Ozbaldy for the Win

Hero snow.  That's how Peter described it on Sunday morning before the race, and he totally nailed it.  Our rock star groomer has been nurturing the snow pack like it was a cranky toddler all winter, with heavy rain heavy snow heavy rain heavy ... you get the picture.  Sometimes he had to skip grooming because the snow was too wet to hold the weight of the groomer; sometimes he groomed in the middle of the night, only to see multiple inches of rain fall on his handiwork.  But what we ended up with on Sunday morning was perfection: a solid smooth firm base (that might hold up all of March?), with a skiff of fresh snow on top to give your skis something to think about.  The conditions were, in a word, sublime. 

We started the 10k with 54 racers, and everyone but one finished, led by the men's winner Dan Packman, in 26:48, and the women's winner Lucy Alexander, in 29:37.  Racer ages ranged from 7 (7!) to 83 (83!), and skiers were almost evenly split between women ((27) and men (29).

We had one para-skier, powerful Nate Higgins, who arm-wrestled his way to a 10k finish in 40:59.

The 50k started with 63 racers and finished with 60, with Stephen Mull taking the win in 2:13 and former Olympian Suzanne King leading the women in 2:32.  

Big boys in the lead pack (yeah, I missed the winner flying by!)

Women's winner Suzanne King

There were 11 female racers, ranging in age from 21 to 72, and 52 men, from 13 to 72.  Several 50k finishers had done the American Birkie last weekend, and several had never done a 50k before, and several had never skied at Cabin Creek before, so that made for fun observations.

Hot topic at the 50k finish: is this the last year Brett Hanscom finishes ahead of his son Levi?  Stay tuned!

Father/son dynamo team

MC and race director Jeff Hashimoto kept the energy and humor levels high throughout the race, as he does, calling out results, cheering on the competitors still skiing, and doling out awards and prizes.  He had a fan base of junior skiers hanging on his every word!

And of course, the food: hot, delicious, and plenty of it -- so hard to decide what you want!

That wraps up the Kongsberger race season for another year!  Many thanks to every one of you who came out and raced, and many MANY thanks to every one of you who helped out in one capacity or another.  It takes a village, as they say, to put these things together on all sides.  Have a great summer, full of healthy training, and we'll see you next year!

Special addition: race photos from Andrey:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rvypnaax6XNy5wGLA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/e2jzGZDt7uBenmK2A

And what about Saturday?  Maybe you witnessed the crowds and excitement going on at Cabin Creek the day before the Ozbaldy.  Here is Rob Corkran's report, with some tiny modifications:

Congratulations to the Ellensburg Ski Team who pulled off another great kids' sprint race, the final in the Washington Cup Series for younger juniors.  The mood was festive and the racing great fun.  Action was almost continuous for three hours.  The food stand was excellent and in continuous operation.This is an event more of the public should see as it is one of the most exciting things that happens at Cabin Creek!

A classic race, waxing was a challenge with fresh wet snow since the evening grooming.  Pierre, coach at Plain Valley, is over the last few years one of the most successful junior coaches in the country.  His solution was “silicone.”  Sanding the kick zone and applying silicone, as one does with zeroes, was his approach.

Kids were present from White Pass, the Methow, Plain Valley, the Bush School, Momentum, the Kongsbergers and elsewhere.  It seemed like hundreds of them. A first rate event.  Fun!  Tourists were stopping to take in the excitement.  Thank you all, especially unnamed Ellensburg volunteers who helped make this a great show!