Equinox Ski Challenge

2011-02-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

Posts for 2011 have been moved to the Equinox Website "Latest News" tab. . . see: www.equinoxskichallenge.com

2011 Equinox race dates

2010-03-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Dates for the 2011 Equinox Ski Challenge will be set later this spring pending a few other event dates in the area. Regardless, we expect it to be a late March occasion again...19th/20th or 26th/27th. And we also expect it'll be a good one since it will be the 5th Ever Equinox Ski Challenge.

Have a great summer!

2010 Equinox Conclusion

2010-03-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Equinox numbers.....
89 participants
217 pounds of food for the Food Bank
$700 donated to WYSEF and Manaia
9 participants under the age of 8
8 new event records thanks to Kat Hickman, Inge Travis, Sarah Willis, Morgan Holland, Team La Banda, The Skiglorious Bastards, Team LMR, and XC Oregon
a total of 7,368 kilometers skied

Thank you!....The Equinox is way more than numbers. It is an atmosphere that is really special, and is something we all create together. Thanks for bringing the smiles, potluck contributions, food bank donations, the enthusiasm and the unbridled ambition that makes the weekend such a unique mixture, and also so much fun.

Results... are up on the website (www.equinoxskichallenge.com) along with a few pictures. More photos will be up later this week or email peter.ac.newbury@gmail.com if you are looking for high res copies, more photos, etc. He will need your bib number.

Fasterskier article.....the results are currently posted on the FasterSkier website featuring a picture from the 24 Minute event!

Goals for 2011... As the event keeps growing, we are maxing out the capacity on a few aspects of the facilities. To keep this the fun and intimate event it has become and also not overrun the facilities, we will probably cap the field at 100 participants for 2011. Additionally, some folks who have paticipated several times over the last few years have offered to make a Sunday morning breakfast for everyone in 2011. Our goal is to continue to have a top notch, handmade, family run and family oriented, quality, fun event where eveyone knows their neighbors name, where we share food, share tired laps at 3 AM, and are supported by all in doing our best, and we find our limits also! We want to keep generating enough income to make donations to WYSEF and Manaia each year, reaching out to support those beyond just our ski community. We will continue to need and appreciate our volunteers, to have a bonfire and to cheer the last racers in.

Costumes...Due to the STELLAR costumes this year, we will be having a costume parade before the start gun goes off. Kudos to Team On Point, SMEK, Freeheel, Mimi Matsuda, Thor Sheppard, the Anderbergs, Riley Hopeman and countless other who gave everyone something to cheer for!

Stories... If anyone would like to write about the weekend, about skiing at 2AM, about not sleeping, about chasing 7 year olds down the trail, about the rhythms and routines you found, about standing by the fire with friends, about how you felt throughout the race...we would welcome stories and post some of them to the web or blog. I know there are some amazing things that happened...people squeaking in last laps, final laps with their coaches, etc.

Survey...How did you find out about the Equinox? What brought you back again this year? What did you appreciate about the event? What could improve? PLEASE, suggestions are appreciated. This helps us do a better job next year.

Take care all.

sincerely,
Sam and the Equinox crew

Toko Wax Recommendation

2010-03-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

The link to the Toko wax recommendation for the weekend is on the homepage below the intro paragraph. note...PLEASE do NOT ski on the trails Friday afternoon/evening after they have been groomed. Doug is grooming early in the day to be able to set the best track, and so it will be soft for several hours and Friday evening. Thanks.

Conditions are still good in West Yellowstone

2010-03-16T18:44:00.001-07:00

It has been a warm week, but it looks like the trails are still in good shape in West Yellowstone and cooler weather is on the way. I will continue to post updates of conditions. No changes have been made towards cancelling or changing the event. Look forward to seeing everybody there.

Equinox reminders

2010-03-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

Greetings,
Warm weather has been bringing out the birds and drying the roads around here. Fortunately, the snow on the trails is holding in there. We anticipate keeping the 2010 Equinox course the same, but in the event of increased melting, we might move the start/finish in to the biathalon hut area, avoiding the thinnest area of the trails near the trailhead building. Check the "Latest News" tab on the website www.equinoxskichallenge.com for updates.

I hope all have had a wonderful season thus far. The Equinox Top 10 list to save you some cash and increase chances of acquiring prizes...

1. -- bring donations for the West Yellowstone Food Bank and earn an extra raffle ticket for every 5 pounds of food donated. The raffle will include skis from Madshus, Toko jackets, Patagonia vests, handmade pottery, local artwork, goodies from Freeheel and Wheel and Gallatin Alpine Sports, headlamps from Princeton-Tec, yoga passes and other cool stuff.

