For the first time in quite a while I managed to sneak under the 165-pound bodyweight mark. It has been a while, folks. Back in the day, believe it or not, I’d get down to 152 pounds during bike-racing season. Oh, the years (and donuts and pasta dinners) have not treated my gut kindly…but with the help of the Alpine Training Center, and my buddies at C.A.M.P. and Backcountry Access, I’m heading into rando race season in the best shape of my life. I may not have the super endurance of my cycling days, but my core and upper-body strength have dramatically improved, and my engine still seems to go pretty well.
Big thanks to BCA for hooking me up with a Carbon 260 probe (7 oz., 201g, verified on my home scale). I have used and abused my beloved Black Diamond Guide 300 and it’s held up to days teaching, practicing in the beacon park, and many trips–but it’s a tad heavy to lug around during a race (12 oz, 310g published weight). The BCA balances lightweight with durability, by the look of it. There are lighter carbon probes out there, but I shattered one in under five minutes at the beacon park last year–so I’ll stick with a bit more proven technology from the BCA gang…and save five ounces over my aluminum probe in the process. I know, five ounces isn’t going to make or break a skier, but if you trim a little from all your gear, then lose ten pounds off your gut, you’re in business!
I also got a screaming deal on C.A.M.P.’s new race pack, the Rapid 260, a 260-gram racing pack (I added a shoulder-mounted bottle holder, bringing my pack to 292g). Inside I stashed another C.A.M.P. uberlight accessory, the “Crest” shovel (253g on my scale). The pack, shovel, and BCA probe tilt the scale at 760g (1 lb. 11 oz.)–yes!
All told, my racing kit is going to weigh less than half of what it did last year. A buddy and I did the Five Peaks race in Breck, and the only really light gear I had were my TLT 5s boots–in my opinion the best weight-saving piece of equipment you can buy. They ski better than my previous four-buckle boots and weigh 40 percent less. I ordered them up one mondo size and fitted them with a warm, supportive Intuition liner. Beyond these, I did the Breck race with fairly light skis and bindings (Dynafit Mustagh Ata with a Speedlight binding), but nothing on par with the fast guys and girls.
This year, however, I cobbled together an enthusiast’s kit that should put me in the ballpark of the fast folks, without breaking the bank. I have some Dynafit Performance race skis (161cm, 790g/ski) with an older version of the Low-tech Race bindings (5.6 oz. for the set) I snagged from a former Dynafit skier. I sprung for Pomoca full-mohair skins, too. All told, my skis, bindings, boots, and skins should be under 11 pounds, and I’ve shed about 12 pounds off my gut and been hitting the gym pretty well.
I missed the first rando race of the season down at Lake Irwin, outside the Butte, but I’ll throw myself to the wolves at Sunlight this weekend. Wish me luck!
