| RUNNING ON SNOWSHOES
What's all the excitement about snowshoe racing? By Jim Joque And they're off! Feet and snowshoes kick with intense impact against a snow covered track. Hearts pound as adrenalin pumped competitors race toward the finish line. Shouts of encouragement from an assembly of winter chilled spectators fill the air. This is the setting of a community
sponsored snowshoe race. Athletes head toward the finish with only one person taking first place in the event.
Imagine the thrills and excitement from winning a local level snowshoe competition. Now picture the response of someone qualifying for a national snowshoe race by placing first in a regional competition, like the one held last January in Big Rapids, Michigan. Phil Bedford of Michigan placed first in the men's 10K masters regional race. In February, he then
went on to compete in the 2002 national event held at Traverse City, Michigan. He placed fifth overall, first in his age group, making him the "masters champion." The excitement doesn't stop at a national competition. Bedford is also a member of the U.S. Snowshoe Team. Some members of the snowshoe team will be competing in international events around the globe. Future members could be going to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy to race in a snowshoe demonstration. There
couldn't be a better time in history than now to get excited about snowshoe racing.
Historically Speaking
Snowshoe racing has become a popular winter sport. The race is thrilling as snowshoers strive to win based on strength, endurance and speed. Snowshoe clubs in the 1800s set the scene for racing in this country. In the early 1900s, competitions were held on oval tracks with specified distances, mostly in the northeast part of the country and
eastern Canada. As time went on, the sport of snowshoe racing spread across the country with many events being a part of community winter festivals.
When the snowshoe industry skyrocketed around 1990, racing interest increased significantly. Snowshoe manufacturers took advantage of the growth spurt and started sponsoring races as a marketing approach to sell their snowshoes. Companies like Tubbs, Atlas, Red Feather and Sherpa sponsored snowshoe events and races in various parts of the
country. Retail companies, ski resorts, community organizations, parks and recreation programs across the northernmost part of our country got on the bandwagon by joining in on the fun of sponsoring snowshoe races.
As snowshoe racing developed, different regions took on their own snowshoe racing personalities. So, in the eastern part of the country, racing tends to be on snow covered tracks. In the west, a different style
of race scene is more common, involving trail breaking courses. Some competitions are in high altitudes, like the event in the Rocky Mountains where athletes race to the peak of 14,433 Mount Elbert and back down again. There is still another dominating style in the Midwest, preferably a longer distance run on a snow trail with variable distances.
For a style of snowshoe racing that involves an extreme challenge different from any other race in the continent, there is the Iditashoe
Snowshoe Race in Alaska. The race is held in February each year and covers a 100 mile stretch on the Iditarod Trail. Yet another challenge is the Cold Foot Classic held above the Arctic Circle on Halloween. This is also a 100 mile snowshoe run. Now that's a race! Shawn Lyons, author of the Walk About Guide to Alaska series, is a nine time winner of the Iditashoe race and three time winner of the Cold Foot Classic. I think he's in much better shape than I am. Just thinking about
snowshoeing 100 miles makes me tired.
The Regional, National and International racing scene
To help understand how snowshoe racing works at a regional and national competition level, it helps to first learn about the country's leading organization that represents snowshoe racing on a large scale today. The United States Snowshoe Association (USSSA), with its headquarters in Corinth, New York, is recognized by the U.S. Olympic
Committee as the official national governing organization for the sport of snowshoe racing in the United States. In its infancy in 1977, the USSSA was an organization that operated in the northeast part of the country. Its membership now spans our entire country, bringing together multitudes of snowshoe racers and enthusiasts from sea to shining sea.
The sport of snowshoe racing has historically struggled with issues of
rules and regulations. It has been difficult to establish standards. Over time, the USSSA has established rules governing racing on snowshoes in order to provide standards for races they sponsor. Twelve rules now provide standardization and fairness in distance snowshoe racing at regional and national competitions. Everything from use of checkpoint judges, method of timing, start and finish dynamics and race coordinator
responsibilities of selecting distance and track layout are all components of these rules. However, there is some flexibility to allow for varying snow and weather conditions, considering all things cannot be constant in this sport.
Rules are also established by USSSA regarding minimum size of snowshoes. For 2003 races, USSSA now permits snowshoe racers to use any adult snowshoe with a minimum of at least 120 square inches of
surface. Previous rules required snowshoes to be a minimum of at least eight inches wide and 25 inches long. The new ruling will permit snowshoe designs to be more variable with a square inch rating, rather then a width and length rating. Also, European racing permits the 120 square inch rule. So with USSSA adopting the same standard, they will provide consistency for future U.S. and European snowshoe racing interactions.
