The Yeti Rumbles Through Snow-Laden Sun Peaks Resort

The Yeti snowshoe series’ second event of the season was held at beautiful Sun Peaks ski resort in Canada.

Set in the heart of British Columbia’s Okanagan region, Sun Peaks sure lived up to its name, blessing the weekend race line-up with glorious sunshine. Fifty-five eager snowshoers, from serious amateurs to first timers, lined the start in Sun Peaks Tyrolean village square.

The gun sounded…and they were off as onlookers scrambled for cover as a mass of metal and carbon fibre snowshoes kicked up the village snow and out over Mount Morrissey bridge onto the “groomed” cross-country run.

Two courses consisting of a 10k and 5k looped around Mount Morrissey and the golf course. Rumors were trickling back of Yeti sightings on the course. Luckily, it was just the event mascot dressed to entertain all who braved the wooded sections.

Among the snowshoers, Andrew Clarke of team Atlas quickly emerged as the leader and Randy Nelson chasing closely behind. By Mount Morrissey bridge and into the village square after two loops of the course, Andrew Clarke was set to win The Yeti Sun Peaks race. A close second from Randy Nelson of team Runners Sole and third Dave Cressman of team Atlas completed the top finishers. The lady’s division lead by Lana Allen of team Club Smart Ass was first across the line with a time of 37 minutes, 86 seconds for the full 10k course.

At the rear end of this year’s Yeti, a true spirit of this event took place in the form of Team Baggios, the local Italian restaurante. Dressed in Rastafarian headgear, they trudged the full 10k course to much amuse of gathered local onlookers. Team Baggios, led by owner Tony, entered the village accompanied by Yeti the mascot. They had elapsed a mammoth 30 minutes behind the winners.

But as organizer Marc Cooney explained, snowshoe racing is all about family fun and exercise in beautiful surroundings.

For more information on The Yeti, visit http://www.theyeti.ca. For more information on Sun Peaks Resort, visit http://www.sunpeaksresort.com.

To view photos from the race, click the following link: https://www.snowshoemag.com/mattcrossman.html. Images by Matt Crossman (http://www.mattcrossmanphotography.com).

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