2. -- mail in registration closes March 15th and online registration closes March 18th. Registration is available at the event on Friday evening and Saturday morning for an additional $10.

3. -- check the Race Info page of website for gear recomendations. We will post a wax recommendation from Toko prior to the event on the Latest News section of the website. Eric Middelstadt from Toko will have a wax bench on site to make recomendations and help with racers needs. Note that his priority will be supporting the solo racers. There will be room for personal benches as well for. Eric works hard for us! Feel free to tip him!

4. -- costumes are encouraged. All racers starting in costume recieve an extra raffle ticket and the best dressed man woman or team recieves four extra raffle tickets. The costume needs to just stay on at least one lap.

5. -- potluck and fire on Saturday night beginning around 6pm. Last names starting with A-F bring appetizers, G-M bring grill items, N-S beverages, T-Z dessert. We will supply condiments. Mid race snack or post race feed frenzy, volunteer, racer or neighbor, all are welcome.

6. -- registration and bib pickup is on Friday night from 6-9 PM and on Saturday AM from 7-8:30. All on the start line at 9:45 AM for costume contest. The skiing starts at 10!

7. -- volunteers are always welcome and get a raffle ticket just like all the racers. Jobs are usually 2-3 hours and can be arranged around your needs. Call or email to schedule and we will give you a hug, a raffle ticket and a beverage appropriate for the time of day you choose to volunteer.

8. -- 24 Minute Kids Challenge! We got a fleet of young folks getting ready. These ones race for free on a .7 km course. Be around at 2 PM to do some real cheering!

9. -- discounted rates are available at the Holiday Inn! This is the closest hotel to the trails and has been kind to offer lower rates for the weekend. Equinox rates start at $59 for the standard double queen or single king rooms and $75 for a great King Spa rooms. Family suites are at $99.00 (which are two room suites with three queen beds & these are perfect for triple occupancy - everyone gets their own bed and saves some $$$).

Click on the link below or call the hotel directly 800-646-7365 for reservations and ask them for the Equinox event rate.

http://www.ihg.com/h/d/HI/1/en/rates/WYSMT?groupBookingCode=ESC&_IATAno=99801505

10. $100 cash go to the top 24 Hour womens soloist and 24 Hour mens soloist.

See you all on the 20th!

Lodging deal for Equinox participants at Holiday Inn

2010-03-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

Holiday Inn is offering discounted rates for Equinox participants. Rates start at $59 for standard double queen or single king rooms and $75 for great King Spa rooms. Family suites , at $99.00, are two room suites with three queen beds & these are perfect for triple occupancy - everyone gets their own bed and saves some $$$.

Click on the link below to get these rates through online booking.
http://www.ihg.com/h/d/HI/1/en/rates/WYSMT?groupBookingCode=ESC&_IATAno=99801505

Guests can also call the hotel directly 800-646-7365 for reservations.

2010 race update

2010-03-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

Greetings skiers,
Just over two weeks to the Equinox Ski Challenge and also the vernal equinox marking the beginning of Spring. The weather in Bozeman sems to be jumping the gun a bit but the snow is holding strong. Sounds like the same is true for West Yellowstone though some precip might mive in this week. Despite the low snow levels, we are optimistic about conditions on race day. Previous low snow years have provided more than adequate coverage on the trails and the grooming experts at the Rendezvous Trails always seem to keep them in good shape. Check the Wunderground link on the bottom right corner of the webpage for the forecast in West Yellowstone.

The divisions are filling up and it is shaping up to be a fun event this year. Vintage t-shirts, a bonfire and some costumes will again be part of the mix. New for this year is a special event rate from Holiday Inn for all racers. Call for the scoop or send an email to equinoxskichallenge@gmail.com and we can get you the info.

Reminders...Bring food for the food bank! Earn extra raffle tickets! More food=more tickets=higher chance of winning some Madshus skis, Patagonia vests, Toko jackets, handmade pottery, custom artwork, goodies from Freeheel and Gallatin Alpine, etc.

And registration...price bump on March 15th and on race day. Sign up early and save $20.

Hope all are enjoying March. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Other events for 2010

2009-11-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

The last few years there have been some incredibly fun traverses of Yellowstone National Park on the groomed roads during the winter. The skiing and scenery is phenomenal. In an effort to get a larger crew together for the adventures this year, we are proposing some tentative dates. These are very tentative!