The USSSA also established age and gender categories for competition, allowing snowshoe racing for ages from children through seniors. USSSA snowshoe racing is unique in that it has opened its doors to people of all ages. The 2003 classification for athletes includes: Juniors boys and girls ages 19 years and younger; Open men and women ages 20 to 39; Masters men and women ages 40 to 49; Veterans men and women ages 50 to 59; and Seniors men and women 60 years and older.
Snowshoe racing at a national level is new in our country. In 2001, the USSSA hosted its very first United States National 5K and 10K Snowshoe Championships. This momentous event was held in Plattsburgh, New York. In 2002, 78 athletes representing ten states from regionals held in Vermont, Oregon, Colorado and Michigan qualified for competition at the national held in Traverse City, Michigan. At that 2002 national event, Josiah Middaugh of Colorado took first
place. Two Midwesterners, Phil Bedford and Brad Kahrs, both of Michigan, placed in the top ten. After completion of this second annual national event, the USSSA recognized its first U.S. National Snowshoe Team. Made up of the top five finishers in each age group, the team comprised of 22 snowshoers went on to represent the U.S. in international events.
The excitement now escalates at home as USSSA snowshoe racing events are in place for the 2003 season. This coming year, there will
now be five regions represented with a maximum of two regional qualifying races per region. This allows more snowshoe racers to qualify for the 2003 national event. Also, this is the first year that Alaska will host a regional qualifier. In addition to the Alaskan regional, the other regions include: Northeastern held in New York and Massachusetts; North Central in Michigan and Wisconsin; Rocky Mountain in Colorado; and Western in Oregon. The events for the regionals include
5K and 10K races, with the exception of one region hosting a 20K race.
In the North Central region, the two regional events include: the Big Foot Snowshoe Boogie 5K and 10K qualifiers, to be held in Traverse City, Michigan, on January 25; and the New World Snowshoe Championship 5K, 10K and 20K qualifiers, held in Luck, Wisconsin, on February 8.
The winning athletes of the regionals will then qualify for the third annual
USSSA national snowshoe championships to be held in the western part of our country this coming season. That event is slated for Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 29, 2003. The top 10 finishers in each age group from each region will race in that event. A competitor in each age group will be crowned. The events set for the national includes a 5K for juniors and a 10K for all other age categories. Details on all of the regional and national races can be found on the USSSA Web page,
www.snowshoeracing.com.
It now gets even better! Where will our U.S. National Snowshoe Team go now? For a starter, scheduled for January 5, 2003, five members of the team will be representing the United States at the La Ciaspolada Snowshoe Race in Fondo, Italy. This competition is not new to snowshoe racing. According to USSSA sports director Mark Elmore, Fondo is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a snowshoe racing event. They anticipate having 6,000 snowshoe racers competing on a 7K
course through the Valle di Non. Elmore also says that unique to our participation in this event, Nike ACG (All Condition Gear) will be the official supplier of the U.S. team's footware and outerwear.
Basically, the US National Snowshoe Team is attempting to work with other snowshoe organizations from around the globe to participate in various world cup snowshoe events at the international level. USSSA has offered to host a world cup snowshoe event in Lake Placid, New
York, on January 25, 2003. Elmore, organizer of that event, reports that they are awaiting the endorsement of the European Snowshoe Committee to see if they will add this event to the European snowshoe cup series. Decisions have not been made to date. But should it be affirmative, this event could open up a whole new world for snowshoe racing in the United States and with international racing relations. Elmore says it would be "a whole new level of snowshoe racing for U.S. racers."
Now comes the peak of opportunity for our U.S. snowshoe racers. It's the chance to race in a demonstration snowshoe event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Currently, nothing is set in stone, or snow, for this purpose. However, the intention is to have a demonstration race at the Winter Olympics in hope that someday snowshoe racing will earn its place alongside other winter sporting events. Only time will tell. European snowshoe organizations are
presently active in advocating for snowshoe racing to be presented at the next winter games in 2006.
Snowshoe racing for those who aren't going Big Time
You don't have to be a "super jock" to snowshoe race. However, I do suggest you condition first to avoid any problems on the trail. Also, you don't have to race in regional, national or international events to feel you are an accomplished snowshoe racer. You can enjoy the thrill of
competition by participating in state and local snowshoe races. At this level, you can find snowshoe races by checking the calendar in Silent Sports magazine, your chamber of commerce, sports store bulletin boards or type in "snowshoe races" and your state on your Web search and see what you come up with.
