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It's Like a Chess Game
A First-Person Report from the North American Snowshoe Championships
by Sue Covington

Goldsmith and Carpenter Win
2001 North American Snowshoe Championships
January 20, 2001

Results | Photos | Pre-Race Coverage

It's Like a Chess Game
A First-Person Report from the North American Snowshoe Championships
by Sue Covington

There are snowshoe races and there are snowshoe runs. The North American Snow Shoe Championship race at Beaver Creek Resort was racing in every sense of the word. The spectators were there, the press was there, FOX network running footage on the sport of snowshoeing was there, and very serious competitors were there. For several hours at Beaver Creek Resort, it even seemed like this sport was almost as serious as the skiing going on. We got dibs on the chairlift, and were greeted by an extensive start/finish line with real announcers and banners. The kids 1k and the Blue Moose dash for cash got everyone rallied around the start line of the 5k/10k which looked like a who's who of endurance sports. The course did not disappoint. The start was immediately uphill, causing seasoned competitors to slow to a jog, some to hike, and multiple sections of deep snow on downhill slopes forced runners to use strategy for passing only when humanly possible (out of waist deep snow.) The sprinters cranked it up on any flat surface. Matt Carpenter summed it up... "It's like a chess game-" make a move at the wrong time and you're sunk... literally. The finish was a cruel grind up the ski slope and a quick turn into the Nordic Park. This course challenged everyone--but those kick butt racers Matt Carpenter and Lisa Goldsmith proved their ability and made some serious money as far as snowshoeing goes. Thanks to Danelle Ballengee and Atlas Snowshoes and some other key individuals, the women's purse equaled the men's. I know the racing efforts sure did. If you really want to snowshoe race, come back next year, you'll get what you pay for.

Goldsmith and Carpenter Win 2001 North American Snowshoe Championships

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. – Boulder’s Lisa Marie Goldsmith, of Team Atlas and Colorado Springs resident Matt Carpenter, of Team Fila Skyrunners won the women’s and men’s titles, respectively in the second annual North American Snowshoe Championships today at Beaver Creek Resort, presented by Subaru, Pure Lip, Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, and the Beaver Creek Merchants Association. Each took home $4,000 cash for their 10K victories, part of an overall $14,000 awarded to the top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions, the largest purse in the history of the sport. Dillon’s Danelle Balengee of Team Atlas placed second ($2,000), and Team Redfeather’s Jessica Phillies placed third ($750) in the female division, while Team Atlas member Scott Gall took second ($2,000) and Beaver Creek Resort Co./Tubbs runner Jeremy Wright, of Boulder took third ($750) in the men’s division.

Goldsmith, a professional triathlete and cyclist commented, "I thought the field was just stacked. I knew it would be very competitive with Danelle (Ballengee) and Melody (Fairchild) both out there today, but in a race like this you are forced to run your own race. I got through the last section of deep powder by myself, but there was never a point when I ruled Danelle out. She’s so tough that I knew I had to stay in control and not go anaerobic or she’d blow by me. I felt really fit out there but was surprised at how much she pushed me. Winning felt really good. It truly validates the competition with all these top runners showing up."

Carpenter is a member of the Fila Skyrunners, a group who travels the globe racing at altitudes above 14,000 feet. Following his victory, Carpenter noted, "More important than winning the money is what it does for the sport. (The $14,000) really brought out the competition today. While I have a blast at these other rinky dink local races, this makes it a sport. You get all kinds of talent coming out of the woodwork. Jeremy, Scott and I booked ahead in the beginning, but the first section of powder condensed the field back to 20 guys or so. I started to realize that I better put the hammer down. But by that last section of powder I was able to finally relax a little bit."

In the East West 5K Quest, Michelle Torelli took top honors among a massive field of more than 100 women, while Benedictus Kok, of Beaver Creek Resort Co. topped the men’s 5K field. In all, close to 400 competitors took part in the North American Snowshoe Championships, a record field for the Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series.

While the event set attendance and prize purse records, what will make it most memorable is the 40 million or so households who will be exposed to the sport of snowhoeing as the competition airs nationally in a half hour special on Fox Sports Net next month. Said Beaver Creek Resort Company’s Executive Director Tony O’Rourke, "The TV show is going to be an awesome means to showcase Beaver Creek as a ski, snowboard and snowshoe lifestyle destination resort. Walking and hiking are the most popular sports in the U.S. and snowshoeing is such a natural extension. The weather Gods were with us today when it cleared up at 1:30. A record field of competitors… a beautiful day, we could not have asked for more!"

