SCARPA CraigieBURNER- Sherratt takes first win, Harper 3 from 3

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.

SCRAPA CraigieBURNER Offical Results

CraigieBURNER
Men
1st Duncan Sherratt 1hr45min
2nd Alexis Polvert 1hr50min
3rd Gary Macherson 1hr59min
4th David Povlson 2hr5min
5th Tim Ensor 2hr1omin
6th Andy Evens 2hr15min
7th Jack Grinsted 2hr15min
8th Craig Martella 2hr24min
9th Michael Sproul 2hr40min
10th Bruce webster 2hr52min
11th Duncan Ellis 3hr20min
12th Rob Miller 3hr22min

Women
1st Jane Harper 1hr48min
2nd Kath Conlan 2hr14min
3rd Sheena Denmead 2hr19min
4th Gillian Ensor 2hr30min
5th Christina Bauer 2hr33min
6th Ket Bradshaw 3hr19min

Classic 'BURNER
Men
1st David MacKenzie 47min
Women
Kylie Laurie 53min

Friday 5th September-8pm Update

Was at Craigieburn today and they have a lot of new snow! the pack is pretty sensitive and they were getting a lot of results. the forecast was for it to clear, but at 5pm it was still snowing pretty good.
The course is most likely gonna be changed yet again- sorry but this is the nature of the beast.
It all depends on what happens in the next 12hrs, how much new snow and what the visibility is like tomorrow morning.

I am very confident that we will have a race of some sort tomorrow, but there is a very, very slim chance that it might not happen tomorrow. I am 99% sure tomorrow is the day and I look forward to seeing you then!

Please remember to bring some cash for the entry (SkiMoNZ don't got eftpos).

cheers
Grant

Course change!

Because of new snow we have changed both course a bit. Sadly we will not be racing into Allan's basin and to BR and back. It will all take place in the CVSC boundary's. The start and finish area's remain the same.

AllSports (Scarpa/Marmot) have given us a huge amount of really good prizes! Look for to seeing you all Saturday.

Update For This Weekend

Apart from the weather, things are falling into place for this weekend .
Andy from CVSC did a trial run of the course last Sunday and reported the following-
"Did the following times (all from ticket office CV)
ticket office- 0min
Access gully 15 min
Day lodge 25 min
Old poma shed platform (where we started last year) 35 min
Top of Hamilton 50 min
Windy corner 1hr
The chute below nervous knob (by the bomb tram) 1hr 40
Nervous knob 2hr 5min (had to boot pack, slow going)
Top of Ham (very good skinning) 2.15"
The 2hr30min cut off at top of Hamilton is gonna be tough for some people! What it means is if you are not at the top of Hamilton Peak on the 2nd time pass (on your way back from BR) you'll have to go straight to the day lodge and not finish, this is for both race's.
Andy also recommended that racer's in the Classic 'Burner use skins on the climb from Windy Corner up to BR access tow if they have them. This would depend on how much snow if still low down between Windy and the bottom of the BR tows.
Currently the freezing level is fairly high, but we may get snow to low elevations over the next day or 2.
Wind is another issue currently as its been cranking at a steady 50km/h for teh last 3 days an dis forecast to continue!.
Don't be surprised if both courses are changed a fair bit come race day because of snow and weather conditions.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the 'Burner this weekend!

Entry and Weekend Package Deal

You can enter on the day from 0830-0930 at Koroheke Lodge, the following is the entry fees-
Int' Open 'Burner- $35 entry fee (No lift ticket included).
Classic 'Burner- $15 entry, plus a lift ticket at normal rates ($60 adult), reduced to $45 for SKIMONZ members (for race day only).

Weekend Package- SKIMONZ members get lift passes for Saturday, Sunday and dinner, bed and breakfast Saturday night (bring sleeping bag, towel, toiletries) for $170 shared bunk room or $190 for a private room (min. 2 people) in our cosy lodges (see http://www.craigieburn.co.nz/accommodation.htm ). Best to book by the Wednesday to avoid disappointment. Excludes race fees

Required Gear

For the 2008 CraigieBurner the mandatory gear required will be:
-Skis or Spilt Board with "touring" bindings and skins.
- Avalanche beacon. Must be working and transmitting on the 457 kHz frequency
- Shovel. Backcountry shovels with handles (snow claw is OK, but plastic is not recommended).
- Avalanche probe - min 240cm
- Lightweight wind/water proof jacket
- Helmet (ski, climbing and bike helmets are all OK)
- Back pack that is able to securely carry skis/snowboard (Int'Open only)
Additional equipment that may be required for the Int' Open depending in race day conditions:
-Crampons
-Climbing harness with 2 "cow's tails" and carabineers
-Lightweight wind/water proof pants
-Survival Blanket

Up Dated Race Maps

Have made a few changes to the course's.

Classic 'Burner Map Race 'Burner Map

Race Day Schedule

0900- Marshal Brief at Koroheke Lodge
0830-0930 Race sign up at Koroheke Lodge
0930 Pre race meeting Koroheke Lodge
1030 Both race's start , Classic at Old Poma shead, Int' Open at Koroheke Lodge
13oo Race cut off for both races- top of Hamilton

1600 Prize Giving, Koroheke Lodge

International Open Race course

Above is a draft for this years race. We will see how things are looking leading up to the race, but hopefully we will have a very challenging and technical course in the 1500m-1600m vertical range, so it won't be for the faint hearted.
It will start at the bottom of middle tow, then its your ABC's until the up hill finish at the day lodge. Green is ascent and Red is the descents. Green/Yellow is ascending by foot (boot packing, with skis attached to back pack).

Classic 'Burner Course

This is the "Classic" CraigieBurner course. In 2006 we did the whole course, but last winter it was modified a little due to avalanche risk and a lack of snow. This year we will most likely include the up hill finish again (cause we know you loved it so much last year!).
Unlike the Int' Open and other ski mountaineering race's in the SkiMoNZ series, the Classic Burner will use the Craigieburn and Broken River rope tows.

2007 Burner Images

Thanks to Jackie for the photos!

First climb toward Hamilton
The field starting to thin out heading towards Hamilton Peak

The scene at the finish

Duncan just loved the uphill finish!

Craigieburner 200? Photos

Andy E sent me these photos last year cause I need some images of the 'Burner. I never used them in the end, but figured I would post them here. Only thing is I'm not sure who took them or from what year they are? My guess is its the 2004 race, when it still started just below Hamilton Col? If you know when the photos were taken and by whom, please leave a comment. And if you have some captions that would be great to.