For example, you might find Minnesota hosting a wide variety of racing events such as the Big Foot 10 mile race at Afton State Park, the
Northwood Snowshoe Championships 10K and marathon race at Duluth, and the Winterfest 5K Snowshoe Race at St. Cloud. In Wisconsin, try the Hoffman Classic 5K and 10K at River Falls or the West Side YMCA Snowshoe Days 5K and kids event in Green Bay. For a real rush, you could head up to Ishpeming in the Upper Peninsula for the Suicide Shuffle 8K, 25K and kids event. These only skim the surface of the multiple races offered around the Midwest region.
At the state level, you may find racing to be a part of a wide range of winter sport activities. For example, Wisconsin hosts the Badger State Winter Games in Wausau each year. In addition to multiple winter sport events, their snowshoe racing competitions include a 100 meter, 200 meter, 5K and mile snow covered track race and a 5 mile snowshoe run on Rib Mountain. Badger events for 2003 are scheduled for January 31 February 2.
Of importance too are the snowshoe racing events of the Special Olympics. Snowshoe racing for persons with special needs is an integral part of the competitive winter sports world. It provides enriching and exciting snowshoe racing opportunities. Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin Special Olympics all host snowshoe racing events as part of their Winter Games. The Special Olympic World Winter Games have snowshoe racing events as well. They were last held in
2001 in Alaska and are scheduled for 2005 in Nagano, Japan.
What if you don't race?
Even if you don't race, you can still be a "snowshoe racing enthusiast." There are several ways to become involved. First, attend the races. Without spectators, the races would most definitely loose the edge. Racers need encouragement, and spectators provide that encouragement, as well as motivation. In some cases, you may not have
to travel far to join in on the fun and you may even make some new snowshoeing friends.
Next, consider volunteering. Contact snowshoe race organizers and offer to volunteer. They need people to do check points, set up and clear trails or tracks, take tickets, operate a concession stand, and even park cars (or snowmobiles). If you want a rewarding experience and enjoy working with people with disabilities, contact Special Olympics
and ask if they need a volunteer. Your contribution of time can be invaluable.
Another way to be an enthusiast is to contribute money to nonprofit organizations and programs that sponsor snowshoe races. Consider joining a local snowshoeing organization or a national organization such as USSSA. Joining will get you involved in the front lines as a racer or spectator, or from a distance as a supporting member.
Finally, promote snowshoeing by snowshoeing. Go on snowshoe hikes
and participate in nonracing community snowshoe events. Take your family. Your support of the sport helps add to the positive image of snowshoeing, and your enthusiasm will most likely spread to others. This enthusiasm can ultimately influence the growing interest in snowshoe racing and snowshoeing in general.
One of the stated purposes of the USSSA is "to educate and promote snowshoeing as a national recreational and sporting activity." So whether
you are a snowshoe racer, a snowshoe race enthusiast, or a snowshoer, you are still an important and integral part of the snowshoeing community as a whole.
THE SHOE USED FOR SNOWSHOE RACING
Racing or running snowshoes are a different breed than the recreation and backcountry snowshoe. They are smaller, lighter and shaped for a smoother stride. Many sports racing shoes are eight by 25 inches and weigh around two pounds or less. Some racing designs are
asymmetrical. The snowshoe is shaped somewhat like a shoe or foot to offer a more natural placement of the snowshoe with each step. Athletes who race in deeper snow, such as in the Rocky Mountains, would use a little larger shoe for greater flotation. On most racing snowshoes, the pivot system that attaches the frame to the binding is fixed, preventing the snowshoe from dropping with each step. This makes it better for running. Traction devices are usually light cleats made of aluminum or
titanium. Bindings on these snowshoes have to be dependable, secure, comfortable and easy to release.
Many U.S. snowshoe manufacturers make a racing snowshoe with a price range from $200 to $250. Redfeather makes the Sport Race, a lightweight snowshoe exclusively for racing. Crescent Moon has the Gold Series 12 for running and fitness. Tubbs has the Catalyst, an asymmetrical running shoe with a unique fixed toe cord. Sherpa has the
Mantra Racer with an adjustable pivot system. Atlas has the Dual Trac SL, a super light trail running shoe. Northern Lites has the Elite, a 35 ounce pair of racing snowshoes.
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