VertFest 2013

We have looked forward to the VertFest race since winter began. Every year, though, as race day approaches, we start to dread it. The week before the race, Heather started getting sick but fought it off hard, as she didn't want to spend her week off sick. The night before the race, however, she was feeling pretty crummy. I just started to get the bug the day before, luckily it didn't really hit me hard until the day after Vertfest.

We awoke Saturday morning, race day, to sheets of rain coming down outside. Heather, in her congested, head-pounding state, took one look outside and opted out of the race. Since we already had a sitter lined up for Kye, she decided to stay home and sleep a bit.

Arriving at Alpental, I found out that the Traslins were nowhere to be seen. "Hmmm, I might have a chance to do pretty good this year," I thought, but then I noticed Jason Dorais walking around the base area and my next thought was "Crap, no one stands a chance!"  Just a little info on Jason, he is the current Grand Teton Ski speed record holder, as well as second place finisher at US Nationals this year, so he is very fast.  I also noticed a few skin suits as well as light gear on some people.  Then there were the always fast locals; Seth Davis, Jan Kordel and Dave Brown (lives in Bend now).  It was looking to be a competitive day, lot's of pain.

When the gun went off I sprinted to the front with Jason and a guy from Canada named Eric, Seth was on my heels.  Within minutes Jason started to comfortably and quickly distance himself.  The second place guy also started to gap.  Not wanting to push too soon and not knowing how fast this Eric guy was, I let him get a little distance.  Then about 1/4 of the way up the first climb I looked back and saw a guy with Seth in big, baggy clothes, and what I thought was a fairly heavy ski setup.  This really messed with my head, I thought; "I suck, I'm on this light gear in tight clothes and I am getting caught by this guy in heavy gear, I should just quit skimo racing altogether".  Well luckily when this guy caught me I realized that he was not on heavy gear, but, in fact, on really light gear, just baggy clothes.  Thank goodness, ok, ego restored a little.  Turns out this baggy clothes guy is a bike racing buddy of Seth's that recently picked up skimo racing.  So, for the first ascent Seth, Alan (baggy clothes) and I all traded postition fighting for third.

 The first descent actually went pretty well for me, for once I kept Seth pretty close, and put a little time on Alan.  The second and last lap was more of the same, me, Seth and Alan together with Eric just within sight.  Towards the top of the second lap Alan began to pull hard as I hung on, Seth began slowing a bit.  I started to think about a plan to edge out Alan on the last descent.  Then Alan started to put a little bit of a gap on me, just before the snakedance area, but, unfortunately for him he took a wrong turn towards snake dance.  Alan was quickly out of sight so no chance to set him back on course, though soon the course volunteers directed him back the right direction.  I took advantage of this situation and started to push a little knowing this would give me a little breathing room.  At the last transition Alan pulled in right behind me, a quick transition got me out in front of him, all I had to do was ski clean and a podium spot was secure.  Right off the bat, I hit a rut and crashed!  I gathered myself quickly, not looking back and skied the rest of the descent clean to finish in third place.

I was glad to have a fairly clean race, gear worked good, my downhill skiing has improved a lot, thanks to weekly training chasing Seth around.  Really would like to do another race before the end of the season to see how much faster and efficient I can be.

 Kevin Curd & I at the starting line (photo Francine Curd)

And we're off...
behind me Kevin ad to the right is David Stonich,
and Holly Davis is next to him 

(photo Francine Curd)