TEAMS RACE
The teams race is a mass start ski mountaineering course designed to match ISMF criteria for a teams race. Teams of two complete the course together. The race will involve multiple technical ascents and descents, mandatory bootpack sections, rappels and fixed lines, and awesome skiing. More details below, but first: some pictures!
There will be course marshals located at various points, but racers must plan to be entirely self sufficient throughout their race. You will be in the mountains. It will be winter. You will be sweaty and you may be wearing spandex. Please plan accordingly. See the rules section for details on required equipment.
The course is essentially a skyline traverse of Kicking Horse's formidable inbounds terrain, from south to north and encompassing 5 distinct summits. In addition, KHMR has recently opened up incredible new terrain on Ozone which Steep Dreams 2022 will showcase. Some competitors may recognize Ozone as the venue for North America's only Freeride World Tour stop.
In total, expect approximately 2500m of vertical gain and loss with 7 climbs, 7 expert-level descents, 1 rappel, and 3 technical bootpacks.
Rappel details:
1. It is not mandatory. There will be an easy ski around option, but it will add several minutes to the time it will take to rappel. There may also be a time penalty applied to discourage tactical avoidance of the rappel. Actual penalty is TBD, but you won't like it.
2. It is set up as a "fireman's belay". There will be one ski patroller at the top who will make sure you are attached correctly. There will be another patroller at the bottom of the rope, who will pull on the rope and arrest the descent if it gets out of control. This is a very, very safe system.
3. There will be gear available at the top of the rappel for use by all. It will, however, certainly be quicker to bring your own. ATC style devices are the only acceptable rappel devices. Your own harness is highly recommended.
The teams race is raced in teams of two athletes (mixed gender is OK), who must race together throughout the day. There is an option to enter the race as a relay - four athletes per team, with two completing the first half (resort base to Eagle's Eye) and the other two completing the second half (Eagle's Eye to Resort Base). Teams of three may be considered at the organizer's discretion to ensure that nobody gets left out, but priority will be given to teams of two, and teams of three will not be eligible for rankings or podiums. Solo racers are absolutely not allowed. Please try to make friends.
See below for route details. The route will be developed throughout the season. It involves some pretty dang serious terrain, and may see minor changes based on snowpack and other considerations. Please be aware that while we will do our best to stick to this course, conditions may force a reroute or delayed start.
The course is essentially a skyline traverse of Kicking Horse's formidable inbounds terrain, from south to north and encompassing 5 distinct summits. In addition, KHMR has recently opened up incredible new terrain on Ozone which Steep Dreams 2022 will showcase. Some competitors may recognize Ozone as the venue for North America's only Freeride World Tour stop.
In total, expect approximately 2500m of vertical gain and loss with 7 climbs, 7 expert-level descents, 1 rappel, and 3 technical bootpacks.
Rappel details:
1. It is not mandatory. There will be an easy ski around option, but it will add several minutes to the time it will take to rappel. There may also be a time penalty applied to discourage tactical avoidance of the rappel. Actual penalty is TBD, but you won't like it.
2. It is set up as a "fireman's belay". There will be one ski patroller at the top who will make sure you are attached correctly. There will be another patroller at the bottom of the rope, who will pull on the rope and arrest the descent if it gets out of control. This is a very, very safe system.
3. There will be gear available at the top of the rappel for use by all. It will, however, certainly be quicker to bring your own. ATC style devices are the only acceptable rappel devices. Your own harness is highly recommended.
The teams race is raced in teams of two athletes (mixed gender is OK), who must race together throughout the day. There is an option to enter the race as a relay - four athletes per team, with two completing the first half (resort base to Eagle's Eye) and the other two completing the second half (Eagle's Eye to Resort Base). Teams of three may be considered at the organizer's discretion to ensure that nobody gets left out, but priority will be given to teams of two, and teams of three will not be eligible for rankings or podiums. Solo racers are absolutely not allowed. Please try to make friends.
See below for route details. The route will be developed throughout the season. It involves some pretty dang serious terrain, and may see minor changes based on snowpack and other considerations. Please be aware that while we will do our best to stick to this course, conditions may force a reroute or delayed start.
RACE BRIEFING
START LOCATION - The race starts and finishes at the bottom of the resort, next to the gondola, near the RedBull/Skiuphill tents.
EQUIPMENT - standard ISMF skimo equipment - see rules section for more details. You need to provide your own harness and ATC compatible with a standard climbing rope.
INSTRUCTIONS - race number on right thigh. Timing chip on right lower leg. Be nice to the volunteers!
START LINE - All competitors will be in the same part of the start corral, position also determined by order of arrival.
TIMING: we are using electronic timing, which requires you to ski over the loops which are buried in the snow. There is only one time for the course, there are no individual segments.
RAPPEL: There will be Ski Patrol and volunteers at the top and bottom of the rappel to assist you. You must keep your skins on your skis until you are at the bottom of the rappel. Teams must share a rope, one at a time. You may ski around to avoid the rappel, but must take the cat track until it merges with Cloud Nine and then skin back to the bottom of the rappel. This will take much more time than the rappel.
