Canadian wins the Life-Link/Dynafit Randonnee
Whistler BC, Canada -Greg Hill of Revelstoke, Canada won the men's racing division of the Life-Link/Dynafit Randonnee Rally at Whistler for the second straight year. Hill finished the 5,700 vertical foot course in a time of 2 hours 2 minutes and 2 seconds and will represent Canada in the World Championships in Spain. Brendan O'Neil of Jackson Hole, Wyoming finished second in a time of 2 hours 32 minutes and 23 seconds and will represent the United States at the World Championship. Chris Kroger of Wilson, Wyoming and the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol, was third, in a time of 2 hours 34 minutes 14 seconds.
Jeannie Wall of Bozeman, Montana won the women's racing division in a time of 3 hours 2 minutes and 25 seconds and will represent the United States at the World Championships she was followed by Polly Samuels of Park City, Utah in a time of 3 hours 17 minutes and 52 seconds and Nancy Johnstone of Jackson Hole, Wyoming in a time of 3 hours 22 minutes and 41 seconds.
Set in the dramatic backdrop of both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, the course was challenging in both the vertical ascent portion of the race as well as the downhill skiing portion. "It is hard to beat a venue such as Whistler-Blackomb for a ski race of any kind but especially for a Randonnee Race which is of course where today's skiing originated", stated John Scott, Executive Vice-President of Life-Link Backcountry Travel. "We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Bernie Protsch and the Whistler Ski Patrol to create a race course that was a great challenge to some of the best backcountry skiers in North America."
The race, which tests the endurance, equipment and skiing skills of competitors, was part of the Whistler-Blackcomb Big Mountain Experience, weeklong mountain festival. All racing competitors received points towards the race series overall championship which will be decided after the fifth and final race in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Recreational Division of the Randonnee Race was won, in the men's category, by Matt Collins of Stevens Pass, Washington, second place, was taken by Brett Yates of Whistler, BC and third, was claimed by Matt Bedrin of Portland, Oregon. The Women's Recreational Division was won by Olivia Cussen, of Leavenworth, Washington, followed by Babbie McComb, of Portland, Oregon and then, Sam Elvin of Vancouver, BC.
The next stop on the Life-Link/Dynafit Randonnee Rally Race Series will be Crested Butte, Colorado on February 14. In Crested Butte competitors will find themselves starting their competition at more than 10,000 feet above sea level!!