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From: Ben C
Erlier this week I competed in my first ski mountaineering/ randonee race. Upon accepting an offer to work in Denver starting in August, I started looking into new sports. I've already done some ski racing, road/cross/ mountain bike racing, trail running and adventure racing. But one of my favorite activities, ski touring, didn't have the best race opportunities in Washington and doing anything other than Nordic ski racing tends to be difficult as a member of the Williams College team. So when I had a weekend off, I jumped on the chance to race up and down our local Mount Greylock. I was hoping for under an hour per lap, but not even the pros didn't make that mark. I settled for 7th place and under 2:30, most of which was from the downhill... I am not the best downhill skier, was skiing new skis for the first time on hardpack, and ripped the booster strap off one of my boots during warm-up. I learned a lot racing, which is what really matters.
In no particular order, here are the things I learned in my first skimo race.
1. Always embrace the challenge to do something new. It'll be an excellent learning opportunity mentally and physically.
2. You'll meet a lot of awesome people, some of whom you'll know and others who will be brand new friends.
3. Don't race skimo races in free ride boots. They're heavy and hurt after nearly two hours of ups.
4. Use lf or hydrocarbon waxes only... skin glue stick is really important and they don't stick well to highly fluorinated bases. Against all my speedy ski waxing education but way cheaper :)
5. Learn your transitions.
6. Ski downhill. With a bunch of fit people on superlight setups it is the differentiator.
7. Thank your race organizer. They have a pretty thankless job often.
8. Get a breathable ski/mountaineering helmet. Alpine helmets suck on the up.
9. Bring a friend. Makes conversation a lot easier.
10. Wear skintight lycra. Its the only way to go.
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