Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup and USSMA Update (US)

The Colorado season starts soon, to enter and learn more about the races please go to www.cosmicski.com. Coming up:

The Snowmass Winter Wild presented by Ute Mountaineer: Saturday, January 19th - start at 7 am at Snowmass Ski Area and finish at the Aspen Rec Center. This is a classic point-to-point with huge views of the Maroon Bells, hitting the best of Snowmass, a nice traverse to Buttermilk, followed by a fast finish. Please note that there is no morning-of registration due to the start time.

The North Face Heathen Challenge at Sunlight Mt: Sunday, January 20th -The 'Race' course has been lengthened from '07 to include a second ski down The Heathen (now the first and third descents). The North Face sponsorship of this event also means great prizes. The 'Recreation' course is very reasonable; for your friends that are on the fence - this is a good first Recreation course with easy skinning and great skiing.

Both of these races are qualification races for the 2008 US World Championship team going to Switzerland. Also new this year- there is USSMA racing most every weekend in January and February beginning January 5th at Kirkwood CA. (For Kirkwood, as of today Denver/Reno flights are $199.) To see all the new races and courses go to www.ussma.org.

I look forward to seeing you at the races.

by Pete