Feb 19-20 range-- West to South Entrance (100K) in one day

Feb 27-March 4 range-- A three day adventure. West Yellowstone to Old Faithful (50K), then to Canyon (70k?) and then back to West Yellowstone (60k?) Mid week makes lodging reservations easier. Weekends make for more reliable grooming schedule. This can be done in 2 days also.

March 11-14-- weather dates if needed

The roads close March 14.
Send an email if interested.

2010!

2009-11-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hello skiers!
The gears are in motion for the 2010 Equinox. March 20 and 21 are the dates. New for 2010 is a 2.4 hour category with a 3 km kids loop. Otherwise, expect the same barrel of fun had in previous years. We are constantly working to improve the event so if there are any suggestions that didn't make it onto the post race surveys last year, feel free to email them in. We are also looking for testimonials and quotes that can convey the Equinox experience to others for use on the website and flyer so please send you thought in. equinoxskichallenge@gmail is the best way to get those in.

Hopefully everyone is starting to find snow in their neck of the woods as it is becoming ski season again!

Happy Holidays

2009 wrap up

2009-03-31T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened! There were some FINE costumes, sunshine, slow snow, some fast snow, grizzly tracks, a potluck, a shorter course, close races in the solo 24 Hour and team 12 Hour divisions, rain, snow, free skis, Vince the groomer, a 12 Hour 180km effort by soloist Jonathon Rulseh, Tom Owen pulling away in the closing hours of the 24 Hour solo, a nice bonfire all night and new for 09 was a 4 km kids loop. Complete results for the 2009 Equinox are posted under the "Results" tab of the website.

A few edits to the summary posted on the results page....

-I talked with the Food Bank in West Yellowstone. They weighed the total donations at 152 pounds! More the the estimated 50 initally listed. Nice work everybody! They said 150 pounds of food will help support 10 people for a month...crucial given the current shoulder season of Yellowstone tourism.

-$325 was donated to both Manaia Youth Programs and West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation. Thanks for the support!

-Photos will be posted in a week or two. Sorry for the delay, but the photographer has another full time job and is sorting the pictures which is a long process. He was able to catch nice portraits of every skier so definitely check back later.

-Thanks to all the volunteers. The 2009 race went very smoothly thanks to your efforts.

-Thanks to the town of West Yellowstone for hosting us again and providing support for emerging events such as the Equinox.

-If you are able to support any of our sponsors with business or a simple "Thanks", that would be much appreciated. They are putting a lot into this event given its small size.

-Hope to see y'all in 2010! The 2010 race date will be set in October once the collegiate, olympic, and national race schedule has been set.

Wax report

2009-03-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Hey racers! Weather is beautiful here on the course. Some waxing ideas for the next couple days...

Toko Red HF for AM and overnight
Toko Yellow HF during the day
No-wax classic skis w/ HF paste on kick zone
Structure in base

See y'all tomorrow!

Race week update

2009-03-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Howdy,
We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend. A big thanks to those who have signed up early and volunteered early.

A few final reminders....

Registration/Bib pickup-- 6-9 PM on Friday and 7-9 AM on Saturday at the trailhead building. Checks or cash accepted. If you are planning to register on site, PLEASE come by Friday night or early on Saturday. Racers need a Forest Service trail pass as well. By your own at Freeheel or at registration. Mandatory racer meeting will be at 9:30 AM. The skiing begins at 10 AM.

Kids Course-- A kids loop of 3 km will be set up for racers under 12

Food Bank donations-- bring food donation and get an extra ticket to the raffle. 3-4 pounds earns you one ticket.

Volunteers-- The volunteer sign up sheet will be at registration. Timing and keeping the aid station stocked are the primary jobs in 2 hour shifts. Call if you want to reserve a particular time that works best for you. First come first serve. Volunteers will receive a raffle ticket!

Wax Recommendation-- Check the "Latest News" tab on the website (www.equinoxskichallenge.com) on Friday for a wax recommendation from Toko. Toko wax tech Eric Middelstadt will be on hand to help with waxing as conditions change.

Potluck-- The grill will get going around 6:30pm on Saturday. Everyone is invited. A-F bring salad or pasta/grains, G-M bring grilling items, N-S bring beverages, and T-Z bring desserts.

Facilities- 120 V outlets are available on the outside of the trailhead building for waxing. There are limited socket so bringing your own extension cord and a splitter/powerstrip could be helpful. A microwave and a faucet with warm water are available inside the trailhead building for racers.

Aid Station- At the start/finish and will be stocked with a limited supply of bananas, mini ClifBars, ClifShot, water, and potato chips.

