Rando Races at ski areas. Why?

[muted]

Competitions are sort of like Rule 34: If it exists, there are contests to see who is the best at it. People compete at far more baffling shit than rando races. Beyond that though, you can apply that logic to nearly any outdoor sport. Do you feel the same way about big mountain comps, surf comps, adventure racing, etc?

As to your second point, someone trying to set a PR/FKT/etc. has to embrace a singular, all-consuming focus on the task at hand and is living more "in the moment" than anyone on a casual outing.

I don't feel the same way about most sports. I like watching a lot of surf/bike/freeride comps.

As for the second point, I've been there. You are in the moment for sure, but it's a moment all in your head. You are not stopping to smell the roses, you are probably trampling right through them if it's a shortcut to your PR.

[muted]

#shitslowwhitepeoplesay

Ha, I flushed out a dork.

[Bronco]

I "participate" in a few races. A few years ago, Stevens Pass organized a "Big Mountain Battle". Me and my teammate were hustling to get to a check point with about 20 other aggro guys and were all passing some crabby looking 60 year old man on the traverse out. He sarcastically hollers "what's your hurry, are you in a race!?" I smiled and said, "yep". By then the leaders had hit the check point and were on their way back down the traverse. As I reached the check point, we could hear the old guy cursing out each of the racers. As we approached him for the second time, we were laughing so hard we could hardly move, which pissed him off all the more. I think he may have been single-handedly successful in getting the future BMB cancelled at Stevens.

I think I'm done with the Rando events in the Seattle area. The last two Vertfest and Meany Patrol race have all been in the rain which is no fun whatsoever. Maybe time to retire to a check point volunteer. Maybe not, that doesn't sound like much fun either.

[m-ruta]

I don't feel the same way about most sports. I like watching a lot of surf/bike/freeride comps.

As for the second point, I've been there. You are in the moment for sure, but it's a moment all in your head. You are not stopping to smell the roses, you are probably trampling right through them if it's a shortcut to your PR.

Fun fact: the moment is always in your head. Pace has nothing to do with it.

[alto]

alto, since you've done both sports - would you say SkiMo or FWT groupies are hotter?

Do you prefer a Fiat Panda or a Toyota Tundra?

[dark_star]

As a rando racer (and a racer in the Brundage race that Jonathan attended) I feel compelled to answer.

I totally understand not "getting" resort-based skimo- it is definitely an acquired taste. Especially skinning at resorts, when you can literally ski 5x as many laps if you just take the damn lift. The simplest cop-out answer that might satisfy you is that here on the east coast we have no choice! If you're scheduling in advance only resorts offer reliable snow for any kind of ski races, particularly those that require long uphill skintracks with downhill sections that can be linked up, there really aren't any reliable backcountry options.

But assuming that answer isn't satisfactory and the question is more generally "why skimo," I can say that I got into it because a) I love to ski, b) I love to be outside skinning, c) I enjoy moving fast and efficiently, and d) I enjoy pushing myself and improving physically- skimo is a way to do all of those things, with like-minded people, in at atmosphere of *friendly* competition. It's not unlike the trail running scene- full of friendly athletes who will share a beer with you after and tell you all they know about the sport to help you improve. Good people that will cheer you on even if they pass you. And coming from nationals last week, I can tell you this is true at the national level as well- if not more so.

Also, FWIW, I think skimo racing is one of the hardest and most complete sports out there. To be competitive, you have to a) be fit for the uphills, b) be strong enough to ski confidently down immediately after pushing yourself on the ups, c) be an excellent technical skier, on skinny skis where you can't rely on the ski to do all the work, and d) master the art of skimo racing- e.g., gear management, transitions, etc. Being good at all of these things makes you a better backcountry skier, without question. Also, pulling it off in a race, where everything aligns and you ski 5000+ vert in a matter of 1.5-2 hours after pushing yourself to the limits- the whole experience is tremendously gratifying.

