Swenson Takes over Race Series Lead at the Marmot Randonnee Rally Race at Kirkwood Mtn. Resort, CA.

March 20, 2006

Jackson Hole, WY-Pete Swenson of Boulder, Colorado won the Marmot Randonnee Rally at the Kirkwood Mountain Resort, California, on March 18th, in a time of 1 hour 26 minutes and 23 seconds. This win moved Swenson into first place in over all points for the race series ahead of Jason McGowin, also of Boulder Colorado, by nine points.

Second Place went to Grant Guise of Truckee, California who finished in a time of 1 hour 35 minutes and 08 seconds. Guise was also second at the June Mountain Race. Third place went to Tucker Thole of Reno, Nevada who finished in a time of 1 hour 54 minutes and 46 seconds. Tucker finished third at June Mountain as well.

"There was never a dull moment at the Kirkwood Race." stated Andrew McLean a director of the United States Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA) which is both the organizing and sanctioning body for the Ski Mountaineering Race Series. Most of California was in the midst of one of the biggest snowfalls in recent memory with the area receiving 11 feet of snow to date in March and with only 30 inches of the accumulation until the race. Because of the snowfall the original course was modified to accommodate avalanche control work.

The Women's Race Division was won by Karen Kingsley of Ophir, Colorado in a time of 1 hour 42 minutes and 10 seconds. Polly Samuels-McLean from Park City, Utah finished second in a time of 2 hours and 15 seconds. Samuels McLean also won the race held at Mad River Glen/Sugarbush, Vermont. Molly Zurn was third in a time of 2 hours 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Zurn also finished second at the June Mountain Race.

The Men's Racing Division is set up for an exciting finish at the America's Cup in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on March 25. "There are seven guys that have a legitimate shot at the overall Men's Series Title," stated John Scott Executive Director of the USSMA "Jackson is always the place that separates the men from the boys!" Scott said.

Kingsley is running away with first place in the women's race division but there is a close race for second between Monique Merrill from Breckenridge, Colorado and Samuels-McLean that won't be decided until the final race in Jackson Hole.

The Randonnee Rally Race Series is a series of ski mountaineering races held at some of the premier resorts in North America. The Race Series test the competitor's endurance, equipment and skiing skills while skinning up and skiing down some of the toughest terrain that these resorts and their surrounding mountains have to offer. Proceeds from the race series go to benefit local avalanche forecasting centers and local search and rescue groups. Sponsors of the Series are Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Arcteryx, Outdoor Research, Life-Link, Dynafit, Petzl, Couloir Magazine, Backcountry Magazine, Ibex, Off-Piste Magazine, Crazy-Creek, Suunto, Croakies, Clif Bar, Honey Stinger, Adventure Medical Kits, Buff Headwear, McNett Revivex, Pro Ski Service, and Mammoth Mountaineering.

For complete results of both the Race and Recreational Divisions please go to www.life-link.com or www.ussma.org.
Media Contact: Claire Johnson Claire@life-link.com