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.