Few places in the country offer the opportunity to ski, bike and float down a river all in the same day like Colorado. So why not blend those three activities into a race? Salida has been hosting a 3P (ski-Pole, Pedal, Paddle) race since 1999 and Tiffany Simpson realized her nearby hometown of Crested Butte was prime for such a race as well. The CB3P kicked off last year in 2013 and the 2014 race is ready to rock. We asked Tiff about how things went and what’s to come.
Who won last year?
The top two men solo winners (Evan and Shane) also took the top two spots at the Salida 3P which is the Sunday prior to the CB3P. I think there will be a strong, friendly, rivalry between them this year if they both compete again.
How many entries did you have last year? The 2013 CB3P had 49 competitors and lots of spectators over the span of the racecourse. Based on the reception the event received from the community and the feedback we got from racers, we are anticipating and preparing for competitor and spectator numbers to at least double this year.
Who decides on the course?
I created the course. Initially I wanted the ski leg to be in the backcountry as opposed to the resort, but permits for the specific area I had in mind were difficult to get. Crested Butte Mountain Resort has been awesome to work with and the infrastructure they already have in place has been really helpful.
What are some challenges from last year?
The biggest one, from an organizational standpoint, was that 90% of the competitors waited until the last 2 days before registration closed to actually register. This created total panic for me and the other race organizers. So, this year in an effort to avoid the whole late-registration fiasco, we’ll offer financial incentive for participants to register early. Registration opens on March 10th and will close April 25th. There will probably be a $20 difference between early registration and late registration.
How have nearby towns responded?
All three towns love it and the CB3P has been the recipient of grants from the towns of Mt. Crested Butte and Crested Butte. Spring is known as the off season in Crested Butte and there aren’t many visitors that time of year. The towns are excited to have an event that actually draws folks to the area during what has traditionally been a very slow time of year.
