Ski to the Sun Race Report

 A number of KSCers made their way to the Methow for last weekend’s Ski to the Sun on what looked like a gorgeous weekend. Erica reports “a beautiful day to embrace racing in community,” and sends this photo of the junior KSC/Momentum relay team, which finished 5th.

Erica Swanson photo

Other finishers included classic skiers Rune (second place), Jeff Hashimoto (7th), Pete Spiegel (13th), Alex Horner-Devine (18th), and Spider Burbank (33rd), and skaters Michael Evans (5th), Grant Goheen (86th), Todd Merkens (101st), and Jeff McGrew (124th). Women skaters included Mona Deprey (8th), Erica Swanson (21st) and Avery Shinneman (35th). Clearly everyone had a fun day! 

Erica Swanson photo

Mona was second in her age group, with only former Olympian Laura McCabe ahead of her. Here is her fun race report:

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It was a great weekend in the Methow Valley with cold sunny weather. I got there on Thursday and skied parts of the course both Thursday and Friday. My biggest concern was keeping my hands and feet warm enough. I knew by the finish it would be in the low-mid 20’s so I wasn’t super concerned about arms/legs/torso and wore just long underwear and a race suit. I used hand and toe warmers but probably could have done without.   

The course was in great shape, though the snow was slow and abrasive. It’s been decades since I raced in such cold weather; I ended up cramping in my quads and biceps a few times in the last 10km. I missed two of the feeds I normally take, so that may have been part of the problem. 

The race organization was superb and it was great to see some of our Kongsberger members (Augustina, the Eastwoods) volunteering and helping with race coordination. Happy to discover Jupiter (restaurant) in Winthrop for a great post-race meal! Sunday I skied in the Rendezvous area which had a temperature inversion with the valley and was the warmest at 8am!