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The Owl Creek chase has long
been a favorite of the Colorado Nordic community as it connects the towns of
Snowmass Village and Aspen. This year's race is again sanctioned by the USSA
and is part of the USAA Supertour series, the FIS Marathon Cup series and
the Colorado Cup. This year's race will again feature the Bappatour (Rocky Mountain Nordic Tour Series "Keep Winter White" event
for non-competitive participant) and a shorter distance citizen's (15K) race.
To register online, please click
here.
USSA SuperTour
The Owl Creek Chase is the 8th venue of 10 Supertour events in
the winter of 2007-08. It is also part of the FIS
Marathon Cup Series. This tour will attract elite skiers from all around
the world and is an exciting addition to the Aspen area.
Aspen Cross Country Center's Town Race Series
The Owl Creek Chase is the 5th race in the 7 event
Town Nordic Race Series. This series
emphasizes participation and fun for all ages and abilities. Points
awarded for each race. Competitors need to compete in at least 2 races
and the best 4 races will be scored towards the series total.
Colorado Cup
The Colorado Cup is a series of cross country ski races selected
from the normal Colorado Nordic Event Calendar that scores a racers best 6
races by overall gender and age group/gender categories. The 25K (not
the 15K) Owl Creek Chase is part of the Colorado Cup. This year a RMN
License is required to qualify. For scoring and more information, click
here.
Course Description
The 25K event of the Owl Creek Chase begins at the Snowmass Cross Country Center.
The course follows a loop around the Snowmass Club Golf Course before
connecting to the Owl Creek Trail. Follow the Owl Creek Trail, crossing Buttermilk, and the new Tiehack Bridge. After the bridge, there is a loop around the Moore
Property and the Aspen Public Golf Course before finishing at the Aspen
Cross Country Center. The 15K starts near the base of the Two Creeks
lift on the Snowmass Ski Area. Follow the Owl Creek Trail all the way
to the Aspen Cross Country Center omitting the loops on the Moore Property
and Aspen Golf Course. For a detailed course map, check back to this
website starting February 1.
Pre-Registration
Online registration, using a credit card, is available at
Active.com until until 1:00 pm Mountain Time, Friday,
Feb. 8, 2007. Registration forms are available at the Ute Mountaineer
in Aspen starting October 22, 2007, or you can download a registration form
here. The
registration form, waiver and race fee must be completed and returned by
5:00 pm, Friday, Feb. 8 to: Ute Mountaineer, 308 S. Mill St., Aspen,
CO. 81611. Payment is by cash or check payable to 'Ute
Mountaineer'. Do not FAX registrations.
Fees
$35.00 (pre-registration though 2/6/08 11:59pm)
$50.00 (registration from 2/7/08 through 2/9/08)
Bappatour: $35 Individual, $50 Family (2 parents and their children; a
registration must be filled out and waiver signed by each member of the
family), Free for 17 and under. Fee does not change.
Race Day Registration
Race day registration is only available for the citizen's races at the Snowmass XC Center from
7-8:30am for the 25K race and 7-9:30am for the 15K tour and race. Inclusion
in the elite races (waves #1 & #2 of the 25K) is not available after 5pm
2/8/08.
Race Packet and Bib Pick-up
Race packet and bib pick-up is at the Snowmass XC Center on race day
from 7-8:30am for the 25K and 7-9:30am for the 15K. It is also available at
the Ute Mountaineer from 9 am - 5 pm Feb. 4 - 8. Bibs are mandatory for all
elite & citizen racers as well as tour participants. T-shirts will
only be available to the first 325 people to pick up their race packet/goody
bag.
Mandatory Timing Chips
Timing chips are mandatory for elite racers and citizens racers (not
Bappatour participants) and will be handed out on race morning at
the Snowmass XC Center 7-8:30am for the 25K and 7-9:30am for the 15K. Lost
chips will be charged $100.
Aid Stations
There are 3 aid stations with snacks and energy drinks along the
course.
Shuttle
There will be free race day van service from the Aspen Cross Country
Center to the new Snowmass Club Golf Course Pro Shop. There is also hourly RFTA bus service from Rubey Park in Aspen to
the Snowmass Village Mall at :15 and :45 past the hour. The charge is
$3. A shuttle from the Snowmass Village Mall to the Snowmass Club and
the Snowmass Cross Country Center leaves every 15 minutes. This
shuttle is free.
Lodging & Travel
Click here for information. Race Cancellation
It is highly unlikely that the Owl Creek Chase will be cancelled due
to weather or snow conditions, but that possibility certainly exists.
Under such conditions, every effort will be made to hold the race, but the
director reserves the right to delay, shorten or even cancel the event.
Because we will have incurred all the race costs prior to the race, there will be
no refunds due to cancellation.
Race Results
Results will be available after the race at the Aspen XC
Center, and online
here
on the following Monday. This event is also scored as part of the
Colorado Cup. For Colorado Cup info, click
here.
Awards & Raffle
The awards ceremony and the raffle will be held after the race.
FIS license required to collect cash prizes for the top 10 finishers in
elite races. Elite results
are by gender only. Awards for top 3 men and women citizen finishers
in each distance. Citizens results will be by gender and age group
(19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)
Rocky Mountain Nordic "Keep winter White" Tour Series
This is a series of 5 non-competitive cross country skiing and
snowshoeing events in Colorado(Beaver Creek 12/16, Breckenridge 1/13,
Leadville 1/27, Aspen 2/9, Devil's Thumb 2/24) for family and friends. The Aspen event is
for cross country skiers and is called
the Bappa Tour. Proceeds support junior skiing and bring awareness to
global warming. The tour series is presented by Rocky Mountain Nordic (
www.rmnordic.org) and
the Colorado Cross Country Ski Association (www.coloradocrosscountry.com).
Related Events
5/10K Classic SuperTour - 2/7/08
Classic Individual Start SuperTour & Junior Nationals Qualifier. 9am
start. For more info, click
here.Hosted
by the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (970) 925-2720
Wagner Park XC
Ski Drag Races - 2/7/08
Single elimination, head to head 80 meter race under the lights in
Wagner Park in downtown Aspen. 5:30pm start Hosted
by the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (970) 925-2720. For more info,
click here.
Youth Festival Races & $Events - 2/8/08
Plus awards banquet for classic SuperTour. 9am-12pm at AVSC Clubhouse.
Hosted by the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (970) 925-2720. For
more info, click
here.
5/10K RMN Junior Olympic Qualifier - 2/9/08
Junior Olympic Qualifier for non-J1/OJ boys. 8am at the Aspen Cross
Country Center. Hosted by the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (970)
925-2720. For more info, click
here.
15K RMN Junior Nordic Olympic Qualifier - 2/9/08
The J1 and OJ junior boys will race with the 15K freestyle citizens race. 10am start. Registration is through the Aspen Valley Ski
Club/RMN Jr. team registrations. For more info, click
here. Ski
with the Pros - 2/10/08
Take a free skate lesson from members of the factory teams (Subaru,
Alpina, Madshus, Rossignol, Fischer/Craft and Atomic) the day after the Owl
Creek Chase. All levels of cross country ski skating. Start 10am at
the Aspen Cross Country Center. (970) 925-2849
More Information
For more information, call Paul Perley or Mike Trecker at the Ute Mountaineer at (970) 925-2849
or email paul@utemountaineer.com.
Or call the Aspen Cross Country Center at (970) 925-2145 or email
axcc@utemountaineer.com.
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