Now clearly this isn't for everyone. You have to be pre-disposed to like endurance sports, which requires and appetite for a bit of suffering. And if you want to improve (also very gratifying, just like getting better at guitar or woodworking, for example), you have to be diligent and set long-term goals and make plans and stick to them, which yes means structured training, which also can mean making sacrifices taken to the extreme. Some people dig that, others prefer the flexibility to just ski whenever you want and whatever you're in the mood for. IMO Both approaches are valid- but that's why this is such a great sport, it's different things to different people. I love powder skiing as much as the next guy, but I am wired to enjoy pushing myself. It's not about being the best or beating everyone else - but really is about seeing what I can do and how efficient I can be.

Regarding being/feeling "free" in the mountains, FWIW I personally feel the most free when I can travel great distances while thinking as little as possible about my gear and equipment, transitions, etc, and keeping it as simple as possible- all of which is part of the skimo experience.

[TAFKALVS]

Do you prefer a Fiat Panda or a Toyota Tundra?

This is a perfect answer.

[BFD]

Also, pulling it off in a race, where everything aligns and you ski 5000+ vert in a matter of 1.5-2 hours after pushing yourself to the limits- the whole experience is tremendously gratifying.
at least for one guy
seems like a mid life crisis sport for audi drivers that can afford the gear.
seriously though nothing wrong with being fit seems like an enjoyable way to get there.
If anyone is coming to the Wolfcreek race on Jan 7 I would be happy to house you.
East coast guys better show up soon to get used to the altitude.

[muted]

Fun fact: the moment is always in your head. Pace has nothing to do with it.

Ha, yes it is always in your head. But hell no on pace, pace changes your focus.

Anyways, there's a lot of good points bronco/darkstar/etc brought up and good on ya. I'm not hear to say who's right or argue my opinion, I just could do without the real shitty ego-driven douchebags you find in endurance sports. But as someone else has mentioned here before, there are douches everywhere. I quit endurance comps because I had more fun without all the whiners and rules and all the money spent. That's just me, I know.

Still not going back on turning up my snobby nose on mountaineer turds who race up the Eiger and things like that though. The new? mountaineer generation of Altos who know how to have fun are a different breed though!

And there is an unbelieveable amount of denial in that your ego is not feed in different ways through these events. Not the worst sin the world, don't get me wrong!

[Angle Parking]

People who think only one kind of skiing is legit just don't like skiing all that much.

This. Why care so much about what others are doing.

[Dantheman]

I don't feel the same way about most sports. I like watching a lot of surf/bike/freeride comps.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how you can feel one way about one type of skiing, and another way about another type of skiing or other outdoor sports. Especially ones that are subjectively judged like freeride and surf comps.

As for the second point, I've been there. You are in the moment for sure, but it's a moment all in your head. You are not stopping to smell the roses, you are probably trampling right through them if it's a shortcut to your PR.

Neither is a guy trying to win a FWT event, surfing the Eddie/Titans of Mavs, or racing Pikes Peak. Again, I don't get how you can compartmentalize your feelings about competitions in one sport versus another.

I just could do without the real shitty ego-driven douchebags you find in endurance sports.

You acknowledged as much in your next sentence, but competitions attract ego-driven Type-A types in every sport, and the higher the level the more likely you are find them since that mentality is often a requirement of getting to an elite level. Even cheese rolling, shin-kicking and worm charming probably have their fair share of dickheads that everyone hates.

Still not going back on turning up my snobby nose on mountaineer turds who race up the Eiger and things like that though.

I'd bet that we'll see this trend back off in general, at least for awhile. It's been "the thing" in recent years since people like Steck, Honnold, Jornett, etc. opened people's eyes to just what was possible. Once that happened others naturally decided to try and find just where the limit was, but it can't last forever.

[XXX-er]

So you think you get away from ego?

Ego makes the world go round

[brutah]

Anyways, there's a lot of good points bronco/darkstar/etc brought up and good on ya. I'm not hear to say who's right or argue my opinion, I just could do without the real shitty ego-driven douchebags you find in endurance sports. But as someone else has mentioned here before, there are douches everywhere. I quit endurance comps because I had more fun without all the whiners and rules and all the money spent. That's just me, I know.

classic example of the kettle calling the pot black.

