| 5 Peaks Trail Running: COP Mud Fest Fun! |
It was a very muddy start to the Alberta Saab/Salomon 5 Peaks Trail Race Series as a week of consistent rain in the Bow Valley/Calgary area made for some extremely muddy tracks around the 5km circuit at Calgary Olympic Park (COP) event. Over 225 Sport (1 lap) and Enduro (2 laps) runners did their best to 'slip and slide' around the slick single track and although almost everyone lost their footing on the slippery surface, their only comfort came from a relatively soft (yet mushy) landing!
 Early morning setup- Accomplished multi-sport athlete Syl Corbett helps out at the Salomon booth
Despite the mud fest, trail runners were eager to 'get out there' and test themselves against the elements, many of which used the opportunity to test Salomon's new XT Wings (why bother getting your own shoes dirty, when you can soil someone elses!). For others, the opportunity to challenge themselves in a fun environment (and maybe get a little dirty too), was all it took to change a 'grey and gloomy' into a 'FUN'!
 A wet crowd takes shelter under the Salomon XT Wings tents
 The XT Wings Ski Cellar Girls show off their new Salomon 'pre-race prototype' waterproof attire!
 Where are all the runners?
 Even the kids got their chance to get muddy! (Photo: J.Rajic)
 Runners got to test some XTWings in some very dirty conditions! (Photo: J.Rajic)
Racing Action...
Enduro class (10km)
Nordic skiers showed their grit in this first 5 Peaks event taking numerous position in Enduro (10km) class. Kim McMurtry of Foothills Nordic took the victory in the women's race, with Saskatoon Star Irene Kokotailo close behind in second, and Calgary's Cat Brown in third.
On the men's side, it was a good cat/mounse battle between Duncan Marsden (Calgary) and Gavin Hamilton(Ottawa). Hamilton, a member of the Foothills Nordic Ski Club in Calgary, did his best to hold off the experienced Marsden, but a second lap surge by latter proved a bit too much and Hamilton settled for second. In behind, a late push by Canmore based skier Ian Murray in the second lap allowed him to pull ahead and take the 3rd spot on the podium, with young Andrew Pohl (Calgary), and Salomon Flight Crew member Phil Villeneuve finishing 4th and 5th respectively.
 And they're off! (Photo: J.Rajic)
 Flight Crew runner Phil Villeneuve leads Ian Murray on lap 1. Murray would later pass him to finish in 3rd overall (Photo: J.Rajic)
 A brand new 2008 SAAB was presented to all the winners!! OK, maybe not...(Photo: J.Rajic)
Full Enduro Results Here
Sport Class (5km) - The Rocky Mountain Racers Ski Club swept the Sport Class with Aaron Gillmor, Kurtis Wenzel and Alex Lyon taking the top 3 spots in the class! Courtney Dickie (Calgary, AB) took the women's Sport Class with a strong lead over Deanna Maximnuk (De Winton, AB). Biathlete Lindsey Bolivar (Canmore, AB) was a close third only 8 seconds behind.
Full Sport Results Here
 Does anyone want to help me clean some Wings? Come and try out a 'clean' demo pair at the next 5 Peaks event near you!
Check out the Saab/Salomon 5 Peaks website at: www.5peaks.com |