BOOTPACKS: must have skins on throughout, attached to two points on your backpack.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Climb 1: 1110m
- Ascend groomers under the Catamount Chair, to It’s a Ten and then Terminator. Follow switchbacks up Terminator and into Super Bowl, before ascending a prominent ramp to Terminator 2 Peak.
Descent 1:
- Descend Evil Empire to a transition in Super Bowl
Climb 2: 230m
- Ascend switchbacks up Super Bowl headwall, then bootpack up Terminator 1 Peak to the summit.
Descent 2:
- Descend the ridge, passing Truth and Dare to the entrance of Consequence.
- Ski with care on this ridge, watching for rocks and being mindful of minor exposure below.
- Descend Consequence into Bowl Over.
- Watch carefully for signage marking the left turn to the next transition at Knee Deep. (This transition is the same as Transition 6 of the Individual race.
Climb 3: 350m
- Ascend Bowl Over to Eagle’s Eye
- Rappel! Three rappel lines will be managed by ski patrol and race volunteers. Please have your gear ready and be respectful. Do your racing on the skintrack before the rappel, not on the rope.
Descent 3:
- Carefully clip into your skis (please don’t drop them) and descend Golden Spike to the next transition in Crystal Bowl.
Climb 4: 330m
- Ascend Crystal Bowl via Cloud Nine and the Stairway to Heaven to the top of Whitewall.
- This climb is relatively identical to climb one of the Individual course.
Descent 4:
- Descend Whitewall to a transition on the flats in Feuz Bowl
Climb 5: 290m
- Skin, then follow a long bootpack up the looker’s right side of Whitewall.
- Transition to skinning and continue to the summit of Ozone.
Descent 5:
- Descend Ozone back to Feuz Bowl
Climb 6: 90m
- Bootpack up Mini Ridge, following the public bootpack. Be careful when climbing and transitioning without skins on your sksi. Don’t drop them!
Descent 6:
- Descend Mini Ridge North, then follow flags back to Feuz Bowl to the top of Blaster.
- Follow Blaster partway, looking left for the cat track traverse to Race Place.
- Volunteers will wave their arms and shout at you to help you make this turn. Pay attention to them!
- Descend Race Place and follow flags back to the Start/Finish!
EQUIPMENT - standard ISMF skimo equipment - see rules section for more details. You need to provide your own harness and ATC compatible with a standard climbing rope.
INSTRUCTIONS - race number on right thigh. Timing chip on right lower leg. Be nice to the volunteers!
START LINE - All competitors will be in the same part of the start corral, position also determined by order of arrival.
TIMING: we are using electronic timing, which requires you to ski over the loops which are buried in the snow. There is only one time for the course, there are no individual segments.
RAPPEL: There will be Ski Patrol and volunteers at the top and bottom of the rappel to assist you. You must keep your skins on your skis until you are at the bottom of the rappel. Teams must share a rope, one at a time. You may ski around to avoid the rappel, but must take the cat track until it merges with Cloud Nine and then skin back to the bottom of the rappel. This will take much more time than the rappel.
BOOTPACKS: must have skins on throughout, attached to two points on your backpack.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Climb 1: 1110m
- Ascend groomers under the Catamount Chair, to It’s a Ten and then Terminator. Follow switchbacks up Terminator and into Super Bowl, before ascending a prominent ramp to Terminator 2 Peak.
Descent 1:
- Descend Evil Empire to a transition in Super Bowl
Climb 2: 230m
- Ascend switchbacks up Super Bowl headwall, then bootpack up Terminator 1 Peak to the summit.
Descent 2:
- Descend the ridge, passing Truth and Dare to the entrance of Consequence.
- Ski with care on this ridge, watching for rocks and being mindful of minor exposure below.
- Descend Consequence into Bowl Over.
- Watch carefully for signage marking the left turn to the next transition at Knee Deep. (This transition is the same as Transition 6 of the Individual race.
Climb 3: 350m
- Ascend Bowl Over to Eagle’s Eye
- Rappel! Three rappel lines will be managed by ski patrol and race volunteers. Please have your gear ready and be respectful. Do your racing on the skintrack before the rappel, not on the rope.
Descent 3:
- Carefully clip into your skis (please don’t drop them) and descend Golden Spike to the next transition in Crystal Bowl.
Climb 4: 330m
- Ascend Crystal Bowl via Cloud Nine and the Stairway to Heaven to the top of Whitewall.
- This climb is relatively identical to climb one of the Individual course.
Descent 4:
- Descend Whitewall to a transition on the flats in Feuz Bowl
Climb 5: 290m
- Skin, then follow a long bootpack up the looker’s right side of Whitewall.
- Transition to skinning and continue to the summit of Ozone.
Descent 5:
- Descend Ozone back to Feuz Bowl
Climb 6: 90m
- Bootpack up Mini Ridge, following the public bootpack. Be careful when climbing and transitioning without skins on your sksi. Don’t drop them!
Descent 6:
- Descend Mini Ridge North, then follow flags back to Feuz Bowl to the top of Blaster.
- Follow Blaster partway, looking left for the cat track traverse to Race Place.
- Volunteers will wave their arms and shout at you to help you make this turn. Pay attention to them!
- Descend Race Place and follow flags back to the Start/Finish!
