Are you an endurance athlete who lives in a snowy climate? Were you inspired watching the cross country ski racing events at the Winter Olympics? Or are you just looking for your next gnarly adventure? Here are a dozen rugged winter endurance events to challenge your mettle this winter or next. Most of them include running and a whole lot more!
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Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race
Aspen, Colo., might be known as a glitzy ski town, but this 26-mile ski mountaineering race is as gritty and rugged as can be. Competitors start at Snowmass ski area and ski, hike and skin their way to three other ski areas—Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain—by way of backcountry passage that includes 12,000 feet of vertical gain—before finishing 4 to 8 hours later in that poshly appointed ski town. (There's also a 15-mile recreational race with 8,000 feet of vertical gain, but it's not a walk in the park, either.) Info: aspensnowmass.com; Photo: Jeremy Swanson/Aspen-Snowmass
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Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon
Held in mid-February, the Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon in Grants, N.M., is a 44-mile multisport race for individuals, pairs and teams that includes 13 miles of cycling, 5 miles of running, 2 miles of cross country skiing and 1 mile of snowshoeing to the top of 11,301 Mt. Taylor, followed by the same distances and disciplines in reverse order back to the start. The race celebrated its 31st annual event in 2014 with Vail, Colo., Xterra triathlete Josiah Middaugh winning yet again in the men's divison and Caroline Colonna of Taos, N.M., taking the women's title. Info: mttaylorquad.org; Photo: Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon
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American Birkebeiner Ski Race
The American Birkebeiner, aka "The Birkie", is the largest and one of the longest cross country ski races in North America. Every year more than 10,000 skiers race on Nordic skis more than 30 miles (officially 50K freestyle and 54K classical) between Cable and Hayward, Wis. The Birkie, started by Wisconsin ski area owner Tony Wise in 1973, was named after the Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet, a race that commemorates a battle in the year 1206 in which Birkebeiner soldiers fought for Sverre Sigurdsson and his descendants in the Norwegian civil war. Info: birkie.com; Photo: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
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Ski to Sea Race
Held in late May, the historic Ski to Sea Race is a seven-sport relay race that covers 90 miles from Mt. Baker to Bellingham, Wash. Events include cross country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, cycling, canoeing mountain biking and kayaking. The event dates back to 1973 but also draws inspiration from the Mt. Baker Marathon from the early 20th century. Info: skitoski.com; Photo: Sea to Ski Race
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Steamboat Pentathlon
This unique, 24-mile multisport race for individuals and teams in Steamboat Springs, Colo., starts with competitors charging 400 vertical feet up a ski slope, then strapping into skis or a snowboard to slide back down to the bottom of the hill. From there, competitors tackle 2.5 miles of snowshoeing, 4 miles of cross country skiing, 12 miles of mountain biking and 5 miles running. This year's 23rd annual race will be held on March 8. Info: steamboatpentathlon.com; Photo: Steamboat Pentathlon
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Chena River to Ridge Race
With both 25- and 45-mile options, the Chena River to Ridge Race takes runners, bikers and skiers around maintained snowmachine trails in the Chena River Recreation Area about 30 miles east of Fairbanks, Alaska. Info:cr2r.endurancenorth.org; Photo: J Homer/Chena River 2 Ridge
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Beaver Creek Snowshoe Running Series
The Beaver Creek Snowshoe Running Series in Avon, Colo., includes three of the largest and most competitive snowshoe races in the U.S. Plus, the races are at or above 10,000 feet above sea level, where the air is thin. The series finale is slated for March 2. Info: beavercreek.com/events-and-activities/snowshoe-series.aspx; Photo: Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series
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Arrowhead Alpine Winter Triathlon
Held in mid-January in Leadville, Colo., the Arrowhead Alpine Winter Triathlon includes a 5K snowshoe run, a 10K mountain bike ride on snowy roads and a 8K skate ski—all above 10,200 feet above sea level. Info: pedalpowerbike.com; Photo: Arrowhead Alpine Club Winter Triathlon
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U.S. National Snowshoe Championships
Now in 14th year, the Dion Snowshoes U.S. National Snowshoe Championships is the culmination of more than 30 regional qualifying races throughout the U.S. Pictured here is Mountain View Calif., resident, Nick Scalfone, a qualifier for this year's championships which will be held Feb. 28-March 2 in Woodford and Bellington, Vt. Info: snowshoeracing.com; Photo: Steve Sanders
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Iditarod Trail Invitational
With distances of 350 and 1,100 miles, the Iditarod Trail Invitational serves up the world's longest winter races for cyclists, skiers and runners. The snowy course follows the historic Iditarod Trail from Knik, Alaska, over the Alaska Range to the small settlement of McGrath, and, for those who endeavor to complete the entire route, all the way to Nome. Info: iditarodtrailinvitational.com; Photo: Iditarod Trail Invitational
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Winter Death Race
Devised by the same people who created the Spartan Race Series and the original Death Race held in the summer, this race takes racers through a brutally cold 24-hour struggle in Williston, Vt., that only few see through to the end. It's been known to include hours of hiking, woodsplitting, hundreds of burpees, planks, sit-ups and other exercises, wading through an icy cold river, crossing rope bridges multiple times, moving very large and very heavy objects and long hours exposed to very cold weather. As Spartan Race co-founder Joe DeSena says, "Spartan Race is a baptism into this life. Death race is an exorcism." The next wintry carnage fest will be held Jan. 16, 2015. Info: peak.com/death-races; Photo: Peak Races
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U.S. Ski Mountaineering National Championships
Although very popular in Europe, ski mountaineering is just starting to take off in the U.S. There are about a dozen races in the West, including the Gore-Tex U.S. Ski Mountaineering Championships, held this year on March 14-16 in Crested Butte, Colo. Ski mountaineering sends skiers skinning and hiking up and skiing down mountains on a course ranging from 5K to 50K. Info: ElkMountainEvents.com; Photo: Kevin Krill/Crested Butte Photography
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