On Sunday, April 10, 2022 the Boulder Skimo Club volunteer organization, founded by professional athlete Davide Giardini, in partnership with the town ski resort, Eldora (located just a quick 30 minutes drive from the center of town), and specialty uphill ski brands Dynafit, La Sportiva, Scarpa (all of which call Boulder home for their US operations), joined forces for an all-day festival of “human-powered uphill skiing” (also referred to as AT skiing, skimo, skinning, skialp, or more loosely backcountry skiing). Read the full pre-event details on Eldora’s site here.
The day also marked the first time in eight years for the in-person return of the DOJoe Memorial Uphill/Downhill Festival, commemorating the life of Joe Despres, tragically killed in 2002 in an avalanche. The race saw over 100 participants, and all funds (over $6,000) were donated to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), to support avalanche education and awareness efforts as well as forecasting and operations. Read a full recap about the DoJoe on Elevation Outdoors.
On a bluebird Spring day with a fresh layer of overnight snow and pleasant temperatures in the high 30s, over 20 novice uphill skiers took advantage of FREE demos of the latest performance lightweight uphill gear, FREE uphill clinics, and FREE uphill access (on a Sunday!), to finally get the chance try the hottest winter endurance sport with no upfront investment in a welcoming environment with likeminded people guided by expert professionals.
Ever since getting back into uphill skiing in Boulder (the endurance sports capital of the US) in 2019, following my retirement from professional triathlon racing and many years after first being exposed to it as a kid growing up in the Italian Alps, , it has been a goal of mine to share my love for what I consider to be the ultimate winter endurance sport with the huge pool of local talented multisport endurance athletes (runners, cyclists, triathletes, etc).
It was a dream come true to be able to finally provide on-snow and hands-on guidance, and with minimal barriers to entry, to so many familiar faces with whom I have shared many miles on the road, on the trails, and in the pool through years of being involved in the thriving local endurance community (arguably one of the best in the world).
Uphill skiing is the best winter endurance sport for endurance athletes to engage in the off-season.
Fully body recruitment, new neromuscular motor patterns formation, posterior chain activation, weight bearing, high altitude acclimatization, eccentric muscle contraction, low impact: these are just some of the many benefits.
Coupled with fresh air, wide open mountain vistas, and undisturbed nature, these are sure ways to provide summer endurance athletes with a much needed physical & mental recharge, while providing a solid fitness and strength foundation.
The Boulder Skimo Club will continue to work with local uphill ski partners and brands to grow the sport’s user base locally, to create learning & experiential opportunities, to advocate for uphill access at Eldora, and to build a sense of community around the sport.
Want to get involved? Reach out to Davide!
