Alley Loop “full bore”

Time for locals to ante up

At the beginning of the year, the Crested Butte Nordic Council was talking contingency plans for the February 4 Alley Loop Nordic Ski Marathon. Volunteers were shoveling snow from the woods onto the trails, and the idea of having enough snow to pack Elk Avenue for its iconic finish was hard to imagine.

But after last week’s 31 inches of powder, Nordic Council executive director Keith Bauer says this year’s race will be “full bore—as good as last year’s conditions.”
The town has stockpiled enough snow for the traditional course to be held downtown, and the public works department is ready to start setting the race course on Friday night. Public works director Rodney Due said he never lost faith.
“Of course it’s going to go on—we’re not the Grinch that stole the snow,” he said. “It makes it a lot nicer now that we got snow. That’s why the snow is still on Elk and on some of the bridges.”
It’s perfect timing for the race’s inaugural year as an American Ski Marathon Series, and race organizers hope that word will spread and registrations will surge in the final days before the race. Last year saw a record 227 skiers, but this year, registration is pacing with 2010, which peaked at 146. Locals in particular have been holding out for snow, with Gunnison County registrations about half their normal rate. Events director Janelle Smiley attributes some of the hesitation to training.
“I think we’re down compared to last year because most people haven’t had a chance to be on skis,” she said.
A few racers who registered for the full 42 km race in October have been switching to the 21k because they haven’t had the chance to train. But there’s still time for locals to make a strong showing. Online registration is free and open until Thursday, February 2 at 10 p.m., and those who take the plunge will see some exciting new changes to the weekend lineup.
Smiley and the council have upped the ante with post-race awards. Kids will get their time on the stage first, celebrating with pizza and awards at the Brick Oven at 11:30 a.m. Adults will celebrate at 4 p.m. at a new Crested Butte watering hole, Montanya Rum Distillery. As Smiley said, “They know how to throw a party.”
And racers who don’t want that party to end can keep the weekend going with a Sunday morning brunch at the Magic Meadows yurt. With a full breakfast catered by local chef Tim Egelhoff and a trail pass, Smiley says, it’s a great way for racers to follow their recovery ski with a food coma.
Just one thing remains for a great race: volunteers. Smiley estimates that it takes nearly 100 volunteers to pull it off: a 15-member crew to help out the week leading up the to the race, 60 people the day of the race and another 20 to handle registrations. She’s on the hunt for a few more course marshals, but one thing the Nordic Council thankfully no longer needs? More people to shovel more snow on the course.