Stampeding at Cabin Creek

Girls just wanna have fun:

Girls and boys, big and little, young and old, and everyone in between, it was just a fun fun day at Cabin Creek for the 5k and 15k free-style Stampede today. It snowed, the sun came out, people cheered, there were prizes and food ... not much more is needed for a good time!

A jovial trail crew put together the race course:

An enthusiastic and energetic feed station crew kept the water and Gatorade moving and the cheers and encouragement coming:

And by the way for those scoffers who claim that, pshaw, the 15k doesn't need a feed station, we respectfully beg to differ!

The race starter took no nonsense and kept everyone in line:

And the front line for the 15k discussed pre-race strategy. For the record, number 21 (big-shouldered Michael Evans) won, but he had to work for it: number 22, Robert Ragotte, finished less than a second behind him in a thrilling duel all the way to the finish line!

Possibly the most inspiring moment of the day was paraskier Gabriel, his very first time in a sit-ski [I stand corrected; it was not his first time in a sit-ski, but it was his first time on any hills and it was totally awesome anyway!], tackling the 5k loop down the road and back. As he approached the finish, Hashimoto's playlist just happened to land on the theme from Star Wars; someone cranked it up loud and the stadium area echoed with exciting music as Gabriel heaved his way across the finish line. I know I'm not the only one who had something in their eye right then. (I'm not crying; you're crying!) Well done, Gabriel!

Then, time for lunch! Esther has brought feed station sanitation to a whole new (and very appreciated) level:

The menu a la carte, with today's selections:

And finally, dance party at the finish line with Gunnar, 93 years old, after he helped manage the parking lot before the race and before he headed out for his own ski after the race. Pat and Paul, well into their 80s, were also there, serving as course marshals. We love our old-timers!

So that's the end of this year's Stampede. Big thanks to everyone who came and brought their energy. Rest up; the 10k and 50k free-style Ozbaldy are only two weeks away!

But wait, there's more: we were so lucky to have professional photographer Todd Rogers on site and he took awesome pictures and videos of the start. Check them all out here and find yourself, and many thanks, Todd!

https://www.strphoto.com/Events/Konsbergers-Stampede-2024

And thanks to Jeff Coombs for these pictures of the race podiums!