Karen Righthand, Director of Marketing for Atlas Snowshoes said, "Team Atlas had a great showing today, so I’m thrilled. We brought in competitors from Jackson, Tahoe and British Columbia to face a tough course and some solid competition. Between that, the breast cancer tie and the Fox Sports show, we couldn’t be happier."

At the conclusion of the race, the Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series presented a check for $10,000 to the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group, the events’ beneficiary. The Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series continues February 17 and wraps up March 10.

The 2001 Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series is brought to you by Beaver Creek Resort, in conjunction with the Alpine Bank, Atlas Snow-Shoe Co., Balance Bar, Beaver Creek Merchants Association, Colorado Chiropractic & Sports Medicine, East West Resorts, Festina, KTUN, KVBA TV8, Patagonia, PlanetOutdoors.com, Pure Lip, Subaru of America, Trail Runner Magazine and the Vail Daily. For more information visit www.bcsnowshoe.com or www.snowshoechampionships.com, or call (970) 476-6797.

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Complete Results

NORTH AMERICAN SNOWSHOE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Event #2 of the Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series

Women’s 10K
Place Name Division Time Sponsors Prize
1 Lisa-Marie Goldsmith Female 10K 1.11.33 Atlas $4,000
2 Danelle Ballengee Female 10K 1.11.57 Tubbs $2,000
3 Jessica Phillies Female 10K 1.12.02 Redfeather $750
4 Kari Distefane Female 10K 1.15.51 $500
5 Martha Lunsky Female 10K 1.18.35 $250
6 Tina Burghardt Female 10K 1.19.53 Atlas Snowshoes
7 Lisa Been Female 10K 1.20.36 Atlas Snowshoes
8 Amanda Ortiz Female 10K 1.21.12
9 Gia White Female 10K 1.21.17
10 Melody Fairchild Female 10K 1.22.28
11 Laura Haefeli Female 10K 1.22.33
12 Teri Duthie Female 10K 1.22.51
13 Gretchen Keisling Female 10K 1.23.02
14 Ellen Miller Female 10K 1.23.29 BC Resort Co.
15 Lisa Jhung Female 10K 1.23.42 Atlas Snowshoe Company
16 Mike Hilmer Female 10K 1.23.56
17 Kelli Lusk Female 10K 1.25.02 Redfeather
18 Meg Horrocks Female 10K 1.25.11
19 Lisa Rainsberger Female 10K 1.26.08
20 Cristina Begy Female 10K 1.26.46 Atlas/Patagonia/Cliff
21 Catriona Dowling Female 10K 1.26.48 Alchemy
22 Helen Hill Female 10K 1.27.13 Crescent Moon Snowshoes
23 Sue Covington Female 10K 1.27.41 Rocky Mountain Runner .com
24 Sue Muncaster Female 10K 1.29.30 US Women's Raft Team
25 Sara Jaros Female 10K 1.30.11 Atlas Snowshoe Company
26 Cindy Rosenberg Female 10K 1.30.51
27 Laurie MizenerEdwardFemale 10K 1.31.20
28 Julie Farrell Female 10K 1.39.03
29 Hilary Petrowski Female 10K 1.40.13
30 Julie Washnock Female 10K 1.42.56 Atlas Snowshoes

