Die-hard skiers tackle back country in CROWBAR
April 3rd, 2010 Posted in SportsBy Jess Allen
Photos by Christian Hathaway
For die-hard back-country fans, there’s nothing like the CROWBAR—the second annual Cache Regional Overland Winter Backcountry Adventure Race—to get up close and personal with Logan Canyon in the winter.
The race is like a combination of mountain-climbing and back-country hiking with cross-country skis over a challenging 11-mile course up Logan Canyon.
“Snowshoeing and snowmobiling can’t get you as deep” into the backcountry, said race volunteer Jackie Peterson.
Peterson’s husband, Cameron Peterson, coordinated this year’s race and recruited sponsors. With gold-painted crowbars waiting for the first-place finishers, other prizes also were part of the event.
Some CROWBAR competitors came as far as Indiana, Jackson Hole, Park City and Salt Lake to compete.
“It’s hard, sure, but it’s rewarding,” said Crest Simeon, as the start time neared.
Before the race began, 30 skiers gathered at the starting line, checking their skis and talking as they pinned on competitor numbers to their chests and backs.
The die-hard competitors had no complaints about the icy conditions.
“It’s great,” said Kevin Kobe. “It’s going to get warm. Staying hydrated and not getting cooked is what I’m worried about.”
Not everyone was racing—some were going on the shorter 9-mile “recreational” loop.
“It’s challenging,” said Jackie Peterson as she waited at the finish line for the racers to come in. “That’s what makes it rewarding.”
Coming in at two hours and 11 minutes, Andy Dorais was pleased to finish first, but all he really cared about was beating his brother.
“Yeah, I didn’t care about [beating] anybody else,” Dorais said with a smile as he took off his skis and watched for others to come over the hill.
Three minutes later his brother Jason and Scott Meissner took second and third place, as they crossed the line.
“I wrecked every time going down the hills,” Andy Dorais laughed as his brother checked in at the finish line.
TP
Tags: CROWBAR, Logan Canyon, ski race
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