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Race Results     Pics: Freestyle & Cruiser start    Pics: Classic Finish   Pics: Freestyle Finish

Sun, blue skies, rock-hard classic tracks and temperatures in the mid teens. Such was the setting for the first Crystal Highlander. Someone asked Bill Brundage whether he was going classic or skate and we said, "With tracks like that, no contest." He left the start at 9:30 was double poling furiously in the lead at the one k marker. The course was rolling and fast for 5 k, relatively flat for another 7 k, hilly for the next 7-8 k and then rolling into the finish for a total of 22k of the absolute best prepared course of the season. With all the alpine grooming gear no one does it better than Crystal, and it was a joy to ski classic or skate.

Tim Treibold eventually edged out Bill to win the men's classic race in 1:10:29, with Michael Weir in third at 1:13:42, that was the money, $250 for first, $175 for second and $75 for third. In the women's race it was festooned and kilted Wendy Anderson running away from the field in 1:22:53. Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh led the mere mortals in for second in 1:41:38 after a spirited battle with Sara Cockrell, third in 1:42:06.

The skaters left en masse at 10:00 AM. Steve Kuhl hung on to Milan Baic the longest and eventually finished second in 59:31 to Milan's 58:49 with Andy Treibold coming in third at 1:01:32. For the women it was Laura Rylands, Debbie Westphal and Beth Onthank. My race went well skiing the first 5 k's in 15 minutes. That's 3 minute k's in cold Start Green conditions. Good grooming really helps. After letting Debbie Westphal get away in the flats, I skied a pretty good hill section knowing there were about five people on Aspen as I topped the first hill. Beth Onthank just about made my day, making me work through the hills catching me at the top of Doe's Delight and leading the way down the longest run of the course. Being larger I got her back on that downhill and then we traded places five or six times on the way to the finish. All I could think in the hills was, "Darn it Beth, will yo! u please hurry up and pass me because I really don't want to work this hard." No luck though. She got $75 dollars and I got to the line first.

Crystal is mix of flatter terrain and pretty hilly terrain. This years course ran backwards on the normal course and frankly I found it to be more enjoyable. The downhills were much more fun, makeable and we only had to do them once. They are a mix of technical and just plain fun. They uphills of course are tougher but certainly skiable. Who can complain about gliding through the rolling flats on rock hard tracks, skiing tip to tail in a draft line. Skiing frankly does not get better than it did this weekend at Crystal Mountain. If you are looking for a break from the marathons, a reasonable tune-up for the Birkie or just want to ski Crystal, this is a great race.

Afterwards the luncheon featured, chili, salad, bean and tofu chili and about as many door prizes as I have ever seen. Fischer skis, Salomon racing boots and a myriad of other merchandise. No complaints from me, my wife won a new pair of boots, I'll be back next year.