Over 100 people attended the 1st annual Idaho Nordic Tamarack Loppet, in Donelly, ID. Tamarack is a spectacular new destination resort area about 80 miles north of Boise. While lift-served downhill runs and million-dollar homes are in the works, the Nordic center opened in 2003, featuring an excellent trail system and state of the art grooming. The 30km event consisted of 2 laps on a rolling, fog-shrouded course, with temperatures in the upper 20's. The course had a little bit of everything: gently rolling terrain, some good long climbs, and some fun, tight-turning downhills. Nordic Director Greg Lawley did a superb job to prepare the course following heavy snowfall all week.
The lead group was whittled down to a handful of skiers, where Dan Packman of Team FasterSkier/TorbjornSport took advantage of a short uphill with 100 yds to go, narrowly out-sprinting Erik Jensen (Atomic/Idaho Nordic) and Matt Grover (Toko). The winning time was a quick 1.14.30.
The Rossignol women from Ketchum swept the podium, with Brooke Baughman hanging tough with the lead pack to finish 4th overall in 1.14.35. Muffy Ritz finished 2nd (1.22)and Darla McRoberts was the 3rd woman finisher (1.26). Tim Inch of Team Torbjorn Sport finished with a respectable time of 1.30, good for a top-25 finish, in preparation for world master's in Lillehammer, Norge next month. Over 200 U.S skiers will be in there!
Sponsors Idaho Nordic helped everyone have a great time at this year's Taramarck Loppet, and there is no doubt that this event will only get better and better. McCall is slated to host the 2008 World Master's races, so mark your calendar for the stateside version of the World Master's races.
