25/03: Jackson Hole, final race of America's Cup (US)

Corbett's Couloir Conquered by Competitors in the Mountain Hardwear Life-Link/Dynafit Ski Mountaineering America's Cup

Jackson Hole, Wyoming-Ski Mountaineering competitors from all over North America convened at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to compete for the first ever America's Cup. Organized and sanctioned by the United States Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA), the America's Cup race was the culmination of an eight race series that spanned from Whistler, Canada to Sugarbush, Vermont including races in the Sierra Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and finally The Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The first ever America's Cup Race was a grueling 6,100 vertical foot climb that included climbing up, through and out of the famed Corbett's Couloir. Once the racers summitted Corbett's it was a leg punishing 4,000 vertical feet straight down to the race finish.

Pete Swenson of Boulder, CO and a member of the United States Ski Mountaineering team was able to maintain his Race Series lead by winning the Jackson Hole Race in a time of 2 hours1 minute and 45 seconds. Cary Smith of Jackson Hole also a member of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team was second in a time of 2 hours 4 minutes and 3 seconds, which vaulted him into second place in the overall series race. Chris Kroger of the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol and a member of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering team, finished third in a time of 2 hours 6 minutes and 31 seconds, which also brought him, third place for the series. Kroger was the overall winner of the 2005 Race Series.

Jeannie Wall of Bozeman, MT won the women's race in a time of 2 hours 19 minutes and 53 seconds. Monique Merrill of Breckenridge, CO was second in a time of 2 hours 21 minutes and 2 seconds. Both Wall and Merrill are members of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team. Karen Kingsley of Ophir, CO took third in a time of 2 hours 32 minutes and 42 seconds.

Kingsley won the over all Women's Race Series followed by Merrill in second place and U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team member Polly Samuel-McLean of Park City, UT took third.

"We had a beautiful Teton day with the best Ski Mountaineering Racers in North America competing in an exceptionally difficult race and I don't mean just the uphill," stated John Scott Executive Director of the USSMA. "The early morning skiing in spring conditions on steep chutes like C1 in Casper bowl will test anyone's skiing skills" said Scott.

The Randonnee Rally Race Series is a series of ski mountaineering races held at some of the premier resorts in North America. The Race Series tests the competitor's endurance, equipment and skiing skills while skinning up and skiing down some of the toughest terrain that these resorts and their surrounding mountains have to offer. Proceeds from the race series go to benefit local avalanche forecasting centers and local search and rescue groups. Sponsors of the Series are Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Arcteryx, Outdoor Research, Life- Link, Dynafit, Petzl, Couloir Magazine, Backcountry Magazine, Ibex, Off-Piste Magazine, Crazy-Creek, Suunto, Croakies, Clif Bar, Honey Stinger, Adventure Medical Kits, Buff Headwear. McNett Revivex, Pro Ski Service, and Mammoth Mountaineering.

For complete results of both the Race and Recreational Divisions please go to www.life-link.com or www.ussma.org

Media Contact: Claire Johnson- claire@life-link.com

Click here to view the complete results.