Donate your gear that is still in good working order and get a tax write-off. That’s right- Utah Ski Mountaineering is a 501(c)3!

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Looking to buy or sell gear? The Gear Swap tab on our website is a great place to do that. There’s also a ski swap somewhere along the Wasatch Front between now and the middle of November- you never know what you might find/ be able to sell.

As many of you have heard the exciting news, Skimountaineering is now being recognized as an olympic sport! If ever there was a time to encourage the next generation, it is now! Utah Skimo has a dedicated board of enthusiastic adults working on getting a junior league established. Hopefully this winter you will see representing junior teams from Park City (interested, Big Cottonwood, a few of the private schools, and perhaps Sundance.

The SilverFork Skimo Team is up and running, literally, in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We have a solid group of 6 kids ages 10-17, who started skimo last spring and are psyched to log more vert and line up at the Tuesday night races this winter. We have been doing some ski specific dry land training this fall with hill bounding, steep hikes, and strength training. The excitement to get on snow is high as we are now doing our workouts with flurries in the sky.

Keep you eyes out for the next generation of speedy skimo kids in the Wasatch this winter!

A SilverFork Skimo page on FaceBook is in the works- we will have it up soon! In the Park City area and interested in a youth program- check the team at the Utah Olympic Center here: http://utaholympiclegacy.org/program/pc-ski-mountaineering-team/

Hoping you feel a little less like this this season? Now’s the time to start getting ready for the winter. Not sure what to do? Summit Endurance Academy (SEA) coach Joe Howdyshell has created some *free* training plans you can download here. Also, if you’re a USSMA member SEA is offering reduced coaching rates. Want more on snow training and coaching? Check out Park City Ski Mountaineering Team headed up by Nina Silitch (she’s the first american to medal in a world cup race and has coached skimo in Chamonix- she knows her stuff!)

This view could be yours (though I can’t promise flowers still in bloom)! We can’t wait for winter so some of us are getting together for a little dryland training in the form of a vertical K fun run/hike up Granduer Peak on Sunday, October 30th at 8am! Halloween candy aid station? Check. Full and half vertical K options? Check. Costumes? You betcha. So come on down and bring your significant other, your kids, your neighbor and get start ready for the season to start!