Rutland, VT – Hot sun, a tough course, and great competition greeted rollerskiers for the V2 Rollerskis Climb to Mountain Top. New York Master racer Jim Kobak took the overall victory on his own skis, with Peter Hegman in close pursuit on the evenly matched V2 Rollerskis used by most competitors. Lucy Garrec won the women’s race and set a new course record.
Race Director Jim Levins started things off at the Rutland Polo Grounds with men mass starting 20 seconds before the women. The skiers stayed together in a large pack through most of the first 6 kilometers which included some climbing, some flat, and one short downhill break. Despite the relatively easy terrain, the pace turned up from time to time and many commented after the race that they were quite tired upon reaching the climb.
Right from the start of the climb, thins heated up; both in the literal sense with the sun beating down directly on the skiers backs and figuratively with the field suddenly spreading out as Kobak and Hegman and hometown hero Jimmy Levins pushed things at the front of the men’s field and Garrec lengthened her lead on the women.
Lucy Garrec’s 45:38 is a new course record for women. It was a very hot day and many competitors struggled with both the high temperatures and the tough course.
At registration, skiers were issued Toko Sunscreen and the finish line raffle included many items from both Toko and Fischer. Many thanks to those sponsors as well as V2 for proving the evenly matched XL98 rollerskis. The V2 Climb to Mountain Top is hosted by, and benefits the Mountain Top Nordic Ski Club.
