Bill Jennings: Leadman triathlon event caps ski season with final flurry
Ski seasons begin with a whoop and a holler. They end with the breeze in the trees as the last chairlift bullwheel goes quiet. On the final day, slopes are virtually deserted. All but the most rabid skiers and riders have already moved on to their offseason pursuits.
This is the time of year when people with ambition can slide on snow in the morning and indulge in other outdoor obsessions in the afternoon. A ski/golf duathlon is probably the most popular. Following a few hours on skis with a few more in a whitewater kayak could perhaps be the most exciting.
We’re all in the midst of our recreational transitions: reluctant to let go, but eager for the next adventure. This is probably why Leadman, taking place on April 22 at Silver Mountain, has been such a success. The race began as kind of a crazy idea. But upon careful examination, a triathlon that combines alpine skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking and running makes perfect sense. How can you go wrong doing three great things that go great together?
It’s a rowdy event that brings together both serious competitors and serious party animals for a good cause. In the last 12 years, Silver Mountain and The Kellogg Rotary Club have used 100 percent of the proceeds from Leadman to raise more than $110,000 for local charities, Special Olympics and community projects.
Leadman begins with a Le Mans start near the summit of Kellogg Peak. The starting gun launches a stampede of boot stomping through the snow toward a line of skis and boards staged at the top of the giant slalom course. Savvy veterans know where to place their gear and how to assert themselves in the crowd for the best advantage.
For the soloists and skiers on relay teams seeking to collect hardware and swag, it pays to get out in front and get into a tuck. I know from experience that getting caught up in traffic can result in flying elbows and flying gear as sometimes racers collide and blow up on the way down.
The big winter we’re leaving behind guarantees the best possible conditions for Leadman. Enough snow will remain to provide ample coverage for the giant slalom. There will also be plenty of runoff for a mud bath on the nine-mile mountain biking descent into the Gondola Village. If you want to join the fun, show up with a well-tuned suspension and really good brakes. A spare tube could come in handy. A change of clothes will be essential.
The race ends with a four-mile run loop along a flat section of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, with a climb on dirt roads through Smelter Heights and back down to the Gondola Village. The serious competitors complete the entire course in roughly 50 minutes. The last of the serious party animals saunter in about an hour later – just as the festivities go full swing.
The post-race scene is a laid back affair filled with live music, smoking grills and flowing beer. If the weather cooperates, folks in shorts and shades basking in warm sunshine confirm spring has arrived and summer can’t be that far off. Leadman is your opportunity to send off another ski season in fine style, and a valid reason to put off yard work for one more weekend.