After all this time waiting, the PowderKeg has finally come and gone. No need to continue living life at the edge of your computer chair as you religiously check this blog. The Black Diamond PowderKeg Race was today, and it has been shown that they do know how to do at least one thing right - put on races. I had the alarm set for 5:20 so I would have ample time to get myself ready and eat breakfast in order to meet Cody to carpool up there. When the alarm sounded, however, because my phone said the battery was completed charged I thought this was why it was making all that noise and I simply turned it off and awaited the real alarm. It wasn't until about 5:50 that I awoke because of a nigh
tmare consisting of me at the PowderKeg with skis but no bindings! I hurriedly got my gear together, had a quick bowl of Nature Valley Cereal (best cereal ever) and I was on my way. Cody wasn't too upset having waited an extra ten or so minutes, but we immediately began our journey. Check in began at 6:30 and we arrived shortly thereafter. We checked in and made our way into Goldminer's to prepare for the race (and to size up the competition). Eventually, Jer made his way up while dawning his blue and yellow skin diver suit. He and I had a quick 5 Hour Energy shot and we were ready for the race. For the Recreational division there is a lemans start - meaning our skis are all lined up at the starting line, but we are behind them when the gun goes off. Soon enough the gun did go off and we were on our way. I was able to pull ahead early with the company of Jer and Cody at this point. There was one dude who really shot ahead (he skate skied across the flat spot at the beginning and then put his skins on there). We nearly caught up to him, but to no avail. I rarely even caught a glimpse of him the rest of the race. I quickly got to the boot pack and because of my pra
ctice involving attaching my skis to my pack without removing the pack I was able to pass two guys at the bottom (when we attached the skis) and two more guys at the top (when we detached the skis). I was now in front other than the one dude who was obviously in it to win it. I was paced by two AT Rec guys and we made our way to the peak of Patsy Marley. At this point I thought I was the number one tele guy, but to my disgust there found out that the dude in front was tele. Bummer. I quickly removed my skins and began descending. I was in too much of a hurry, though, and I had forgotten to put my bindings in ski mode. Skiing with a free pivot is not very easy. I learned that the hard way. I did reach the bottom after a small fall or two and I reskinned to begin the ascent up Black Bess. I was getting tired at this point (I was still in the number two spot) so I had some GU during one of the more mellow spots of the climb. It definitely helped in the long run even though it was disgusting at the time. I continued to keep pace with the two AT Rec guys as we continued
to skin. It was at this time that another of them joined us and one or two of them eventually passed me. I did not care at all about this because I ski tele! I had not seen a tele guy near me all day (including the one that was way in front). The descent here was not exactly a picnic. The snow was hard and icy. It turns out that 150cm Femme Fatales are not the best ski for these conditions (but they are the best ski for the uphill - which ended up being worth it for the down). I did make it down in one piece and began my last climb. About in the middle of this I began to be passed by some of the guys in the race division. This was a bit different from last year when I was passed by these guys as I reached the ridge of Patsy Marley. I ran out of water just as I reached the summit (perfect planning if you ask me), and I began my last descent. I knew I was still in second and as long as I didn't have a major blowout this would remain the case - while at the same time I was hoping t
he dude in front was going to have a blowout of his own. I came around the last turn and had to begin skate skiing early because of my lack of surface area on my skis. It was here that I was finally passed by Cody - whom I had not seen all day - and he ended up crossing the line about ten seconds before I did. But this did not matter to me. I finished second in the Men's Recreational Telemark Division! I was stoked. My wife and parents showed up a few minutes later after I had told them I didn't have a chance. I didn't care. They did what I told them to do. The race was a b
last. We all had a good time. Cody came in fourth in the Rec AT division and Jer finished somewhere around seventh or eighth in Rec Tele. I got a Patagonia down vest for reaching the podium, not to mention my sweet medal! Jer got two packs from them throwing stuff into the crowd (he's just glad he got out), and Cody got some Voile straps and an XL sweatshirt (at least he got something). I immensely enjoyed the race this year. I look forward to doing it again next year, but I will have to make a difficult decision of whether to do Rec or Race (only first place is required to do the race). I will be at the Whittaker home this evening if any of you are looking to get 
an autograph. PEACE!
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