Wick’s Picks for 2011-2012 Ski Mountaineer Racing

I am once again attempting to accumulate some ski mountaineering race gear.  US Ski Mountaineering Association team members Luke Nelson and Bryan Wickenhauser have personally given me a lot of great advice on what gear to go with and what to avoid.  I was privy to an email Wick sent to some friends about this years rando race gear.... and he was nice enough to let me publish it for all of our benefit.  Lot's of great info for the aspiring SkiMo racers below.

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Wick’s Picks for 2011-2012
Three Time USA Ski Mountaineering Team and Team Crested Butte Member Bryan Wickenhauser

Disclaimer:  Rando racing is about getting out, skiing hard and having fun.  NO SPECIALIZED GEAR IS REQUIRED!!!!  That’s right, you can race on your normal backcountry setup – both Tele and AT gear will get you by.  That said, Rando specific gear is HIGHLY specialized AND offer’s an enormous benefit.  So if you really want to compete, specific rando race gear is CRITICAL!  Let me repeat that – the rando specific gear is SO GOOD, that it offers an insurmountable advantage over traditional backcountry gear.  Here are some specific suggestions:

Ben Franklin Quotes

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

"He that falls in love with himself, will have no Rivals."

"Observe all men; thy self most."

"Fish and Visitors stink after three days."

"Eat to live, and not live to eat."

"Necessity never made a good bargain."

"He that leith down with Dogs, shall rise up with Fleas."

"The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise."

"To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals."

"Force shites on Reason's Back."

"Lighthouses are more useful than churches."

Grindstone 100 Miler Race Report

Grindstone 100 Mile Endurance Run is actually 101.85 miles of an out and back course in the beautiful George Washington National Forest.  The race features 23,200 feet of uphill on rugged rocky terrain.  From what I hear, not quite as gnarly/rocky as the Massanutten 100, but you've got a lot of attention to pay.

High Sierra High

Dawn Glanc and I joined photographer Ben Ditto and Jason "Coach" Lakey for a bit of High Sierra traversing in the name of aesthetics.  I am a lucky man indeed.

I also wrote a lil blog on this for the Mountain Hardwear website.. check it.

Headlamps for Trail Runners

I often get asked about what headlamp I prefer for trail running at night.  Last week alone I was asked twice via twitter what headlamps I use.  I've answered this in detail in TrailRunner Magazine as well (which I'll post at some later date).

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My Favorite Headlamp For Everyday Use:

Black Diamond Sprinter.  Lightweight, simple and provides a good light to run by.  Most importantly for weekly pre-dawn group runs and/or daily use.. it's rechargeable!

 

 

Light Type :  DoublePower LED

Lumens :  68

Max Distances :  50 m

Max Burn Time :  64 H

Weight Without Batteries :  100g / 3.5 oz

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My Favorite Headlamp For Racing: 

Petzl Myo XP.  I won't trust a rechargeable battery during a race. This light also lasts 108hrs, has 3 levels of brightness and is super reliable.

Light Type :  Super Bright LED

Lumens :  150

Max Distances :   97 m (boost mode)

Max Burn Time :  108 H

Weight With Batteries :  176g / 6.2 oz

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My Favorite Headlamp For Pacing: 

Petzl Ultra. This light is expensive, but it's amazingly powerful.  I won't race with this light because it's simply too heavy.  However for pacing it's only equivalent would be driving a car with the high beams on behind your runner.

Light Type :  New Generation Power LED

Lumens :  350

Max Distances :   59 m
Max Burn Time :  High 2hrs, Low 25hr

Weight With Batteries :  350g / 12.34oz

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My Favorite Headlamp For Emergencies: 

Petzl e+LITE Emergency Headlamp. I have on many ocassions found myself out much later than I planned with no torch.  This can be dangerous, but mostly it's frustrating to move so slowly through the bush or down the trail when you know with even a little bit of light you could be cruising home to that hot shower, hot food, or hot girlfriend.  I've more than once said to myself "the e+LITE is one ounce, just f'ing take it every time you head out." 

Light Type :  LED

Lumens : 16

Max Distances :   19 m
Max Burn Time :  45hrs

Weight With Batteries :  28g / .987oz

UltrAspire Isomeric Race Hand Bottle Holder Review

Reviewed By:  Chad Brackelsberg

I was happy to be able to test out the new UltrApire Isomeric Race hand bottle strap.  After seeing a lot of UltrAspire products are races this fall and hearing great feedback of them online, I have been anxious to try several of the products including the Isomeric Race, Kinetic Pack, and Impulse waste pack.  I used the Isomeric Race on a Nathan water bottle as I like these bottles better than the Specialized bottles as they are a little bit smaller in diameter and fit my hand better.  The hand strap installed easily no the bottle with the bottom being very snug and therefore not able to slide up.  To get the strap adjusted to my hand, I had to work the bottom up a little bit to make room.  The strap provided a tight fit over my hand which is something I look for in hand bottle holders.  I do not like to "grip" the bottle and instead let it hang on my hand.  This is only possible with a strap that offers a tight fit on my hand.  During the run, the holder performed perfectly. It was tight on my hand so I was able to let the bottle hang without gripping it, the bottom strap did not shift or move, and the top adjustable strap did not loosen.  This bottle holder will be a perfect holder when a person wants to go minimalist.  My only concern is that over time, will the bottom of the holder stretch out and become loose on a bottle.  My only recommendation is to have a small elastic loop to hold the extra length of the adjustable top strap.  I was able to tuck the strap under itself, but this took a little bit of effort and does not easily allow a person to adjust the strap on the go.

 

Recipe: Baked Yam Fries

Yams should be in every endurance athletes shopping cart.  They are my preferred starchy carbohydrate source and they are soo very tasty.  Apparently there is more of the good (nutrients like: coratinoids, magnesium, zinc) and less of the bad (toxins and antinutrients, saponins) in a yams when compared to white potatoes.  Since we're always shooting for the most nutrient dense foods, yams win.  I'll often come home from training and eat these with homemade guacamole (recipe coming) as a recovery meal.

I like to leave them in a bit longer than prescribed to get that 'crispy' effect.  A word of caution, it's easy to end up with compost like this.

How long does it take:  20 minutes
What you need:  A baking tray and an oven
Ingredients:   

• Two large, 8 – 10 oz yams 
• 2 Tablespoons cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Preheat oven to broil

-Wash, then slice the yams into ½” thick, by ½” wide by 3-4 “ long strips (depending on the size of the yam).  Most importantly, keep the size of all the slices the same to ensure even cooking.

-Toss well with the oil to ensure the yam pieces are evenly coated.

-Place on rimmed baking sheet, lined with a piece of parchment paper (makes for an easy clean-up).

-Broil for 10’ on one side, then turn over and broil 10’.  Yams are done when easily pierced with a fork.  Remove from oven, then sprinkle salt and pepper on top.

Yam fans might also like this one: Cinnamon Apple Yam Bake Recipe