La Plata Arpt., COAbout Tour De Ski
The 3rd Annual Tour de Ski Nordic Skate Ski race will take place in the beautiful San Juan Mountains January 23th, 2010. Set in the backyard of Durango, Colorado, the Tour de Ski promises to evoke images of skiing in the Swiss Alps with a start and finish at the top of Purgatory Mountain at Durango Mountain Resort. The Tour de Ski will also utilize the Hermosa Valley as a big section of its course, part of the largest Roadless area in the state of Colorado. With one of the highest race starts and finishes in the United States, the Tour de Ski challenges athletes in half-marathon (20k), and marathon (42k) races with total elevation gain of approximately 3000 feet. Racers will also have the option to ski a 6 or 12k loop in the Hermosa Valley.
Views of Grizzly Peak, climbs up to Cascade Divide Road, rest stations complete with hot chocolate and cookies from local bakery Bread set this event apart. There is also a tour category with one loop of the valley ascending the same race course for a total of 32k.
The Tour de Ski is the brainchild of Durango residents, Travis Brown (’00 Olympian-mountain bike) and his wife Mary Monroe, Executive Director of Trails 2000. With a top-notch organizing committee led by chief of Race Sarah Tescher; including Mike Elliott (three time Olympian-nordic skiing), Jamie Morehart-Wienk (former Junior Nordic Olympian and coach), Bob Rule (owner of San Juan Ski Company), Helen Low, (Nordic Center Director) and Race Director, Jeanne Pastore, (Durango Nordic Ski Club Coach), this event provides a world class skiing opportunity set at the alpine area of Durango Mountain Resort. The event is a benefit for both Trails 2000 and the Durango Nordic Ski Club. Registration is available online at Active.com or visit Backcountry Experience at 1205 Camino Del Rio or Pine Needle Mountaineering 835 Main Avenue, in Durango, Colorado.
About Trails 2000:
Founded in 1988, Trails 2000 builds and maintains local trails and educates trail users in the Durango Area. Volunteers contribute more than 3000 hours of trail work annually to Forest Service, BLM, County, City and private landowners through the building and maintenance of trails. Trails 2000 is the recipient of the 2008 Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region Recreation Partner of the Year award. www.Trails2000.org
About Durango Nordic Ski Club:
Founded in 1984, Durango Nordic Ski Club is a member of the Rocky Mountain Division of the United States Ski Association. Skiers train for fun local “Coke” races as well as Junior Olympic and Senior National Qualifier races. Ages range from J6 (6 year olds) to OJs (18 and 19 year olds.) Durango Nordic Ski Club offers seasonal and year round, competitive and
non-competitive programs.
3 Comments for About Tour De Ski
Jim Nichols | January 7, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Tom Steen | January 14, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Would like to post your “Tour de Ski” on the http://www.pagosatrails.net web site, but have a couple questions. Expect the 32K tour will attract the most interest. It isn’t mentioned on the registration info page. What is the entry fee? Is registration also thru Active.com, or is it only the morning of the event.
Terri | January 17, 2010 at 12:19 pm
What about going out to just spectate…are there good, easily accessible spots to hang out & watch?
Also, do all the races begin at the same time or do they share too much terrain to do so?
Hey Mary or Sarah,
Can you put a map out here?? I was trying to sign Connie up since I will be gone. She is worried about elevation gain. I didn’t figure the 20K will gain to much altitude.
Nick