Women’s East West 5K Quest
1 Michele Torelli Female 5K 0.29.30 Atlas
2 Vicky Leroux Female 5K 0.30.58
3 Alicia Dow Female 5K 0.31.11
4 Cathy Zitti Female 5K 0.32.18
5 Debbie Ford Female 5K 0.32.50 BC Resort Co.
6 Amanda Stovall Female 5K 0.33.20 BC Resort Co.
7 Joy Schwarting Female 5K 0.33.23 Alchemy Snowshoes
8 Helen Gies Female 5K 0.34.00
9 Sally Clair Female 5K 0.34.38
10 Carolyn Gyermek Female 5K 0.34.50
11 Patrice Shea Female 5K 0.35.04 BC Resort Co.
12 Melissa Johnson Female 5K 0.35.47
13 Erika Tieszen Female 5K 0.36.07
14 Jean Naumann Female 5K 0.36.19 BC Resort Co.
15 Jennifer Miller Female 5K 0.36.30
16 Julie Blass Female 5K 0.37.06
17 Kim Montague Female 5K 0.37.24
18 Lisa Mauvais Female 5K 0.37.34
19 Katie Palmer Female 5K 0.37.44 BC Resort Co.
20 Darcy Madison Female 5K 0.37.46
21 Christina Schleicher Female 5K 0.37.59
22 Sue Pollock Female 5K 0.38.06
23 Mourghan Varni Female 5K 0.38.28
24 Helga Adasz Female 5K 0.38.30
25 Holly Johnson Female 5K 0.38.32
26 Jeanne Blatter Female 5K 0.38.38
27 Kristi Allio Female 5K 0.38.40
28 Susie Hodne Female 5K 0.39.14
29 Mary Plumb Female 5K 0.39.20
30 Sherri Harrison Female 5K 0.40.28
31 Brooke Mann Female 5K 0.41.01
32 Lynne Perry Female 5K 0.41.03 BC Resort Co.
33 Jodi Dolph Female 5K 0.41.23
34 Danielle Radovich-PipFemale 5K 0.41.29
35 Holly Nielsen Female 5K 0.41.50
36 Mayumi Yamauchi Female 5K 0.41.55
37 Anne Wenzel Female 5K 0.42.06
38 Tanya Holland Female 5K 0.42.22
39 Mary Blomquist Female 5K 0.42.28
40 Colleen Weiss Female 5K 0.42.45
41 Colleen Anderson Female 5K 0.43.18
42 Sherry Jewell Female 5K 0.43.26
43 Pam Britton Female 5K 0.43.29
44 Dorothy Distlehorst Female 5K 0.43.33
45 Tricia Swenson Female 5K 0.43.44
46 Loraine Gruber Female 5K 0.44.10
47 Sharon Madison Female 5K 0.44.14
48 Paula Axelrod Female 5K 0.44.18
49 Rebecca Weller Female 5K 0.44.43
50 Christina Swamson Female 5K 0.44.45
51 Liz Adams Female 5K 0.45.03 EastWest Resorts
52 Valerie Barry Female 5K 0.45.08
53 Sharon Connoly Female 5K 0.45.14
54 Judy Sheppard Female 5K 0.45.16
55 Martha Brassel Female 5K 0.45.26 BC Resort Co.
56 Carrie Bulrice Female 5K 0.45.27 Pure Lip
57 Patti Castro Female 5K 0.45.51
58 Lynn Metzger Female 5K 0.45.56
59 Judy Smythe Female 5K 0.46.03
60 Kelley Good Female 5K 0.46.05
61 Donna Kazura Female 5K 0.46.10
62 Virginia Racht Female 5K 0.46.37
63 Amanda Walker Female 5K 0.47.00
64 Denise Elder Female 5K 0.47.06
65 Louisa King Female 5K 0.48.00
66 Mandy Jackson Female 5K 0.48.07
67 Lois Calhoun Female 5K 0.48.48
68 Barbra Kelley Female 5K 0.49.14 BC Resort Co.
69 Julie Szmyd Female 5K 0.50.03
70 Cynthia Smith Female 5K 0.50.11
71 Tricia Troxel Female 5K 0.52.35
72 Michelle Doft Female 5K 0.52.38
73 Abby Dixon Female 5K 0.52.40
74 Amanda Grems Female 5K 0.53.18
75 Carol Gonter-Flogaus Female 5K 0.53.32
76 Joanne Cermak Female 5K 0.53.58
77 Michelle Courtney Female 5K 0.54.31
78 Cathy Wetzel Female 5K 0.55.09
79 Stephanie Sameulson Female 5K 0.55.11
80 Betsi Lubbers Female 5K 0.55.16
81 Julie Ressenick Female 5K 0.55.20
82 Jennifer Stiebel Female 5K 0.55.24
83 Christine Lisowy Female 5K 0.56.06
84 Ann Muncaster Female 5K 0.56.54
85 Peggy Ballengee Female 5K 0.56.58
86 Doris Rigoni Female 5K 0.57.54
87 Nicole Witt Female 5K 0.57.56
88 Sharon Smith Female 5K 0.58.33
89 Jill Murphy Female 5K 0.58.34
90 Mildred Cuebas Female 5K 1.00.36
91 Josiah Middaugh Female 5K 1.00.55
92 Lisa Isom Female 5K 1.03.08
93 Carrie VanBeek Female 5K 1.03.09
94 Rosalle Hill-Isom Female 5K 1.03.12
95 Fran Gault Female 5K 1.05.16
96 Bonnie Cardow Female 5K 1.05.18
97 Shelly Jarnot Female 5K 1.05.40 East West Resorts
98 Susan Pendergast Female 5K 1.05.45
99 DeAnn Lammert Female 5K 1.05.56
100 Carol Blevins Female 5K 1.05.57
101 Monique Cerise Female 5K 1.06.02
102 Jennifer Baertschy Female 5K 1.06.04
103 Nancy Kettelkamp Female 5K 1.09.14
104 Druilla Pugh Female 5K 1.09.15
105 Kris Fisher Female 5K 1.11.09