Still not going back on turning up my snobby nose on mountaineer turds who race up the Eiger and things like that though. The new? mountaineer generation of Altos who know how to have fun are a different breed though!

These two groups have more in common than not.

Ego is why man climbed a mountain in the first place and why man continues to do so.
Shoot, ego is why you claim that your way of enjoying the mountains is better than others.

[AKbruin]

I started following Kilian Jornet this year. I'm blown away by what he does and how he does it. Also, he seems to have a lot of fun in the mountains, where he spends more time than 99.9% of the people on this board. But I suppose one person's inspiration is another's turd.

[muted]

And there is an unbelieveable amount of denial in that your ego is not feed in different ways through these events. Not the worst sin the world, don't get me wrong!

Nobody is tackling this one comment and probably why people are taking this personal.

You can balance your ego and still compete. You can climb to conquer your inner demons and other good reasons people have posted here or you can climb to conquer nature and in order post about it online. Yes, sometimes my comments are contradictory, like the entire human condition is, but I'm not gonna write pages explaining everything perfectly when this thread just needs more funny than more preaching. Some shit's better explained in person.

[skiitsbetter]

4 pages in and we've forgot this. Search function JONG. This has been discussed ad nauseam.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...2-SkiMo-Racing
http://www.sierramtnguides.com/skimo-is-neither/

[Mofro261]

Every turn I make on snow is an ego stroke, no competitions required.

[sb]

You toobs fail?

[Buster Highmen]

I'm concerned about gender neutral, free range, locally sourced, fair trade, organic, gluten free, acupuncture enabled, electoral college free rando races at ski areas.

Given the available resources, why don't these thing get staged in Antarctica? Why should I subsidize the socialist market dickwaves of a winnowed subclass?

[Dantheman]

Nobody is tackling this one comment and probably why people are taking this personal.

I'm in agreement with Mofro on this one. Also, I've only done a handful of races, but the ones I've done have been an ego-deflating, humbling experience if anything. I ran the Speedgoat 50k a few years ago. I trained my ass of for it and had what to this day was probably the best run of my life. I was absolutely pumped on my 8-hour time, then the finish times were posted and I discovered that that was only good enough to place 53/150 and I was almost 2.5 hours slower than the winner. That'll let the air out of your balloon.

[adrenalated]

I have absolutely zero desire to do a rando race but also have absolutely zero issue with people wanting to. Lots of friends have done them and said it was a blast.

But can you idiots please stop calling it skimo? Ski mountaineering is climbing up mountains then skiing down them. This inbounds ski running thing is rarely that. Rando racing would be fine.

Also all skiing is stupid, you're strapping big ass wooden planks to your feet and sliding down snow ferchristsakes.

[sb]

Buster is right, they should randomly race to the south pole from say Cuba. Think of the panty waving to be had.

[plugboots]

Every turn I make on snow is a sign of fear

FIFY

Buddy of mine always says that.

Anyway, what's so wrong with competing with your buddies? Like "Last one down buys the beers". Then flick your friend's heelpiece and go. (Marker MRR reference.)

Don't you guys ever play tennis, or basketball, or whatever? Why not get together and run up the hill and ski down, then drink some beers, and have women throw panties at you??

Just don't get what problem, (if any), there is.

[Buster Highmen]

FIFY

Buddy of mine always says that.

Anyway, what's so wrong with competing with your buddies? Like "Last one down buys the beers". Then flick your friend's heelpiece and go. (Marker Rotomat reference.)

Don't you guys ever play tennis, or basketball, or whatever? Why not get together and run up the hill and ski down, then drink some beers, and have women throw panties at you??

Just don't get what problem, (if any), there is.

FIFY

[topwater]

Seems like the ski-mo/rando guys doing big objectives (newest Salomon video, Hardrock 100 in winter) or I see uphilling before the lifts open are enjoying themselves and have a good perspective on life in the mountains. More so than many of the core skiers I see on a powder day at the resort.

Dark Star said it best.