Race Review – Trail des Neige: 201 words for snow
One of the things I love about trail running is the variety
of terrain on the course. Any one trail can challenge us with mud, dirt, sand,
rock, roots, and more. Trail des Neige
filters the terrain down to just one surface – snow – which gives a whole new
meaning to variety, especially when scaling a ski run at a resort like Orford. Now add a different kind of variable – the
competiton – Trail des Neiges pits trail runners, snow shoe racers and skiers against
each other in a single event. One last
thing, the race takes place at night so it’s pitch black except for your
headlamp, and the few small flashing beakers marking the course.
Each ‘mode of transport’ has it pros and cons: Runners are lighter and more nimble but lack up
hill traction and down hill speed. Snow
shoes have serious traction on steep icy climbs but have drag at speed, whereas
the skiers face awkward climbs (skins are allowed) but lightning descents. So at Trail des Neiges it is up to the
competitor to choose his or her weapons carefully if they want to win.
The course is a 5
km loop, starting with a moderate 500m climb up the main
slope. The course then cuts left across
the mountain and descend to the bottom of the slalom run chair. Once at the bottom, the course swings right,
around the chairlift station, and straight up the steep Slalom for just over
1km. From the summit, the course is down
hill all the way: 1.5 km of open ski run
sweeping round the mountain and down to the finish line.