Female Kids K
1 Franca Gyermek Female KidsK 0.03.05
2 Cynthia Edgerton Female KidsK 0.03.26
3 Ellen Edgerton Female KidsK 0.04.00
4 Adriana Morken Female KidsK 1.17.05

Men’s 10K
1 Matt Carpenter Male 10K 0.59.29 Fila Skyrunners $4,000
2 Scott Gall Male 10K 0.59.42 Atlas Snowshoes $2,000
3 Jeremy Wright Male 10K 1.00.40 BC Resort/Tubbs $750
4 Ethan Hemphill Male 10K 1.01.02 Atlas Snowshoes $500
5 Charlie Wertheim Male 10K 1.01.04 $250
6 Rob Macal Male 10K 1.01.23 Atlas Snowshoe Company
7 Tom Sobal Male 10K 1.01.24 Redfeather Snowshoes
8 Dave Mackey Male 10K 1.01.28 Atlas Snowshoes
9 Darrin Eisman Male 10K 1.01.33 Alchemy Snowshoes
10 Mike Kloser Male 10K 1.01.35 BC Resort Co.
11 Dan Nielsen Male 10K 1.02.04 Northern Lights/BC Resort
12 Darren Lacy Male 10K 1.03.32 The Bag And Pack Shop
13 Adam White Male 10K 1.03.33
14 Andrew Adamowski Male 10K 1.03.58 Redfeather Snowhoes
15 Birger Ohlsson Male 10K 1.03.59
16 Pat Brown Male 10K 1.04.40 Asics
17 Eric Black Male 10K 1.04.52 Alchemy
18 Dan Wieland Male 10K 1.05.00 BC Resort Co.
19 Karl Edgerton Male 10K 1.05.20
20 Jimi Mortenson Male 10K 1.05.45 Beaver Creek Resort
21 Carl Bruggeman Male 10K 1.06.45 BC Resort Co.
22 Jesse Haynes Male 10K 1.07.48
23 Chris Valentini Male 10K 1.07.59
24 Hal Koerner Male 10K 1.08.52
25 Jeffery Jewell Male 10K 1.08.56
26 Charlie Merrill Male 10K 1.09.24 Atlas Snowshoe Company
27 Andrew Holton Male 10K 1.09.31
28 Charlie Nuttelman Male 10K 1.09.42
29 Jason Smith Male 10K 1.09.49 Atlas Snowshoe Company
30 Kurt Blumberg Male 10K 1.09.53 Team Alchemy
31 Dave Cressman Male 10K 1.11.05 Atlas Snowshoe Company
32 Kevin Deighan Male 10K 1.11.08 Beaver Creek&Atlas
33 Adam Feerst Male 10K 1.12.28
34 Dan Timm Male 10K 1.12.44 Bc Resort Co.
35 Clarence Harrison Male 10K 1.13.25
36 Peter Dann Male 10K 1.14.12 East West Resorts
37 Zach Bughom Male 10K 1.15.03 BCRC
38 Ian Decker Male 10K 1.15.13
39 Jimmy Archer Male 10K 1.15.41
40 Mark Saxby Male 10K 1.15.54
41 Jason Bortz Male 10K 1.16.03
42 Arch Wright Male 10K 1.16.40
43 Neal Henderson Male 10K 1.17.53 "Sharkies, Dragon Optical"
44 Robb Reece Male 10K 1.17.54 Alchemy Snowshoes
45 Scott Boulbol Male 10K 1.18.11
46 Travis Haines Male 10K 1.19.13
47 Eric Dec Male 10K 1.19.19
48 Steve Luckey Male 10K 1.19.51 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
49 Paul Hahn Male 10K 1.20.24
50 Rob Claus Male 10K 1.21.13
51 Dean Sheppard Male 10K 1.21.22
52 Chris Echelmeier Male 10K 1.23.34
53 Ronan Murray Male 10K 1.23.40 Pedal Power/Marmst
54 Ben Sokolski Male 10K 1.23.44
55 David Kelble Male 10K 1.24.10
56 Bob Peters Male 10K 1.24.26
57 Brad Stamp Male 10K 1.24.50
58 David Dougherty Male 10K 1.27.30
59 Greg Eby Male 10K 1.28.54
60 Gary VanGuilder Male 10K 1.29.22
61 Lance Dalleck Male 10K 1.29.23
62 Jack Ridenour Male 10K 1.30.28
63 Daniel Ritsch Male 10K 1.31.17
64 Chris Piper Male 10K 1.34.01
65 Brad Mauvais Male 10K 1.34.05
66 Cisco Quintero Male 10K 1.34.54
67 David Mornes Male 10K 1.35.00
68 Mark Elmore Male 10K 1.35.09
69 Patrick Giefer Male 10K 1.35.11
70 Verne Carlson Male 10K 1.35.23
71 Michael Copeland Male 10K 1.37.22
72 Dan Nelson Male 10K 1.37.50 Atlas
73 Edward Haibt Male 10K 1.40.33
74 Dave Elmblad Male 10K 1.40.40
75 Scott Schlosser Male 10K 1.42.19
76 Greg Mueller Male 10K 1.42.21 Fatty Tuna NET
77 Robert Reed Male 10K 1.43.52
78 Ronald Knoshaug Male 10K 1.46.49