Prize List- Skis from Madshus, jackets from Patagonia and Toko, sunglasses from Rudy Project, handmade pottery, a yoga pass, headlamps from Princeton-Tec, and lots of goodies from Freeheel and Wheel and Gallatin Alpine Sports.

Costumes-- Costume contest at the start! The winner or winning team gets 2 extra raffle tickets! Costume needs to make one 9km lap to be eligable.

Bikes!-- The roads in Yellowstone are beginning to be plowed today. Bring your bikes for a quiet spin on Sunday while there are minimal cars in the Park.

The Schedule--
Friday 6-9pm- registration, bib pick up, volunteer sign up
Saturday 7-9am- registration, bib pickup, volunteer sign up
9:30am- racer meeting
9:45am- costume contest
10am- race begins
4pm- 6 Hour racers begin to finish
5pm- awards for 6 Hour race
6:30pm- potluck gets going
8pm- twilight ends
10pm- 12 Hour racers begin to finish
Sunday 7am- twilight returns
10am- 24 Hour racers begin to finish
10:30am- awards for 12 and 24 hour race and the RAFFLE!

Check the website for further details and FAQ's or call if you have questions.

Drive safe. See ya soon.

2009 News

2009-02-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

Hello skiers,

Despite the tropical regional weather, West Yellowstone has plenty of snow. The snowpack there tends to last into late April so things are looking good for the March 21 race day.

Other news...

- Registration is open and filling up. Discounts apply for registering before March 7th.

- 2008 champs 'The Toko Girls' are returning for the 2009 12 Hour event.

- Rudy Project, Yellowstone Expeditions and the Boulder Mountain Tour have joined as our latest sponsors. Madshus is again donating a pair of skis and other goodies from Freeheel and Wheel and Gallatin Alpine Sports will be in the raffle.

- Looking for a training run? Several folks are skiing in Yellowstone National Park on March 9th or 10th. They will likely be going from West Yellowstone to the South Entrance, a 69 mile (about 110km). A shuttle will be arranged to get back to West (or South Entrance) depending on where you start. Groups will be traveling both ways to facilitate swapping vehicles/shuttling. The skiing can be phenomenal in the Park! Last years run took 14 hours with breaks at a very moderate pace. Contact me at equinoxskichallenge@gmail.com if interested.

- Remember to bring some canned food for the West Yellowstone Food Bank and earn an extra ticket for the raffle. 1 ticket per 4 cans/3lbs

2009

2008-11-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Equinox Ski Challenge is happening! The tentative dates are March 21 and 22, 2009. Web updates will follow in the next few weeks as details and sponsors get situated. Happy Thanksgiving. Gobble up some snow.

Rumor of a masseuse

2008-03-05T17:09:00.000-08:00

Yes! A Bozeman masseuse has made plans to be at the Equinox and provide massages to racers for her normal rates. Shoulders and backs rejoice!

Changing Divisions

2008-03-05T17:05:00.001-08:00

Yup.
If you want to switch on race day, you are welcome. The sooner you can let us know the better. We understand the desire to "see what the conditions are" yet readily believe undertaking big challenges takes commitment and persistence, not questioning! The Bison says "Commit and follow through".

Classic vs. Skate

2008-03-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

Or both!
Some have asked about switching disciplines during the race. Absolutely. This is a freestyle race so all are welcome to classic or skate at any point in the race. Last year several entrants chose to switch styles to make use of the tracks being faster and also to switch muscle groups for a bit. So, bring your classic skis and maybe the rock skis and make use of the Toko Wax Tech on hand who will wax up one pair of your skis while you ski on the other pair ( a free service provided by Toko).

Riding bikes in Yellowstone on the Equinox weekend

2008-02-21T21:45:00.000-08:00

The plows start clearing the roads in Yellowstone N.P. on March 9th this year. That means that there will likely be dry roads to ride bicycles on during the Equinox weekend if you are looking to spin the legs for a bit and not stand on skis. The roads will still be closed to vehicles at this point so it is a great time to pedal in the Park. Call Freeheel and Wheel in West Yellowstone or the West Entrance to Yellowstone for complete details on riding in the Park.

Updates

2008-02-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
Hope the winter is going well for you. The Equinox is shaping up well with teams from Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming entering the fray. Some folks have asked about gear suggestions for the event. If anyone has something that particularly worked or didn't work last year, I am sure new racers would be curious to know about it.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for articles about the Equinox in the current issue of Carve, the upcoming issue of Off the Grind, and also the Big Sky Weekly.