Records Set at Equinox Ski Challenge

Sunny skies, mild temperatures and a fast course contributed to several new event records and countless personal records being set by the 89 participants of the 4^th Annual Equinox Ski Challenge.  Participants in this years event contributed to the festive, relaxed season finale, celebrating spring skiing alongside some incredible efforts by those who come to test their mettle.  The event also collected 217 pounds of food for the West Yellowstone Food Bank and raised $700 for the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation and Manaia Youth Programs.

Equinox records set this last weekend are as follows…

24 Hour Mens Big Team- 450.1 km by Michael Vlases, Andy Gerlach, Jamie Greene, Marcus Engler, and Shawn Marshall-Pryde  (Bozeman/West Yellowstone, MT)

24 Hour Mens Small Team – 289.1 km by Ian Anderson and Wilson Dippo (Salt Lake City)

24 Hour Mixed Team- 443.8 km by Heidi Hittner, Jeremy Kunzman, Michael Tallichet, Kevin Heglund (Big Sky, MT)

24 Hour Solo Women- 269.5 km by Kat Hickman (Bozeman, MT)

12 Hour Solo Women- 188.3 by Sarah Willis (Bozeman, MT)

6 Hour Solo Women- 109.2 km by Inge Travis (Park City, UT)

6 Hour Solo Junior Men- 81.7 km by Morgan Holland (Concord, NH)

6 Hour Mixed Team- 127.4 by Angelica and Gary di Silvestri, Zach Violett and Stephanie Howe (Big Sky, MT/Bend, OR)

Of note, the old 24 Hour Solo Womens record was surpassed by 99.5 kilometers by Kat Hickman of Bozeman, MT.  Her effort even surpassed all the Solo Mens results for the 2010 event!  Kat took about 3.5 hours of rest during the 24 hours and still had energy for banter and laughs every single lap!  Joe Holland of Concord, New Hampshire posted the best Solo Mens distance, with 259 km, sneeking just 2 km ahead of Riley Hopeman of Lander, Wyoming in the closing 30 minutes.  Another amazing performance came from Sarah Willis in the 12 Hour Solo Womens event.  Sarah came into the finish with 10 seconds to spare in order to begin her lap before the 12 hour buzzer sounded.  With this final lap, Sarah posted a 12 Hour best of 188.3 km.  The new 3 Hour division and 24 Minute Kids Challenge brought some new additions to the Equinox weekend of racing as well, joining the laughter, family efforts, moonlit evening skiing and the incredible efforts by top athletes from around the country.

24 Minute (ages 4-7)                                       24 Minute (ages 8-14)

Felix Gerlach 4.9 km                                               Emma Anderberg 8.5 km

Miles Hoover 3.5 km                                               Bridgett Pritchard 8.5 km

Brynn Engler  3.5 km

Margarite Engler 3.5 km

Sterling Marshall-Pryde 2.1km

Leisl Gerlach 2.1 km

Claire Vlases 2.1 km

Myla Hoover 1.4 km

Ursula Vlases 1.4 km

3 Hour

Solo Men

1. Dick Swanson 63.7 km in 3 hours and 12 minutes

2. Norm Cessna 54.6 km in 3:21

3. Bob Tyler 27.3 km in 3:21

Solo Junior Men

1. Thor Sheppard (age 5) 6 km in 2 hour and 9 minutes

6 Hour

Family Team

1. The Anderbergs (Andree, Carl, Emma)

69.7 km in 6 hours and 8 minutes