Author: Eric Dacus

First race is in the books! It was cold and snowy but 80 (including some Juniors for the Silver Fork Youth SkiMo team!) brave souls came out to race! Andy Dorias  and Gemma Arro Ribot took top honors for men and women and won the coveted cookie price! 

Looking to recover from the race and a weekend of skiing?! Join us Tuesday, December 13 at the SkiMo Co retail store (2477 Fort Union Blvd, Cottonwood Heights) for Ski-Yo- a free,  all levels yoga class focused on recovery from and strengthening for skiing!

We hope to see you out at the next race Tuesday 12/20. Don’t forget to sign both waivers before coming up if this will be your first race! Looking to gain an edge over that guy or gal you can never seem to beat? Come early and join us for a transition clinic at 6pm sharp and put your new skills to the test in the race afterward! Interested or have questions? Shoot us an e-mail at info (at) utahskimo.org.

And don’t forget to sign-up to volunteer at a race! if you’ve been meaning to sign up but can never seem to find the link, not to worry! We’ve added a new tab to our website- just go to the Volunteer tab on our website!

Upcoming Events:

December 13
Ski-Yo!
Skimo Co Retail Store
6:30 pm 
Come recover from the the first race (or just all that pow you’ve been shredding) with us at Skimo Co with Ski-Yo. This is a free, basic level yoga class. Please bring your own mat if you can- a limited number of mats are available for those without. Make sure to show up early- it’s been a full house before! Questions? Contact Nancy: nightingalerun at gmail.

December 15
Ladies Night
6:30 pm Brighton
WHO: For all women and girls of all abilities on all uphill ski gear interested in participating in Ski Mountaineering racing for fun and fitness.
WHEN: Every Thursday of the winter 2016-2017 season at 6:30pm beginning December 8th.
Please be ready to go with your gear on at 6:30pm. If you’re running late the group will usually head over to Great Western and begin from there. Head up the hill to find us. The group will usually break into different abilities/fitness levels.
WHERE: Brighton Ski Resort*.  Meet at the bottom of Great Western Lift. Please park according to the Brighton Uphill policy *There may be some meet-ups at Park City Mountain Resort once they have opened for uphill travel for the season. Check back with us and follow us on social media for all the latest details
WHAT TO BRING: Helmet and headlamp and whatever backcountry/skimo equipment you have (tele, split board, AT set up with skins). Warm clothing. You DO NOT need shovel, beacon or probe (we will be in bounds).

December 20
Clinic: Transitions!
Brighton Ski Resort
6:00 pm (skis on ready to go!)
Transitions. They can be one of the most frustrating part of racing. But done right they can help you gain time and feel confident! Come learn how to make your transitions more efficient and shave some time off your race!

GPS Track of the course

Approximate Course Route

We will start around the bottom of the Great Western lift to the left side and up through the trees. We will then follow the ridge until the top of Rock-n-R run and Descend Rock-n-R to the flat, follow the groomer right to the bottom of the Great Western lift.

Awards will be at Molly Green’s immediately after the race.

Please arrive early to check in. We will start promptly at 7pm with the forcasted cold temps.

First race is on like Donkey Kong! Tuesday, December 6th marks the beginning of the Wasatch Citizen Race series and the gun goes off at 7*. But a lot happens before the gun goes off- plan to be at the starting line early to hear the course description and learn important beta. Make sure you’ve signed your waiver here or on our website and paid your membership before race day- like how about now, now seems like a good time :).  Save yourself some frustration and frozen fingers, get up to Brighton nice and early so you have plenty of time to remember how to put your boots on, which way your skins go, check in and get to the start.

Speaking of getting there nice and early, we could still use a few more volunteers to help check racers. Sign up here. Remember, we couldn’t do this without all our amazing volunteers- isn’t it time you became one of them

Interested in the Silver Fork Skimo Youth team? Check out their open house Friday, Dec 2nd from 5-7. See attached flier here for more details or check out their facebook page!

