Turns out the "Highest Ski Mountaineering race in North America also qualifies as the "Coldest Ski Mountaineering race of the 2012-2013 season". The third day of spring felt like the middle of an arctic winter. The race started under decent weather conditions; 10 degrees and snowing lightly. The race pace was mellow up the first climb. Team Kloser/Simmons and Team Taam/Gaston were cooperating nicely and rotating through the front (similar to a road bike breakaway). As we gained the ridgeline we got the first taste of what was in store for the rest of the race; howling winds and
sub-zero windchill. Racers started dropping out and frostbite/nip started setting in. Visibility was nil on the first descent. The four leaders remained together for the second climb and continued rotating through the front. Team Taam/Gaston got a gap at the top. We put in an effort to try and close the gap to no avail. Team Taam/Gaston ended up with the W. The fastest event of the day was was the sprint into the lodge to warm-up and inspect the waxy, white spots on our faces.
1
GASTON/TAAM John/Max STRAFE Outerwear 3:33:49.00 ***
2
KLOSER/SIMMONS Mike/Scott 3:38:44.00 +4:55.00
3
HAGAN/K Mike/Ben 4:03:05.00 +29:16.00
4
BEARDSLEY/ASMUSSEN Mark/Jess Grandmothers Challen 4:17:13.00 +43:24.00
5
VENZARA/KNELLER Miles/Ben 4:31:52.00 +58:03.00
