Speed Up Race Report

Yesterday we awoke to a clear, cold day. Porters mountain manager, Uli, reported -10 degrees on the 6am snow report. The new snow and clear skies was a change from previous SkiMoNZ events, which general have been held in wet and/or white out conditions.

Start of the race

The course was 3 laps, 1 of 100m vert and 2 of 85m vert. 16 competitors lined up and not to surprisingly Gena, Duncan and Noel slotted into the front of the pack on the first climb. The big surprise here was in 4 place, Cheeseman's Colombian lifty, Carlos, who's been skiing for only 3 weeks and skinning twice! Gena, Duncan and Noel top of the first lap.
By the top of the 2nd lap Gena had a comfortable lead, with Noel 2nd and Duncan 3rd. Carols had skin trouble cause of the cold temps and slipped back, with Tim Ensor quietly moving into 4th place.
The action at the top transition, 2nd lap

Gillian Ensor was the big surprise at this stage, making the most of Kath Conlan's gear issues, comfortably in the lead of the womans race.

At the last uphill transition Noel's skins gave out due to the cold and he feel back to 5th, with Tim making his move in to 2nd!

At the finish it was Gena, Tim, then Duncan. In the woman's race Gillian ran away with it, Therese Macquart was 2nd and Sonia Mellish 3rd.

A big THANKS to every one that turned up for the first race of the series, our race day help- little red Hannah and Dallis, all the Porters staff, especially Uli, Luke, Jay and Dave and of course all our sponsors-Porters Ski Area, Dynafit, Wilderness Magazine, The climber Magazine, Buff Head Wear, ChillOut Mt Pass, New Zealand Alpine Club.

Post race Jane Noel and I made the most of the day, ckeck it out at http://www.skimonz.blogspot.com/