The Dawn Mt. Challenge: Golden's Premiere 10 Day Nordic Fitness Test
The 2021 Dawn Mt. Challenge was unique. Virtual racing can mean many things but this was as authentic as it gets. We set up 3 real courses to test all the skiers that signed up to ski. It was wonderful to see the young and old embracing the spirit of just skiing fast. Or sort of fast. 2.5K, 5K, 10 K, 20K, skate or classic: there was something for everyone.
The event was COVID-safe and relaxed with entrants dribbling in one or two at a time over a 4 hour start window each day. Compared to the Loppet where wave after wave of 200+ skiers mass up to blast off in a display of flashing lycra, the DMC was not so different from the average day at Dawn Mt.
Except, (and I speak for all the participants out there), when you put that bib on, you wake up the butterflies. The blood courses through your veins and the jitters start.
Not race jitters, but RaceONE app jitters: did I enter the right race? Did I charge my phone? How do we get the start going? What if I drop my phone if I wipe out? How come nobody is cheering for me? Why are all the other races in Swedish? (We were the first event in Canada from this Swedish app company.)
What were the best moments? Two really special Youth program events showed every parent and coach how keen kids are to just be there, skiing fast with a bib on. And, everyone can appreciate watching the newbie 50+ skier doing his/her first event, coming across the finish line with that big smile, saying “that was great!”. Many skiers entered multiple races. It will become addictive!
Our Sponsors and donors were fantastically generous. We thank each and every one of you. Skiers love getting that $10 prize surprise. We appreciated all the cash donations which are going to the improved signage and preparation for next year’s 25th Annual Huckleberry Loppet.
The Volunteers were excellent. We had to have new signs made (thanks, Bruce McMahon for the week of work to do this).
Trying to manage how to describe the steps to enter the race on someone else's phone while socially distancing…not easy, and always a juggling act!
And the 132 events skied were worth the effort of putting the event on. It allowed our local athletes to test themselves after a year of training with no other chances to enter anything. We did it for them.
The Dawn Mt.Challenge….look for next season. Probably December and very likely with less technical glitches.
A big thank you to Jeff and Joan Dolinsky for setting up and creating the Dawn Mountain Challenge! Thank you Seth Conlin for all the technical help...
