Start outside Koroheke
The 2008 SCARPA CraigieBURNER went off well this past Saturday. Due to 50cm of new snow in the days leading up to the race the course had to be greatly modified, which unfortunately meant the ski into Allen's Basin and climb up Broken River and back to Hamilton Peak was not included. Instead racers climbed the steep terrain on the skiers left of Craigieburn's 3 ski tows. The climb included around 50 kick turns and 2 small boot pack sections! Once the ridge was reached, skins were removed and a challenging ski down "Middle Main" couloir (a mixture of avalanche debris, a hard ice layer and a foot of powder snow) all the way to Big Bend. The first climb was then repeated and again Middle Main was skied, this time to the Craigieburn day lodge for the finish. All up the course was around 1100 vertical meters.
Notable absences from the race were last years CraigieBURNER winner, Gena Sibaev (tooth infection), NZ team member Grant Guise (organising) and Noel Oien who had shown good form early season. This threw things wide open, with Gary McPherson, Duncan Sherratt and Alexis Poilvert all in the running, as well as Jane Harper who was not only trying to be the first woman, but first racer over the finish line.
Racers during the first climb
Jane took the lead form the start and set a steady pace, with Duncan, Alexis and Gary never far behind. Kath Conlan kept up her season’s good form as she held 2nd place and new comer Sheena Denmead was in 3rd.
Duncan at the top of the 2nd climb
By the start of the 2nd climb Duncan had taken control as the heat took its toll and the race started to spread out. Jane was in 2nd with Alexis close behind and Gary the 3rd man. This is how things stayed for the 2nd lap, with Duncan taking out his first win and Jane again being the 2nd across the line and claiming her 3rd CraigieBURNER title in 3 years. Alexis went one place better than last year placing 2nd and Gary, Kath and Sheena had strong races, all placing in their first CraigieBURNER.
In the Classic 'Burner, which followed the same course but used the Craigieburn tow's to ascend, not the skin track, CV club members David Mackenzie and Kylie Laurie both had easy win's.
At the award ceremony the Craigieburn and Broken River ski club Snow Line Cups were presented to the top finishers from the clubs. Craigieburn Valley made it a clean sweep with Duncan and Jane taking out the men and woman cups, Tim and Gillian Ensor the family cup and Andy Evans the vet cup.
2008 SCARPA CraigieBURNER winners Jane and Duncan
Results-
CraigieBURNER
Male
1st Duncan Sherratt- 1hr 45min
2nd Alexis Poilvert - 1hr 50min
3rd Gary MacPherson- 1hr 59min
Woman
1st Jane Harper- 1hr48min
2nd Kath Conlan- 2hr14min
3rd Shenna Denmead-2hr19min
Classic 'BURNER
Men
1st David Mackenzie- 47min
Woman
1st Kylie Laurie - 53min
A huge THANK YOU to all the supporters of this race- Craigieburn Valley Ski Club and the hard work put in by Nick and his team at CV, SCARPA (AllSports)-Clint and Nikk for their support, Marco at Buff Head Wear, Broken River Ski Club, New Zealand Alpine Club, The Climber and Wilderness Magazine.
