Smith wins Big Mountain ski climb
Whitefish skier Clint Muhlfeld places 5th, racers ascend and descend 4,200 total vertical feet
The first-ever ski-mountaineering race at Whitefish Mountain Resort took place on Saturday as part of a national championship race series.
The event, which is open to anyone, has roots in European alpinism and attracts some of the nation's best athletes, including the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team.
The "Race" course highlights some of the ski resort's best skiing terrain, including four ascents and descents with a total vertical of about 4,200 feet.
The "Recreation" course includes two ascents and descents with about 2,500 feet of vertical.
Men Race — 1 Cary Smith 1:37:00; 2 Brandon French 1:38:57; 3 Zahan Billimoria 1:40:05; 4 Scott Coldiron 1:41:21; 5 Clint Muhlfeld 1:58:34; 6 Dave Lamb 2:01:00; 7 Gunnar Pope 2:23:20; 8 Chance Cooke 2:34:03; 9 Scott Ross 3:14:39.
Men Recreation — 1 Devin Schmit 1:05:57; 2 Jeff Crouch 1:10:54; 3 Dan Wagner 1:25:42; 4 Joel Stevenson 1:32:33; 5 Steve Edquist 1:59:56.
Men Tele Race — 1 Joel Shehan 2:05:45; 2 Michael Bestwick 2:10:15; 3 Anders Broste 2:46:26.
Men Tele Recreation — 1 Rob Haine Men 1:07:40; 2 Warren Lane Men 1:16:54.
Men Split Board Recreation — 1 Rich Graves 1:10:09; 2 Rob Berney 1:35:37.
Women Race — 1 Monque Merrill 1:56:24; 2 Katie French 2:40:21; 3 Sarah Schmautz 2:56:46.
Women Tele Race — 1 Becky Middleton 1:59:56.