A field of over 70 Nordic skiers, including a record 21 juniors, turned out to the sixth annual Lost Lake Shuffle this past weekend, to see how many laps they could make in the time allotted to their respective categories.
On the upper end the top solos and teams of three saw how many laps of a 3 km course they could do in four hours. Junior teams and solo skiers also had the option of doing a two-hour course, while families had one hour to make laps of a shorter 2 km course.
With snow falling the night before and during the first three hours of racing, the conditions were slower than in past years. As a result, the top solo skier fit in two fewer laps than last year, but still managed an amazing 69 km, or 23 laps. To put that into perspective, marathon cross-country events are usually a maximum of 50 km.
Once again the top solo in the four-hour group was Jean-Yves Sauriol.
“I just love this event, and the snow was great this year. It made things a bit slower that last year, but it was great, just a lot of fun to be out there in the snow,” he said.
When asked if the race gets easier from year to year, Sauriol considered it for a moment before answering with an emphatic, “No!”
“I really wouldn’t say so. Every year is different. This one was slower with the snow, while last year was cold. It’s a hard race no matter how you prepare for it, just with the distance and the amount of energy you’re burning out there. It’s a real challenge.
“Last year there was a lot of passing as well, so I had someone to pace with, but this year I was alone. You go faster when you’re racing somebody like that, but it’s more fun.”
Sauriol is one of the top skiers in his age group in the province, and has done a 50 km marathon this year as well as the 30km Whistler Loppet. He’s also considering a 50 km race outside of Seattle.
Finishing second this year with 22 laps, or 66 km, was Denis Feeney. Brian Hardie was third with 20 laps.
On the women’s side the top solo was Tara Calvert, who raced the full four hour course for the first time last year. She completed 20 laps, or 60 km.
“After last year I said I wouldn’t do the four hours again, but I’m forgetful because it was a year later and I thought it was a good idea,” she said. “It went pretty well. I was pretty sore, but it felt good reaching the end of it.
“I started faster than I probably should have, but for most of the race I just kept a solid pace. I was definitely feeling it near the end, but knowing it was close to being over kept me going. Going through the start was always good for a boost as well, there were so many people encouraging me and cheering it was easy to stay motivated.”
Asked whether she’d race again next year, she considered the question for a minute before answering with an emphatic “no!”
She then added, “I’ll say no for now, but we’ll see. By this time next year I’ll have forgotten what this year was like.”
Charlotte MacNaughton placed second for the women with 18 laps, or 54 km, while Philppa Wall was third.
Thirteen-year old Bobby Bunbury was once again the only junior solo to attempt the full four hours, as well as one of the most veteran of Shuffle racers. Previous to this year he had raced the full four hours as a solo three times, and as part of a team of three once.
This year he made 18 laps of the course for a total of 54 km.
As one of the only solo skiers getting taller and stronger, Bunbury said it does get easier every year.
“Once you know you can do it and get to the end, it does get a little easier,” he said, adding that it was still far from easy. “This year I got some huge blisters on my feet, that kind of hurt more and more. When I took my boots off after the race, one was like an inch in diameter.
“I knew I’d get to the end once I got the halfway point.”
As for why he races the solo category every year, Bunbury shrugged. “Because it’s entertaining, and it’s always a challenge to see if I can do it.”
In the solo two-hour category, Dave Burch finished first with 13 laps for a total of 39 km. Although he has considered doing the four hour, Burch said it’s a matter of quality versus quantity, and says it takes less strategy to get to the end of a two-hour race. “You keep up a pretty good pace, after two hours there’s not much left in the tank,” he said.
William Letham was second with 12 laps, while Vlad Dvoracek was third with 11. Tyler Mosher, a member of the national para-Nordic development team, also raced in the category and completed nine laps. He would have made it 10, but thought the race ended at 3 p.m. instead of 3:06 due to the later start time, and took it easy on his last circuit.
Sarah O-Byrne was the top solo two hour racer with 11 laps, followed by Terry Meyer with 10 and Lindsay Burch with nine.
In the team categories, the juniors were the largest group with seven teams of three. The Super Kids, comprised of Martina Gershon, Julia Long and Steffi Denrouche completed 14 laps.
In second were the Nordic Blaze team of Birken Metza, Joey Hutchison and Braden Metza with 10 laps. Third went to the Apple Bobbers — Tom Fannin, Liam Fannin and Quinn Wildi — with nine laps. Also making nine laps were the Go Go Girls — Erina Davidson, Nicki Murdoch and Akiko Clarke — and Lurkey Turkey — Jennifer Wildi, Tania Armstrong and Austen Miles.
In the co-ed category, the JCB Allstars placed first with 21 laps. The team included Paul Boon, Joan Denroche and Casper Britt.
In second was Team Cliffbar/Salomon, with 20 laps. The team was comprised of Duncan Munro, Gillian Woodward and Craig Johnson.
Third went to Schramm and the Shufflettes, also with 20 laps. The team was comprised of Sue Clarke, Pat Rowntree and Jake Schramm.
In the female team category the Whistla Sistas were first with 22 laps. The team included Lina Augaitis, Erin Welk and Katrina Strand.
In second place were The Cougars, with 20 laps. That team was Carolyn Rodger, Brenda Davidson, and Gail Morrison.
Third place belonged to the Wild Women of Whistler with 19 laps. The team was Margot Murdoch, Irene Davidson and Andrea Peiffer.
In the family category, Gabby Smith, David Smith, Eric Smith and Maureen Harriman placed first with five laps, followed by the Racing Rieths — Brenda, Austin, Owen and Ian — and the Bower Super Skiers, with Catherine, Sarah and Graeme.
The event was a huge success, with proceeds going towards the Whistler Nordics youth development programs.
