The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“We’re not panicking yet, we’re biding our time”
The formula seemed flawless at first. Irwin, Colo. is renowned for copious amounts of snow, starting in October and continuing on until April.
Three years ago, ski mountaineering race organizers and the Irwin cat skiing operation seized on Irwin’s snow reputation and scheduled a race for the first week of December on Irwin’s cat skiing terrain. The race would be the official kick-off to the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup (COSMIC) series.
The plan worked better than anyone could have expected as racers were treated to 18 inches of fresh snow the night before the event and coverage was off the charts all over the racecourse.
Last year, despite a slow start to the winter, the Irwin race still moved forward without issue. The mantra for racers was simple: “If it looks thin, it’s probably thin. If it doesn’t look thin, it’s probably thin,” and everyone who raced was treated to another great start to the COSMIC race season.
This year, things are a bit more dubious, with the race scheduled for Saturday, December 8.
“We are worse off than last year,” admits race director Bryan Wickenhauser.
Nevertheless, the plan for the course is the same, with 3,500 vertical feet of climbing for the rec division and 5,000 feet of climbing for the race division, with both divisions treated to the classic boot pack up one of the tight couloirs on Irwin’s terrain.
New for this year’s race, dubbed the Irwin/La Sportiva Ski Mountaineering race, is co-sponsor La Sportiva. The outdoor goods company has signed on to sponsor the race and will bring their equipment to the race for demo purposes that will be available to the public—racers and non-racers alike.
“Irwin will have an area sectioned off to test out the gear,” says Wickenhauser. “We encourage the public to come up, check out the race and test out the La Sportiva gear.”
The race is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 8. Online registration for the race is open through Thursday, December 6 at zapevent.com. There will be one last chance to register at the Irwin Building on 330 Belleview Avenue on Friday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. The mandatory racer meeting will follow that at 7 p.m., also at the Irwin Building.
But all of that could be for naught unless Mother Nature comes through.
“If we get 10 to 12 inches before the race, we could probably pull it off,” says Wickenhauser. “We’re not panicking yet. We’re biding our time.”
While Wickenhauser acknowledges there is a fair bit of snow in other areas up high, moving the racecourse is out of the question.
“We wouldn’t feel comfortable moving it because there are so many hidden obstacles,” explains Wickenhauser. “Racers would just drill rocks and it would be ugly.”
Race organizers will make the final call on Thursday, December 6 whether or not the race is on. If Mother Nature refuses to come through in time, race organizers may then postpone the Irwin/La Sportiva Ski Mountaineering race until April.
The COSMIC series will return to the valley on January 26 for the Crested Butte Ski Mountaineering race at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
