| Updated: Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run - Photo Gallery |
Over 80 runners lined up for the inaugural Nipika Trail Run, held at the Nipika Mountain Resort. Host of the Nipika Loppet as well as two stages of the 7-day TransRockies Stage Race, this beautiful oasis is nestled on the shores of the Kootenay river, and truly offers some of the best trail running in the World!
A past coach of the National Ski Team, owner Lyle Wilson was very excited at the prospect of showing off his trails to everyone. "We've built a name for ourselves as a cross-country skiing and mountain biking destination, now it was time to start promoting our trail running!"
The first Nipika Trail Run edition offered a kid's 3km, a 10km, a half marathon as well as the full marathon distances. The 10km North Loop consisted almost entirely of single-track and showcased some of Nipika's best trails including a pass on the Natural Bridge. The half marathon distance included the same 10km North loop but added another 12km loop on the South side of the resort. This loop gave runners a short break from single-track leading runners across beautiful open meadows linked by old fire roads. The last part of the loop saw runners weave along another one of Nipika's classic single-tracks high above the Kootenay river. For the truly dedicated, the marathoners got their money's worth by doing the 22km loop twice!
Results Are Up! Check out: www.zone4.ca
 Nipika's Lyle Wilson entertaining the runners and guests. Photo: G.Pfluger
 The kid's 3km run winner and runner-up! Photo: NokiaN82
 Villeneuve leads Sean Crooks (winner of the 10km). Photo: G.Pfluger
 Look at those socks! Photo: G. Pfluger
 Sabrina Harper took the women's half - Photo: G.Pfluger
 A lone runner makes his way up the track - Photo: G.Pfluger
 10km participants file up the Kootenay River bank - Photo: G.Pfluger
 Villeneuve, men's half marathon winner, lets loose on the steep descent - Photo: G.Pfluger
 Lyle consoles women's half winner Sabrina Harper who took a spill in the last km's of the race - Photo: NokiaN82
 A lone marathoner comes through one of the meadows on the South side - Photo: NokiaN82
 The South loop involved a few cut block crossings - Photo: NokiaN82
 Hugh Magill, 2nd place finisher in the marathon - Photo: NokiaN82
 Meanwhile, up the valley...Photo: G.Pfluger
 Parks Canada prescribed burn viewed from Sinclair Pass - Photo: G.Pfluger
 Fire! Photo: G.Pfluger
 Smokey Nipika, the morning after...Photo: G.Pfluger |
