RACE REPORT: YETI #2 Mt. Seymour

Kristenn's unique stretching routine

Team Helly Hansen Vancouver Island

Justin Mark of Team Helly

Justin, Stefan and Jeff at the finish

It was a miserable 5 AM start for Team Helly Hansen Vancouver Island as Jeff, Kristenn, John, Justin, Stefan and Ceri boarded the 6:30 AM ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay.  Halfway across the strait snow started falling, cleary a daunting sign.  The race looked to be very competitive as Team Atlas, and Team Yeti were on display with their new jerseys.  This year's version of the race boasted a new demanding course that consisted of two smaller loops sandwiching a larger loop on the west side of the mountain.  The race started out on a downhill with Stefan setting the pace followed by Andrew, Justin and Gary.  Last year's Yeti Cypress winner Colin Dignam of Team Atlas made a strong move halfway through the first loop to move to the front of pack.  The course was excellent, different from Mt. Washington in that much of the race was run on established singletrack snowshoe trails. To make things more challenging, course designer Dave Howells threw in some freshly tracked powder sections.  After completing the grueling second loop many of the athletes thought the race over, only to be led out for the last 3km loop.  It was definitely a tough race. In the end to no one's surprise the race was won by Helly Hansen's Stefan Jacobson, followed by Colin Dignam and Andrew Clarke.  Helly's Justin Mark and Jeff Riemer rounded out the top 10. John Loewen finished strong with a smile on his face and admitted that snowshoeing is a far departure from conventional running.  On the womens side of things the race was won by Cheryl Beatty who beat most of the mens field.  Ceri and Kristenn both finished in the top 10.  For the team awards Team Helly had to settle for 2nd, losing to North Shore Athletics by 20 seconds. In the overall series results this puts the two teams dead even, as a miscalculation in the Mt. Washington results accidentally awarded 1st place to North Shore Athletics when in reality Team Helly Hansen had won by 20 seconds.  This sets up a great battle at Grouse Mountain. Can't wait. Team Helly Hansen Vancouver Island would like to thank the organizers and volunteers for hosting another excellent event.

 Check out the video of the start!