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Ski Mountaineering Competition Results

Competition Climbing Canada

International Ski Mountaineering Competition

Canadian Championships Conclude First National Ski Mountaineering Competition Calendar

25 April 2007 -- Whistler, BC

The Alpine Club Of Canada Is Congratulating Athletes And Declaring National Rankings Leaders Following The First Canadian Ski Mountaineering Championships.

The concluding race of the 2007 calendar was staged over Whistler’s legendary Spearhead Traverse on 21 April 2007. Recognized as a ‘High Range Classic’ by the International Ski Mountaineering Council of the UIAA, the route included more than 27 km. of alpine travel and 2500+ m. of elevation gain and loss. Won by Slovakian skier Peter SVATOJANSKI in an incredible time of 2 hours and 26 minutes, the event included competitors from the Spanish, German, and U.S.A. federations as well as athletes from across Canada.

Top Canadian in the event was endurance legend Greg HILL (3:00) followed closely by National Team member Andy TRASLIN (3:23) and his teammate brother Mike TRASLIN (3:27). Incredibly, Andy skied his final hour on the course with a separated shoulder resulting from a fall. He was taken straight from the finishing gate to a patrol toboggan.

Female winner over the Spearhead course was Izaskun ZUBIZARRETA (3:16), a European champion from the Spanish team. Top Canadian women were Lydia MARMOT and Julia NILES (both 4:10), who crossed the finish line arm in arm after racing together on their return over the spectacular terrain.

The Spearhead Challenge was the concluding race in the 2007 ski mountaineering season in Canada. Organized and sponsored by Recreation Outfitters Inc. and The North Face, and sanctioned by the Alpine Club of Canada, it combined with the Whistler Windup, a vertical race held on 20 April, and Arc’teryx and Life-Link sponsored and organized events at Nelson BC and Sunshine AB in February ’07 to comprise the first-ever authorized ski mountaineering race series in Canada.

The Alpine Club of Canada is the recognized National Federation for the sport of ski mountaineering competition in the country. It registered athletes for the 2007 race series, tracked results, and provided officials, insurance, and volunteers for the events. Overall series winners and rankings champions were determined on a points basis, per international rules.

For men, the National Rankings Winner was Andy TRASLIN, with 80 points, followed by Mike TRASLIN (75 points), and ex-national team member Aaron CHANCE and Jeff COLVIN (63 points each).

For women, the Rankings Winner was American Karen KINGSLEY (78 points). Top Canadian was the determined and ever-present Melanie BERNIER (75 points). Julie MATTEAU (45 points) and Lydia MARMOT and Julia NILES (44 points) were close together in 2nd and 3rd places.

Complete results and points calculations for all events in this inaugural Canadian ski mountaineering race series: Canadian Rankings Master Hilite

Our congratulations go out to the pioneering athletes, organizers, sponsors, and volunteers who made the winter of 2007 such a successful beginning for ski mountaineering competition in Canada. Look for an expanded ACC race calendar in the winter of 2008, featuring events in the Rockies and the BC Interior, and once again concluding with National Championships at Whistler next April.

Watch also for the men and women of our Canadian National Team at the Ski Mountaineering World Championships in Portes du Soleil, Switzerland in late February 2008.

David Dornian, chair
SKI MOUNTAINEERING COMPETITION CANADA / COMPÉTITION DU SKI RANDONNÉE CANADA
The Alpine Club of Canada