Skimo Race coming to Castle Mountain

Skimo Race coming to Castle

Castle Mountain Resort will host their first ever ski mountaineering race Saturday, January 12. The race starts at 10:00 am with a mass start at the Castle base area and there will be an awards ceremony at 3:00 pm with prizes and refreshments. Registration is available via the Alpine Club in advance and at Castle Mountain Friday evening January 11 7:30 pm and Saturday morning January 12 before the race.

This race has recreational and competitive divisions for male and female racers. The course is set within and outside the Castle Mountain area of operations.

Ski mountaineering, also called randonnée racing, is a winter sport that combines athletic skiing and mountaineering skills incorporating technical ascents and descents. Participants race over steep alpine terrain using ski touring gear, gaining and losing elevation past a series of checkpoints set along ridges and peaks. Some parts of the course require skinning up snow slopes, some involve scrambling with the skis on packs, and some slopes reward polished downhill technique. Some technical courses may require boot packing or traversing fixed lines.

The entire itinerary needs to be completed carrying full gear from a mass start on the valley floor in typically less than 3 hours. Results are determined by time. The winner is the one who crosses the finish line first. Routes are marked and the required techniques are specified at all points on the courses. The sport enjoys a great popularity all over the world with a rapidly growing community in North America. Athletes and citizens that participate in such events are skiers, snowboarders, telemark-skiers, back country enthusiasts or simply those who seek a fun challenge.

Related link: Registration forms