*New to Skimo racing? Join us at 6pm for a quick 30 minute Intro to Skimo Racing before the Dec 6th race. We’ll go over the basics of how a skimo course works and some of the gear. Come with your questions and warm clothes! Meet at the bottom of the Great Western lift. If interested please let us know by sending a quick e-mail to info@utahskimo.org with the subject line ‘Clinic’.

Brighton Snow Sports School Alpine Touring Workshop
http://www.brightonresort.com/brighton-snow-sports-school-introduces-the-alpine-touring-workshop/
Brighton Snowsports School is offering a new * Alpine Touring Workshop designed to educate skiers and snowboarders, who are interested in venturing out into the backcountry. If you have ever wanted to get into winter backcountry touring or are just getting into it, this workshop is for you!
This workshop will be held over 4 days: 1 evening lecture, 2 half-days on snow and 1 full-day on snow.
The 2 half-days on snow will be at the Brighton Resort and the class will be skiing in and out-of-bounds. Full day lift passes will be included on these 2 days.
Dates: Thur. Jan. 12th 6-9pm, Sat. Jan. 14th 9am-noon, Sat. Jan. 21st 9am-noon & Sat. Jan 28th 9am-4pm. Rate: $299 and includes 2 full day lift passes at Brighton on Jan 14 & 21.

Upcoming Events:

December 6
Wasatch Citizen Series Race
Check in till 6:55
7pm SHARP start
This is it, the first race of the series! Show up early and don’t forget your helmet, headlamp, and your lungs!

December 8
Ladies Night
6:30 pm Brighton
WHO: For all women and girls of all abilities on all uphill ski gear interested in participating in Ski Mountaineering racing for fun and fitness.
WHEN: Every Thursday of the winter 2016-2017 season at 6:30pm beginning December 8th.
Please be ready to go with your gear on at 6:30pm. If you’re running late the group will usually head over to Great Western and begin from there. Head up the hill to find us. The group will usually break into different abilities/fitness levels.
WHERE: Brighton Ski Resort*.  Meet at the bottom of Great Western Lift. Please park according to the Brighton Uphill policy *There may be some meet-ups at Park City Mountain Resort once they have opened for uphill travel for the season. Check back with us and follow us on social media for all the latest details
WHAT TO BRING: Helmet and headlamp and whatever backcountry/skimo equipment you have (tele, split board, AT set up with skins). Warm clothing. You DO NOT need shovel, beacon or probe (we will be in bounds).

December 13
Ski-Yo!
Skimo Co Retail Store
6:30 pm 
Come recover from the the first race (or just all that pow you’ve been shredding) with us at Skimo Co with Ski-Yo. This is a free, basic level yoga class. Please bring your own mat if you can- a limited number of mats are available for those without. Make sure to show up early- it’s been a full house before! Questions? Contact Nancy: nightingalerun at gmail.

Due to the lack of snow, the first race of the 2016-2017 is canceled. Hopefully, more normal snowfall amounts will catch up soon. 

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!

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!

Dust off and build your avalanche skills in this day-long pro-level workshop as we listen to experts present snow science, decision-making, backcountry trauma, resort/sidecountry/road/backcountry interactions, and lessons learned from recent accidents. Avalanche and ski gear representatives will be there to show off new stuff. This is for patrol and snow safety, guides, DOT, instructors, and anyone who skis or rides in complex conditions and takes avalanche safety seriously. New this year is full-day admission for everyone and reduced prices. Full day registration includes lunch.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/event/9th-annual-utah-snow-and-avalanche-workshop-full-day

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/event/9th-annual-utah-snow-and-avalanche-workshop-afternoon

Hello from Utah Ski Mountaineering!

We can’t wait to get the skimo tribe back together and we’re already making plans for another fun-packed winter of racing, friends, skill development and building our community. Read on to help us make this the best skimo season yet!

Can’t wait for winter?
We can’t either! The leaves are starting to change and the first reports of snow are coming in. Preserve those bases and channel that ski energy towards helping set up the best ski moutaineering season yet! We could use a few more volunteers to help ensure this season goes smoothly- opportunities abound no matter your skill level or time availability!  We value your help, participation & contribution.

