Growing up in the Italian Alps, Telluride has always been one of those legendary ski places every European skier hears and dreams of, but very few have the once in a lifetime opportunity to make the journey across the Ocean to experience it.
A constant theme of why I enjoy ski mountaineering racing is the fact that it takes me to some of the most iconic ski places of Colorado. In this case, racing the Tellurando, the longest & steepest ski mountaineering individual race format in the US, and 'one of the more technical & exciting ski mountaineering races in the country'.
Thank you to the good folks at La Sportiva North America, I was able to make the 7 hour car trip in good company 1 day prior to race day, in order to lead the Pre-Race Clinic, Demo, & Shakeout ahead of race day, in partnership with the local legendary ski shop Jagged Edge.
Although I’ve now done almost a dozen of weekly Clinics & Demos at my local Eldora Ski Resort this season (which have attracted over 50 people), this one was different because of the type of skier Telluride attracts: either a competent downhill skiers with little to none awareness & knowledge of ski touring, or seasoned ski pros wanting to try the latest most high performing product on the market.
Regardless of the type, everybody we introduced to the sport and product came away amazed by the walkability of the boots, and a renewed perception of experiencing skiing and the mountains in a whole new (old fashioned) way. The designated uphill route could be improved by adding more technical and steeper options, but it’s a start.
On to race day, the 5:30am running start in the dark from Main Street right in town is very Euro-like, and this is yet another reason why I enjoy ski mountaineering racing: it takes me back to my Italian roots of old school, gritty, “alternative” sports that are still niche in America.
The race tackles 21 miles (35km) in distance across 11,500 feet (3500m+) of positive elevation gain, with the highlight being summiting and skiing off Palmyra Peak (13,319’ - 4,059m), right from the center of Telluride town (8,750′ - 2,667m).
Joe Risi, the race director from the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup, and John, manager of Jagged Edge who started the race in 2018 now in its 5th edition, did a great job in incorporating various elements of actual ski mountaineering: endless kickturns in the trees, icy traverses, powder skintracks, a monster bootpack, a ridge line, and a ski off the 13er summit into an epic couloir.
Knowing how many local volunteers and ski clubs get involved in these type of races in Europe, I’m always amazed at how local RDs like Joe in America can pull these off with just a handful of people (or often just himself). Between the huge span of terrain, ever-changing winter weather conditions, high downhill speeds, the many stakeholders and user groups on the resort to please (on top of every other race logistics) it really takes uniquely talented individuals to pull these off.
At the front of the race, I had a tight battle with US Skimo National Team members Logan Greyydanus (a senior experienced race veteran from Crested Butte , just back from the ISMF World Cups in Europe) and Jake Dewey (a young raw gritty talented U23 National Champ). In the end, Logan’s experience prevailed over such a long technical course, winning the race in 4h47’, Jake faded towards the end for 3rd, and my former pro triathlon glory-days fitness kept me humming for 2nd, squeezing just under 5 hours.
Although my priorities in life have shifted from the regimented training required to excel on the race course, I love racing because it lets me explore the mountains in a way I wouldn’t otherwise, pushing myself, in company of skilled likeminded people, to then reminisce about the crazy day skiing UP & DOWN mountains over a beer.
Fellow La Sportiva athlete and ultrarunning phenomenon, Kelly Wolf, dominated the women’s race after only a short stint at ski racing. It’s good to see female athletes from an endurance sports background joining the sport as a way to keep fit, healthy, and motivated in the winter, and switch up the monotony of single-sport training.
Thank you to the good folks at La Sportiva North America for the opportunity to travel to this iconic US ski destination, to Joe Risi at COSMIC for the tenacity in continually putting these events on, and to John at Jagged Edge for the hospitality and foresight in launching this race in 2018.
Davide Giardini
Boulder Skimo Club
Video and photos courtesy Joe Risi of the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup.
