« return to cold | Home | snow report: more »
the great race
By ccrossen | March 9, 2010
This past Sunday, Tahoe City and Truckee hosted The Great Ski Race, a cross country ski from TC to Truckee via the Fibreboard Freeway and the 06 Road, with the finish at the Cottonwood. This year’s event was the 34th annual race, a benefit for Tahoe Search and Rescue. All told, more than 1,100 participants finished, covering the 30k course in anywhere from 1:11:30 to 5:30:00.
This year was my first go at it, , and I will strive to make it every year as long as I am able; it’s a fantastic event, route, and small-town celebration. You can race it, tour it, walk it … doesn’t matter, a good time for everyone, especially with excellent refreshment stops along the way.
Conditions were excellent, clear and sunny, if not a little warm during the second half of the race. The route begins at Tahoe XC Center, and gradually works its way up the long climb to Starratt Pass and the Fibreboard Freeway, then heads down a really long and fun downhill to the 06 Road, which then works its way North through the forest down to Truckee.
The first hill is the cruncher, a 2,200′ vertical climb, which isn’t that steep, but works you over the long haul. If you’re racing, the key is to power up and through this climb and then recover on the long downhill that follows, then skate like crazy on the flats to the finish and the ensuing chili/beer/music party. The final steep winding turns and culminating drop to the finish line make for some excellent spectating. You don’t have to race it though and can simply have a nice long ski through a great stretch of landscape.
Tahoe is unique, in that, we have a so many different ski resorts, towns, and social scenes embedded in a relatively small locale. It’s nice when everyone actually comes together to ski and celebrate winter and our mountains in such a great race. Makes you feel like you actually live in a small ski town.
If you’re looking for photos, my friend Kenny Blum has shots of most everyone crossing the finishing line. Get in touch if you’re interested: www.kennyblum.com
Topics: Skiing |