Extreme madness
Wilson’s Lake Louise team were the overall winners again this year at Mountain Madness
Posted By Shawn Slaght
Posted 7 months ago
Shawn Slaght/Banff Crag & Canyon. Marcel Holzherr, bib nine, of the Wilson's Lake Louise team passes Ted Christenson from the Home Wise Racers in the skating leg of Mountain Madness of Friday.
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Participants skied, ran and skated their way from Mount Norquay to Central Park Friday to conclude the 2010 version of the Banff Mountain Madness relay race.
The race began at the top of Mount Norquay and down the Lone Pine run for the alpine ski portion of the race. The second leg was a run from the Juniper Hotel to the Bow River.
There was a change in format this year as the ski out was not used at Norquay. The race was stopped after the alpine ski portion and started again with the running.
"I think the change in format worked well because everyone was ready for the run at 2 p.m. at the Juniper," said race organizer Sheila Snowsell. "We had two separate races, one at Norquay for the downhill and the run started at the Juniper. Everyone seems to have adapted to the changes."
The race wasn't quite sold out this year. There were 39 teams out of a possible 50 that competed.
"It was a wonderful day and the weather co-operated and that is the main thing," said Snowsell. "When it gets cold and windy out here it can get hard for the racers."
After the running portion, teammates pass off the marker to a classic cross-country skier for the third leg and a skater for the fourth leg. A skate cross-country skier rounded out the relay.
For the second year in a row, the Wilson's Lake Louise team took the top spot overall, finishing the relay race in 23 minute and one second. The Speed Demons senior high team followed them in second and the Frosty Five adult male team in third.
"It is a great race and well organized," said Wilson's Lake Louise team member Bill Keeling. "It really captures the spirit of Banff and the Bow Valley."
In the adult mixed division, the winners were the Lone Tourists, second were the Brewster Bombers and third were Old School.
Fabulosso won the adult female division with Mineral Springs Flying Nuns in second and Howling Coyotes in third.
The Flying Nuns were one of many teams that dressed up in costumes this year, donning nun habits.
"We all work at the Mineral Springs Hospital and we are the flying nuns this year," said team member Cathy Cowan.
Wilson's Lake Louise took the adult male division with the Frosty Five in second and Mad Mountain Misfits in third. Cows with Jet Packs won the elementary school division with Tommy's Angels in second and Lake Louise Lightning in third. The elementary school team of the Sassy Snow Cats, despite finishing last, showed the true spirit of the competition. While the organizers were about to take down the finish area they saw the Snow Cats skate skier coming towards the finish line. Along with the skier, the rest of the team was running along side her cheering her on.
"It was just a great ending," Snowsell said.
Bon Voyage won the junior high division with Bumper's Team Canada in second and Five Man Wolf Pack in third.
In the senior high division, the Speed Demons were the winners. A unique team, called the Banff Striders Second Generation, took second place. Part of this team was made up of second-generation participants from the original Banff Striders team that start racing in Mountain Madness over 30 years ago. Third place in the senior high division was Bumper's Extreme.
Shawn@thecrag.ca
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