Vertfest Feb. 18-19

Vertfest is back for the 9th year! Last year, despite the rain, we had a record 200 registered attendees for the randonee race, with hundreds more skiers and riders participating in demos and clinics. We hope you'll join us for one or both events for what promises to be the highlight of your winter!

More info at: nwac.us/vertfest/

Schedule

Saturday, February 18
9 am: Vendor Village opens
9 am - 12 pm: Morning Clinics
9 am - 4 pm: All day Seminars
1 pm- 4 pm: Afternoon Clinics
3 pm: Vendor Village closes, live music, party, and beer

Sunday, February 19
7:30 am: Racer Check-in / Day-of Registration
9 am: Vendor Village opens. Free demos from our sponsors. Sign-up at the NWAC tent.
9 am: Racer Meeting
10 am: Race start
2:30 pm: Last racers cleared from course
3 pm: Demo gear return, Vendor Village closes, award ceremony, raffle and beer

More info, including race details, clinic/lesson info, and FAQ can be found at event site: www.nwac.us/vertfest/

Time to fire-up the renegade Piss Pass whiskey checkpoint

What do the rules say regarding the use of ski and/or boot crampons? They might be a necessity based on current conditions...

I'm not totally sure about Vertfest but most skimo races prohibit booting so you'd be limited to ski crampons. No disrespect to the organizers but nobody really follows the rules at Vertfest anyway.

IIRC, the Vertfest course has two mandatory bootpack sections: one beneath Armstrong Express on the face directly above the creek and another up the Fan beneath Chair Two. There might even be a third somewhere else up top or up Lower Nash for the race division, but I don't recall...

IIRC, the Vertfest course has two mandatory bootpack sections: one beneath Armstrong Express on the face directly above the creek and another up the Fan beneath Chair Two. There might even be a third somewhere else up top or up Lower Nash for the race division, but I don't recall...

Totally right. I think I was recalling the rules that state "no booting EXCEPT in the designated boot pack". Good catch.

Its no fun unless there is a bootpack! Don't recall the bootpack on Armstrong area, even in the firm years but there has been one around through the trees left of the fan, through the trees and chute on Andy's point and another over by upper sideslip I recall once.

Are there no published rules for the event?  Definitive info seems sparse...

Its pretty simple. Helmet, beacon, shovel and probe and your touring gear. Follow the race course markings and that's all you need. Why complicate it further?

And no post holing in the skin track or dogs, this ain't no source lk trail.

Keep an ear open for whiskey, too

Its pretty simple. Helmet, beacon, shovel and probe and your touring gear.  Follow the race course markings and that's all you need.  Why complicate it further?

And no post holing in the skin track or dogs, this ain't no source lk trail.

Agreed for the most part, except one point. Is strapping skis to your pack during the bootpacks a requirement? This has been a source of contention multiple years and all would be solved by a little communication to both the participants and course volunteers.

Heads up for those of you coming from the north that use 99 to get to I-90:

WSDOT wrote: Construction crews working for WSDOT will close southbound SR 99/Aurora Avenue North from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, between Valley Street and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel.

Does anyone have a list of results from the VertFest races yesterday? I didn't stay around for the awards presentation, but I'd like to see a printout, if one is available. Thanks!

media.nwac.us.s3.amazonaws.com/media/fil...ce_participants_.pdf

Way to go Jacob!

and Lowell too! and Aaron and everybody!

does Vertfest no longer have age divisions? seems Lowell's racing against racers half his age ...with relatively scant race time difference.

Lowell is truly an amazing person. He keeps getting faster. I believe this was his fastest ever time.

Yep, Lowell defies age....nice job Seth and Aaron too, significant improvement for Aaron this year!

needs more cowbells! course looked sufferable!

Anyone know why they cancelled the music and beer garden Sunday?

Fun race made challenging by the ice and mank. My skins would glop up when trying to pass anyone on lap 1.

Dang Lowell - that is fast! And Holly too. Congratulations!