Page 26 - Moonvalley Diaries

RACE: KEB CLASSIC
S weden has a a a a a a a a a a a skimo competition that more than holds its own compared to other races around the the the world when it it comes to to the the the the peaks you have to to ascend and descend The race starts at the the the Kebnekaise mountain lodge which allows for the the the alpine sections that can be hard to come by in in in in other parts of the the Swedish mountains But the the the Keb Classic is is so much more than a a a a a a a a skimo race race The starting point of the the the two-day race race is located 18 km from the the the nearest road In other words you you and your fellow competitors will be in in in in the the the middle of the the the mountains at a a a a a a a a cosy mountain mountain lodge with a a a a a a a a a a a roaring fireplace a a a a a a a a a a a a a warm atmosphere and wonderfully good food In spite of your your fatigue after an an an all-day race you you you can practically feel your your batteries recharging As this is is a a a a a a a a a a race with alpine elements such as the the use of of via ferrata crampons and glacier traversing the the race is completed in in in in teams of of two two for safety reasons Racing and working hard together is so so cool There are two two race lengths: competition class class class and touring class class class Touring class class class is recommended for beginners as as the tougher elements are not included A shorter course also allows you you to to maintain full focus while negotiating terrain that you you may not be accustomed to to The race course changes from year year to to to year year depending on on on the the weather conditions but it it usually includes classic peaks such as as the the north and south faces of the the Kebnekaisi
massif Tuolpagorni and Kebnetjåkka Participating in in competition class requires knowledge of how to wear a a a a a a a a a a a a harness walk walk with a a a a a a a a a a a rope rappel and walk walk using crampons But if you you start with touring class it it it will definitely
leave you you wanting more another year My Keb Classic It was 2011 and and my friend Linda Linda and and I I were going to to do the the Keb Classic together Linda Linda had had skimo equipment but I I only had had my tele- mark skis But a a a a a a a a a few days before the race I I managed to borrow a a a a a a a a a a a a complete set of equip- ment It was even a a a a a a a a a a Swedish national team kit I I took the the the night train up to to Kiruna then hopped on on a a a a a a bus and skied the the the the remaining 18 km to the station The racing atmosphere was intense when I got there People were fixing up and and going over their equipment and and and the the the race organi- sation was was performing one final mandatory check and and and review After that it was was time for for me me to finally try taking my my skis off and and and put- ting ting them on buckling buckling and and and and unbuckling my my my boots boots and and and putting my my boots boots in in in in in in the the the skis and and and taking them out as as as as all this was was new to me The start start was was moved at the the the last minute – instead of starting with our skis on the the race organisers had decided that we we were to start start by running for 200 m m while carrying our skis in in in in backpacks and then putting them on Crap! It didn’t feel good to to have to to stress about this added twist but the starting gun
january in moonvalley
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