Choose your own volunteer adventure in three easy steps!

1. How much time do you have? 

Grizzly Gulch.  This volunteer level requires the least time commitment, but it is far from least important.  We need a huge crew of volunteers to make Utah Skimo a great experience for everyone.  If you took an awesome photo; have an hour to help with racer check-in; can set some race flags, coach a short clinic, or share your time and any other expertise with the skimo community, we would love to have you join us!

Mt Superior.  This volunteer level is for people who can make an ongoing commitment to Utah Skimo, but who don’t have time to take the lead.  If you can be part of a committee or volunteer on a regular basis, this level is for you.

Pfeifferhorn.  This volunteer level is for people who have time and desire to make a bigger commitment to Utah Skimo by serving on the Board, chairing a committee, or taking on a Coordinator position.

2. What would you like to help with?

Race Crew 
Save yourself from another night of reality TV and help keep our race series going strong.  All jokes aside, this is our biggest ongoing need for volunteer power.  We need people of all skill levels, speeds and  at all race venues (Logan, Ogden and SLC) to check in racers, set up flags, and help everyone have a fun night on snow.  Learn the art of setting course and help for a season, or just sign up when you can.  No experience necessary

Media Maestros (Marketing Committee)
Spread skimo stoke and help grow the tribe!  If you have a camera and know what a #hashtag is, we need your help.  Take over our social media accounts and show the world what we’re up to.  If you remember how people got the word out before Facebook came along, we could use your help too.

Membership Committee
Imagine you could build your own membership swag bag.  What would you want to see as a member of the Utah Skimo community? Make your dreams come true for yourself and others by organizing clinics, BBQs, meetups – the sky is the limit.

Sponsor Shmoozers (Fundraising Committee)
Do you like prize giveaways and demo gear rentals?  Help make connections and grow relationships with local retailers and industry that can have a lasting impact. If you have a friend in the C-suite or just know a guy (who might know a guy who knows a guy), help us get sponsors on board so we can continue the perks of the past and build programs for the future. With skimo moving toward the Olympic spotlight, it’s a great time to get people excited about supporting our sport.

3. Indicate your interest and RSVP for our meeting on September 7th from 7-8:30 at Taqueria 27 (Foothill location- 1615 Foothill Dr, SLC, 84108). Don’t worry if you can’t make the meeting- if you’re interested we’ll keep you in the loop!


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LPR35G7

Not sure which committee is right for you?  If you have a pulse, know what skins are, and are excited about the upcoming skimo season, we have a place for you.  Come to our meeting (please RSVP using the link above) on September 7th from 7-8:30 at Taqueria 27 (Foothills location) to hangout with fun people and learn more about ways to get involved.

This is it. The last hurrah at Brighton. The last chance to score some schwag at Molly Greens. And looks like we’ll have a soft course to boot. So come on up for last go!

And just announced- a bonus race at Sundance! The race put on by Sundance will be Tuesday, March 22nd starting at 6 pm (an evening race where you’ll probably finish before the sun goes down!). And its free!

March 15
Wasatch Citizen Series Race Brighton Resort
Check in ends at 6:55 pm, 7pm Start
Your skills are sharp from the Powder Keg- come use them to get the edge on that one person you just haven’t been able to catch all season! And with the sun not setting till 7:35 at least the start will be in the light (but don’t forget your headlamp!).

March 22
Sundance Skimo Race
6:00 pm start Sundance Ski Resort
Attention athletes and Mtn Folk! Sundance Mountain Resort is hosting its first uphill ski race. Grab your ski touring gear and come race! Or come volunteer if you can’t find borrowed gear. Please carpool if you can! Helmet, headlamp and backpack to attach skis required. Make sure you show up early to sign a waiver and warm the legs up. Check out the Facebook event on the Utahskimo facebook page for more information/any updates.

• Tue Mar 22 @ 6pm
• Great Prizes
• Free and Fun (not difficult)
• Men’s/Women’s categories
• Race/Rec/Junior’s divisions
• Spread the word!

March
Any Day
GO SKI!
There’s snow in then thar hills- go get some!