Canada’s Next International Classic

With another Canadian Ski Mountaineering season under wraps, one can’t help but to think how far we’ve come as a country.  From the first days of the World Championships when Ptor Spriceneiks and Richard Haywood were spontaneously recruited to represent the maple leaf, to this season’s nearly full contingent of senior racers competing in Andorra.

I think the most important aspect was our increased participation at not only the World Championships, but also at other international events.  Through the past 2 seasons, Skimo Canada has placed athletes at the European Championships, a handful of World Cups and the “top-du-top” Pierra Menta.  While podiums sure aren’t a plenty, they are definitely closer than they once were.

So the question is, what’s next?  Easy.  PDG.  The Patrouille des Glaciers is a 3-person Swiss Army team event that covers more than 4000m or vert from Zermatt to Verbier.  This season saw our American couterparts put forth their first all-women’s team to challenge one of the most well supported races in the world.

For a great report of the race, check out Chamonix’s ex-pat Lyndsay Meyer’s blog, a must read.  My favorite quote:

Three, two, one, the gun was off and the soldiers forming the human start line jumped out of the way. Away we went running down the main street past all the bars with happy revelers toasting our exit. The race had starts every hour on the hour from 10:00pm until 3:00am. Someday I am going to be the one in the bar toasting the heats as they run past.

With next season being a back-to-back World Championship year (the ISMF wants to eliminate the Olympic year conflict…after all, we’ll be in them soon!), it might be difficult for Canadians make the extra trip for the PDG, or to stay for the time in between.  But one thing is for sure, it’s a classic worth planning year around.