VertFest 2014

Every year, we 'look forward' to the VertFest race at Alpental with a mixture of excitement and dread. This year was no different, with even a bit more of the dread maybe. Just prior to the race, our household had been on a nonstop illness spree for over a month. Not much training occurred. And neither of us were 100% recovered in energy and lung capacity. However, this is the only randonee race nearby so we couldn't miss it.

Heather reluctantly signed up for the 'elite' category, the 2-lap version which she has never done. We haven't gotten much skinning or long distances in this year due to lack of snow, so she was concerned about her endurance. I took a look at the guys signed up for the elite category and knew I had some heavy competition.

Heather's race went pretty well, not without its mishaps, but she ended in 2nd place behind good friend and partner Holly Davis. It was an interesting race from start to finish for them, with much rallying in position between the top four girls throughout the race, both on the up- and downhills.  Heather and two other girls in the top 5 had skin issues during the race, which slowed things considerably.

My race was the usual fast start, trying to hang on as long as I can with the lead guys.  Right away, two Dynafit-sponsored athletes took off with one up-and-coming fast guy in tow and me straggling behind.  I maintained the fourth spot for most of the first lap going back and forth with trail-running legend and new skimo racer Max King.  Max passed me on the first descent, and I pulled into the second transition just as he was leaving, Stano Faban pulled in just as I was leaving.  The second lap I caught Max who was having binding issues, then soon after Stano started to make up ground on me, we all arrived pretty close together at the last transition.  The final descent Max and Stano left me and I coasted into the number 6 spot for the finish, happy to be done and coughing like crazy.

 Not sure why I'm smiling here with the way I felt (Sammet photo)

 Heather (yellow boots) and Holly Davis on the first lap (Sammet photo)

 Max King chasing me on the first booter (Hagedorn photo)

 Second lap with Stano chasing me (Hagedorn photo)

 Alpy patroller Jan Kordell (Hagedorn photo)

 Hyak neighbor Kevin gettin' after it (Hagedorn photo)

Heather lap two (Hagedorn photo)

Womens elite podium shot ski (Heather on right) 

Mt Bachelor Vertfest

Heather and I had planned on camping at Mt. Bachelor the week after Alpental Vertfest, with one or both of us racing in Bachelor's Vertfest. With it dumping snow at home, Heather decided to stay home with Kye and so I opted for a one day turn-and-burn drive to Bachelor for the race.

Alpental's race was particularly difficult due to illness, for Bachelor I felt better but not 100%.  My race day started at 3 am when I left for Bachelor from the pass for a one-day trip.  With all the recent snow and the bluebird conditions, Mt Bachelor was very busy, which I discovered on the drive from Bend.  I barely made it to the race, pulling into the parking lot at 9:40 for a 10 am race wearing street clothes.  The next 20 minutes consisted of me frantically gathering my gear, running to check in/get my bib, partially changing in the bathroom, then fully dressing in the middle of the lodge (i.e. squeezing into skin suit) putting skins on skis, wax on skins, helmet, goggles, gloves, poles, forgot the hat and sunglasses in the car (crap!), choking down a GU, drinking a couple swigs of H2o, running to the start line, confirming the course hadn't changed since last year, and lining up with 5 minutes to spare!  Needless to say, this is not a preferred method of starting a race.

At the start line there were 4 or 5 guys in skin-suits, and a few others in light gear.  Right next to me was Aaron Talbot, who reintroduced himself, we'd met last year at the race and he raced at Alpy this year.  Aaron placed 3rd last year at Bachelor, and recently bought a really light racing setup.  Aaron has been training quite a bit this year and had a disappointing showing at Alpental Vertfest due to a skin blowout.  Missing from this year's race was Jason Moyer (last years winner) and Max King (fourth at Alpy Vertfest, Bend local, and Ultra Running Legend).  

The start was fast as they always are, and I pushed the pace to see if anyone was going to hang; to my dismay and discomfort, three or four guys hung on a lot longer than I expected.  After the second transition the race was pretty much between me and Aaron, with him just behind me on the ups and charging past me on the descents.  On the last climb I knew I needed to try and distance myself a bit, but to Aaron's credit and my lungs' lack of cooperation, I couldn't get much more than a 20' gap on him.  On the last descent, Aaron took the lead and I couldn't catch him, so 2nd place for the 2nd year at Bachelor for me.  The surprising thing about the race is how much time I took off from last year, almost 20 minutes!  The course was exactly the same, and I wasn't feeling 100%, so that is baffling.  

After the race, I bought a discounted ticket and rode lifts for a few hours on the upper mountain, finding really nice packed powder conditions.  Then I grabbed a beer and a brat and hung out for the awards, which were very generous.  Then back in the car to hit the road and back home by 9.  All in all, it was a great day!  I hope to maybe get a bigger contingent from Washington to go down there next year, as their turnout for the race was only 50 people.  They put on a good race and it's a cool mountain, not to mention the close proximity to a very cool hangout town in Bend!

Final booter at Bachelor (Becker photo)