Men’s East West 5K Quest
1 Benedictus Kok Male 5K 0.23.38 BC Resort Co.
2 Adam Chase Male 5K 0.24.03 Atlas Snowshoes
3 Ryan Goheen Male 5K 0.24.19 Team DRSC
4 Ian White Male 5K 0.24.42
5 Brian Metzler Male 5K 0.26.04 Trail Runner Magazine
6 Marc Johnson Male 5K 0.26.30
7 Joe Kelso Male 5K 0.27.33
8 Bruce Valentine Male 5K 0.28.12
9 Bruce Carling Male 5K 0.28.41
10 Nate Goldberg Male 5K 0.28.55 BC Resort Co.
11 Steve Loewenkamp Male 5K 0.29.44
12 James Lund Male 5K 0.29.59
13 Mark Shin Male 5K 0.30.10 Team DRSC
14 Larry Rose Male 5K 0.30.29
15 Chadd Hird Male 5K 0.30.36 Team DRSC
16 Tony O'Rourke Male 5K 0.30.40 BC Resort Co.
17 Brian Hinz Male 5K 0.30.54 Team DRSC
18 Kurt Kincel Male 5K 0.31.03 BC Resort Co.
19 Andy Nauman Male 5K 0.31.22
20 Takeshi Yamauchi Male 5K 0.31.50
21 Johny Chapin Male 5K 0.32.04
22 Innes Isom Male 5K 0.33.28 Earth Scapes
23 Kevin Jordan Male 5K 0.34.16
24 John Goheen Male 5K 0.34.27 Team DRSC
25 Steve Johnson Male 5K 0.34.31
26 James Lynum Male 5K 0.34.42
27 Larry Dirks Male 5K 0.35.07
28 Dean Holmstrom Male 5K 0.35.15
29 Scott Plumb Male 5K 0.35.26
30 Laszo Gyermek Male 5K 0.35.40 Crescent Moon Snowshoes
31 Brian Chase Male 5K 0.35.43
32 Drew McCammon Male 5K 0.35.55
33 George Johnson Male 5K 0.36.03
34 Waren Perker Male 5K 0.36.05
35 Mike Bacelli Male 5K 0.37.22
36 Joe Porter Male 5K 0.37.31 Team DRSC
37 Bill Turley Male 5K 0.37.53
38 Ted Farrell Male 5K 0.38.27
39 Jay Kotecha Male 5K 0.38.43
40 Calvin Ziegler Male 5K 0.40.30
41 Rod Smythe Male 5K 0.41.10
42 John Marini Male 5K 0.42.11
43 Ramie Park Male 5K 0.43.12
44 Joe Wolf Male 5K 0.43.14
45 Nicholas Meyer Male 5K 0.43.53 Pure Lip
46 Rhome Bumpas Male 5K 0.44.58
47 Scott DeLeeuw Male 5K 0.45.12
48 Jason Kolar Male 5K 0.45.29
49 Rick Schmelzer Male 5K 0.46.54
50 John Sjostrom Male 5K 0.46.56
51 Bill King Male 5K 0.47.04
52 Richard Martinez Male 5K 0.48.08 Powerbar
53 Jim Cardow Male 5K 0.48.49
54 Tim Kelley Male 5K 0.49.16 BC Resort Co.
55 Mike Mathias Male 5K 0.49.17
56 Marlin Smickley Male 5K 0.50.05
57 Chester Elder Male 5K 0.54.53
58 Rocky Enlow Male 5K 1.02.35
59 Steve EGlash Male 5K 1.03.14
60 Andrew Gault Male 5K 1.05.17
61 Mark Pendergast Male 5K 1.05.46
62 John Fisher Male 5K 1.11.10
63 Miles Jones Male 5K 1.26.12

Male Kids K
1 Kenyon Erickson Male KidsK 0.03.25
2 Patrick Perry Male KidsK 0.03.35
3 Jimmy O'Rourke Male KidsK 0.03.40 BC Resort Co.
4 Yusuke Yamauchi Male KidsK 0.03.42

Photos!