It's March and time to start thinking about one of the most challenging races of the year, the Elk Mountains Grand Traverse sponsored by Outdoor Research. This is a team race. Last year my partner Chris Kroger and I finished in third place. I'll be racing this year with adventure racer and 5 time Grand Traverse winner Mike Kloser. I'm looking forward to racing the GT with Mike and learning from his experience. We raced the Power of Four as a team in 2012 and finished 3rd.
Kloser on Course
Kloser on Course
Midnight start under The Butte.
"Depending on weather, the start is usually at midnight, often in sub-zero temperatures; the racers traverse Colorado’s spectacular Elk Mountains. The course is based on the mail routes of the 1880's, connecting the towns of Crested Butte and Aspen. In this extreme endurance event, racers will climb more than 7,800 vertical feet and navigate in a self-supported backcountry race that tests them physically and mentally. To maintain safety in the backcountry, racers compete in teams of two and are required to carry mandatory gear."
Elk Mountains
Crested Butte to Aspen
40 Miles
My fan club up after midnight in below zero weather.
Interview with Mike
1. What was the first race you did on SkiMo gear?
My 1st race was the CB rando race about 6 or more years ago. It was a very
comical start for me (it was a lemans start, I clicked in my skis and within
50 feet I had popped out of both skis) and a big eye opener on what the
sport was really about!
2. What is your favorite SkiMo memory?
Winning the Over race at 5 Peaks with Monique Merrill in 2010. It was fun to
race head to head with the guys and come out on top.
3. How about a training tip for a beginning SkiMo racer.
I know this is very basic, but get out and ski up and down the ski resorts
as much as you can before you jump into a race. Ski the tough terrain
(tougher the better and fast as you can safely do so) not just the groomers.
And practice transitions as much as possible.
4. Is there a place you haven't skied and would like to?
I haven't really done any proper Ski touring in Europe, I'd love to do
something like the Haute Route or some of the classic tours in Nortern Italy
or Switzerland.
5. Give us a breakdown of your typical training 2 weeks prior to the GT.
I will do a couple of longer days a week or so out, 4 to 7 hours long,
possibly a long race like the 5 peaks. We have a local week night rando
series here in Vail, so I'll do one or two of those prior as shorter
intensity work. As the race nears in the final week, I'll taper and rest so
I'm fresh for the long hard effort that's required to race to win. At age
53, it's no easy task to compete with guys who are sometimes half your age.
6. What years did you win the GT?
Not exactly sure, would have to check their records, but I think I've raced
it 9 times and won 5. A couple of seconds and a third in there. We had a
binding break on the final descent racing with one other team for the win.
(it was '09, '08, '07, '05 and '03 Mike!)
7. Tell us about your Trab ski set-up.
I really like the way the Trab's ski, I've skied a fair bit of other Rando
skis over the years and the Trab's are simply the best skiing race ski I've
skied, and they are as light as any of the other top brands out there!
8. If you could give us one tip about completing the GT what would it be?
The race isn't won in the 1st hour, but you can certainly lose it there if
you let the intensity around you get the better of you. Race smart, settle
into your comfort zone and save some for the later/crucial hours of the
race.
