Friday night snows provided a bit of a grooming issue for the Devils Thumb Stagecoach Classic 30K/15K/3K race on Saturday. The racer crowd was light, about 138 racers total. A pack of four were within two seconds of each other after the first 15k lap and duked it out to the finish with Ryan Sederquist burning up the second lap finishing in 1:44.42, Josh Smullin close behind at 1:46.51then Dan Weinberger at 1:48.08 edging out local Logan Miyauchi at 1:48.52! First woman was Ella Dewolf finishing in 2:06.15 (12th overall) followed by Maria Wik in 2:13.04 (16th overall).
The short course 15K was more spread out led by Kristoffer Kvarstad finishing in 53:55, local Sebastian Brower looking good at 56:30, and 16yr old Jeremy Brets in 57.56 for third. First woman was 14yr old Kajsa Wik at 1:03.01 for 5th overall and Tina Gini Larter 1:05.30 close behind.
Lexi Weinberger finished the 3K in 7:25 holding off Tad Enos by a second with first female Avery Koger crossing the line in 7:47, four seconds ahead of William Weinberger.
The Devils Thumb Governor’s Cup Skate race scheduled for Feb 2 has been cancelled. Check the Devils Thumb website for available options. Instead sign up for the 12K skiathlon in honor of Bill Chambers on Feb 23 – the 6k classic followed by a 6k skate can be completed by one skier or a pair of skiers. For more information call the activities desk at 970-726-8231.
The Grand County Nordic Race Series still has four more races to go – Granby Ranch Feb 15, Latigo Ranch March 1, and Snow Mountain Ranch Stampede Skate March 8 and Classic March 9. Racers – rise to meet the challenge! Volunteers are also needed – go to https://skigrandnordic.org/grand-nordic-race-series/ for all the race series event details-signups-and volunteering, sponsored by Grand Nordic and the Winter Park Chamber. Or go to www.grandnordic.org/volunteer.
The primary fundraiser for the Grand Nordic Scholarship fund – the 12th Annual Ranch2Ranch Nordic TREK – Feb 8 and 9 is also available for signup at www.grandnordic.org. Park your car at Granby Ranch Montana Lot, take the shuttle to SMR start. Wave starts every 20 min spread people out over the 11km course groomed for Classic and Skate. This year the TREK ends at the top of Granby Ranch East Mountain lift staying on regularly groomed trails the entire route. Snowshoers stay to the side please. Take the Granby Ranch Quick Draw Express lift down, ski down Buckhorn among the Alpine skiers, or ski back to Snow Mtn Ranch at any point. Two aid stations and Bryan Mtn Nordic patrol are on the course for your refreshment and safety.
For something different – Feb 9, Granby Ranch is offering the second in their series of three SKIMO uphill races. Check the Granby Ranch website for details. Feb 15, Devils Thumb Ranch has the next in their Skijoring Clinic series at 11am but you need to bring your own dog! Feb 15 is the Full Snow Moon ski tour at Devils Thumb 6pm. Call the activities center for more information. Or check out the Full Moon ski at Pole Creek golf Course and make reservations in Bistro 28 for dinner afterwards.
