2006 Race Results

Official Results of the 4th Annual Black Diamond Wasatch PowderKeg | Photos

March 20, 2006 (Salt Lake City, Utah) - Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., a global leader in climbing and backcountry gear, hosted the 4th Annual Wasatch PowderKeg on Saturday, March 18, 2006. Nearly 200 competitors braved a spring snowstorm to attend the point-to-point style race, which covered resort and backcountry terrain between Utah’s Alta, Solitude and Brighton Ski Areas.

Despite a small mix-up at the starting line – an avalanche bomb went off seconds before Race Director Butch Adams fired his starting gun – skiers in the both the race and recreational divisions stuck to the course, which had been altered slightly due to wind loading and large cornices on the Patsy Marley climb.

“New snow made for great powder skiing, but also made us have to change the course,” explained Black Diamond’s PowderKeg Organizer, Colleen Graham Nipkow. “Fortunately, Race Director Butch Adams works well with the crews from Alta, Solitude and Brighton, who were very accommodating throughout this race.”

Topping the Men’s Race AT/Snowboard division was Pete Swenson of Boulder, CO, who finished in 1:55:32. Chris Kroger, from Wilson, WY, finished second with a time of 2:02:59. Third place went to Cary Smith of Jackson, WY, who completed the race in 2:05:17. Jeannie Wall of Bozeman, MT won the Women’s Race AT/Snowboard division with a time of 2:20:07. Second place went to Monique Merrill of Breckinridge, CO in 2:22:08, and Polly Samuels McLean of Park City, UT took third with 2:53:59.

Gavin Malia of Steamboat Springs, CO won the Men’s Race Telemark division with a time of 2:37:03. Chip DuRoss and Paul Diegel, both of Salt Lake City, UT, finished second and third with times of 2:48:49 and 2:49:44, respectively. The Women’s Race Telemark division went to Leighan Falley of Denali National Park, AK, with the time of 2:53:24. Gambrelli Layco of Park City, UT took second with 3:44:59.

John Loviere of River Heights, UT won the Men’s Recreational AT/Snowboard division with a time of 1:24:38. Jared Inouye of Salt Lake City, UT took a close second with 1:24:39, and Brian Hoskins, also of Salt Lake, came in third with 1:38:44. The Women’s Recreational AT/Snowboard division went to Holly Walker Davis of Seattle, WA, in 1:54:42. Jenny Merrill and Maura Hahnenberger, both of Salt Lake City, UT, took second and third with times of 2:02:07 and 2:14:17, respectively.

The Men’s Recreational Telemark division went to Alan Dymerski of Chadron, NE with a time of 1:42:14. Salt Lake City’s Dennis Maw came in second with a time of 1:45:24, and third place went to Tobin Stegman of Burlington, VT, who finished in 1:52:49. Erin Spiess of North Bend, WA won the Women’s Recreational Telemark division with a time of 1:49:14. Sarah Dennett of Brighton, UT came in second with 2:01:55, and Amy McNally of Salt Lake City finished third with a time of 2:06:11.

The 4th Annual Black Diamond Wasatch PowderKeg was presented by Patagonia, along with AirMed, Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Ernst & Young, SCARPA, Ski Utah and the Utah Travel Council, Backcountry and Couloir magazines, Uinta Brewing, Sports Guide and Thorlos. Full race results can be found below.

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. is an employee-owned manufacturer of equipment for rock climbing, alpinism and backcountry skiing. By consistently building innovative products and actively preserving the mountain environment, Black Diamond has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond and the company's family of brands, including Beal Ropes and Fritschi Swiss, go to www.BlackDiamondEquipment.com.