Enman and Crawford Set New Course Records In Catamount Trail Backcountry Ski Race

Click here for full results of the race.

Forty-five adventurous skiers from throughout New England and New York stood on the starting line at Trapp Family Lodge for the 4th Annual Catamount Trail Backcountry Challenge Race and Tour on March 13th.

As the valley residents were experiencing rain in the lower elevations, these hearty backcountry participants were treated to lightly falling snow and up to five inches of fresh cover in the elevated mountainous areas. Unlike other Nordic ski races and tours, the participants were totally self sufficient on this remote backcountry trail. The 17km course in one of the most famous and well used sections of the Catamount Trail, generally skied from South to North.  Race and Tour participants skied it in reverse fashion, which entailed a 2300 ft vertical climb and a 1300 ft hair raising descent off Bolton Mountain to the Bolton Valley Nordic Center below.

The touring division was given a head start before the competitive skiers raced off the start line 90 minutes later. While the touring division was able to enjoy the incredible scenery on their leisurely tour up and over Bolton Mountain, the racers were giving 100% of their effort to reach the finish line in the shortest possible time.

In the hotly contested field of elite racers, it was Eli Enman of Huntington Vermont who broke free of the main pack early in the race to set a new course record of 1:30:30, improving on his winning time and record from the 2010 race.  Olympian Marc Gilbertson of Hyde Park and Eric Tremble of Jericho raced head to head down the mountain with Gilbertson making up ten seconds in the last kilometer to place second while Tremble nailed down the third position in 1:34:50.

The women’s race developed into a similar scenario as the men’s competition with Kate Crawford of Essex breaking free from the pack early in the race and setting a new course record in 2:05:22.  The second and third positions were up for grab as Brie and Tyne Pike-Sprenger of West Dover, Vermont raced head to head throughout the entire race. Brie’s alpine racing experience paid off in the final descent, edging out her sister Tyne by two seconds to take second in a time of 2:13:13.  

Following their heroic efforts over the grueling course, all participants were treated to a meal and over $2000 in donated raffle prizes and awards. Sponsors included Outdoor Gear Exchange, Rossignol Ski Company, Darn Tough Socks, Seventh Generation, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Silversmith Jewelry Design Company. A special thanks goes out Trapp Family Lodge, Bolton Valley, and the Bolton Valley Ski Patrol for making this Catamount Trail Association event so successful.

Results

Catamount Trail BC Challenge - Trapp Family Lodge to Bolton Valley 2011  March 13, 2011 | snowy, 32 degrees

Women

Place Bib Time FIRST NAME LAST NAME CITY STATE AGE SEX

1         45   2:05:55 KATE CRAWFORD ESSEX VT F

2         5     2:13:13 BRIE PIKE-SPRENGER WEST DOVER VT 30 F

3         51   2:13:15 TYNE PIKE-SPRENGER VT F

4         29   2:37:00 LINDA RAMSDELL CRAFTSBURY COMMON VT 47 F

5         28   2:58:30 LEELEE GOODSON STOWE VT 50 F

6         25   3:05:30 JOANNE GROGAN HINESBURG VT 35 F

7         2     3:23:10 ANNALIESE BAUMER JERICHO VT 33 F

8         38   dns MERRILL WOODWORTH YARMOUTH ME 53 F

Men

Place Bib Time FIRST NAME LAST NAME CITY STATE AGE SEX

1        11   1:30:30 ELI ENMAN HUNTINGTON VT 33 M

2        30   1:34:40 MARC GILBERTSON HYDE PARK VT 41 M

3        14   1:34:50 ERIC TREMBLE JERICHO VT 32 M

4        34   1:43:15 REID GREENBERG WARREN VT 37 M

5        7     1:44:15 CHRIS RODGERS STOWE VT 27 M

6        35   1:44:20 SAM VON TRAPP STOWE VT 38 M

7        22   1:44:33 JAKE HOLLENBACH WINOOSKI VT 30 M

8        37   2:03:05 CHARLES WOODWORTH YARMOUTH ME 53 M

9        33   2:07:55 OLIVER SWEATMAN STOWE VT 39 M

10       1    2:09:10 ANDREW FARRELL BROOKLYN NY 32 M

11      44   2:10:03 JACOB RILEY PORTLAND ME 31 M

12      36   2:15:45 STEVEN FRENCH CONESUS NY 46 M

13      18   2:20:28 GEORGE TERWILLIGER PUTNEY VT 52 M

14      19   2:25:25 GREG REMS ARLINGTON VT 34 M

15      31   2:55:25 MARK LARIVIERE BOLTON VT 27 M

16      20   2:58:30 GREGG GOODSON STOWE VT 53 M

17      15   dnf FRANK VANIA NEW BRITIAN CT 60 M

18      24   dns JAY APPLETON FAYSTON VT 54 M

19      26   dns JOHN KING SHELBURNE VT 52 M