Team 2017

2009 Vermont SuperTour Race Report and Photos
By: Sheila Kealey (2009/02/08)

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Karl, Megan, and Sheila headed to Stowe, Vermont this weekend to compete in the US SuperTour event. The races are being held on a newly designed race course at the Trapp Family Lodge, featuring a challenging, twisty 5km loop with many turns and almost no flat sections. Mike Argue of the Rocky Mountain Racers (Canmore, AB) joined us at our great condo close to the race venue.

The SuperTour series attracts a large number of top racers from all over the U.S., and this event doubled as an Eastern collegiate “carnival,” which meant that over 500 racers toed the starting line, including our University of New Hamshire XC Ottawa teammate Danielle McVicar. Despite the large number of racers, the race was superbly organized, and the atmosphere festive, with the race announcer adding a personal note for the skiers on the start line, including which instrument they played and what their study plans were. After you finished, you could glance up at a large scoreboard to see how you did relative to the athletes who left before you.

One hundred and seventy three women raced one 5km loop. The race was won by current SuperTour leader Kristina Strandgerg of Sweden. Megan had a great race, finishing 13^th, Sheila was 23^rd, and Danielle finished 108^th.

The men raced later in the day, and by that time a lot of the course was lined with cheering spectators. Mike finished 18^th and Karl placed 38^th. James Southam of Ankorage, AK led the field of over 200 racers.

Tomorrow is a 10k/15k classic event, with weather forecasted for 0 degrees (and likely snow!).

Women’s results:

Men’s results:

Video of men's race (view Karl at 6:00 minutes)