Vail Mountain School product Sylvan Ellefson, 23, tall and talented, was positively tickled Saturday by winning the biggest race of his relatively short Nordic ski racing career.
"I've never even led a race before," said Ellefson, who started skiing as a sophomore in high school before becoming a two-time Bates College (Maine) cross-country ski captain and 2008 All-American.
On Saturday, Ellefson won the 36th annual 32-kilometer (19.8-mile) SWIX Boulder Mountain cross-country ski tour in a 1.06:43 time that came close to a course record. Helped by a stiff tailwind and his 6-2 frame, Ellefson won easily after breaking away from the nine-racer lead group. He coasted across the finish line.
Ellefson was so delighted and surprised that he sought out his Bates College teammate John Reuter when Galena Lodge Ski School instructor Reuter poled across the finish line seven minutes later. The pair embraced, Ellefson expressing his astonishment at the developments and Reuter celebrating along with him.
"Awesome, awesome," said fifth-year Fischer racer Ellefson, currently in 13th place on the USSA Nordic SuperTour.
"My skis were blazing! This is my first Boulder and the course conditions were great—the track real fast and a little snow-blown because of the wind. There were nine or 10 in the lead pack until the last preem. I tried to read everybody. I had never led a race before, but I just went for it."
Ellefson, son of the man who created the U.S. Mountain Running Team, was 10th in the 2010 American Birkebiner and was ranked 19th in the U.S. last year. His goal is to race for the U.S. at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
He took a step in that direction on a sultry and very windy day when 770 racers finished the course including Olympic Nordic combined gold medalist Billy Demong, 30, who placed fifth 24 seconds back. Temperatures at the Galena Lodge start were an unseasonably warm 40 degrees.
Although the top 12 men all broke Demong's 2007 Boulder winning time of 1.10:12, Ellefson's 1.06:43 victory lap Saturday was still shy of the course records of 1.06:27 set by Eric Meyer in 2003 and 1.05:34 by Havard Solbakken in 1995.
Meanwhile, three-time winner and two-time defending champion Evelyn Dong, 25, of Bend, Ore. was Saturday's fastest woman in 1.12:39 for 23rd place overall. "It was nice having the tailwind, so much nicer mentally when you reach the flats," said Dong, who first raced here in 2007.
Dong was in the ballpark, but still a tad behind the course records of 1.12:36 by Brooke Baughman in 2003 and 1.12:13 by Heidi Selnes in 1995.
The $12,000 in this year's Boulder prize money was due to be paid to the top 10 men's and women's places, with the winners receiving $3,000 apiece, the second-place finishers $1,000 and third-place $400.
One of Saturday's finishers was Trevor "Captain Canuck" Linden, one of the greats in the history of the Vancouver Canucks National Hockey League team. Part of a big Vancouver contingent in the Boulder, the 40-year-old Linden finished 226th overall and 35th of 74 in the Men's 40-44 class at 1.27:51.
Hailing from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Linden (375 goals, 867 points) played 19 NHL seasons and 1,382 games for four pro teams before retiring in 2008. He skated for the Canucks from 1988-98 and 2001-08 and was the team's captain at age 21.
Linden, a 6-4, 220-pound forward, had a 482-straight-game "Ironman" streak from 1990-96 and has since shifted his passion for fitness to cycling and cross-country skiing. Former NHL Players Association president Linden opened his Club 16—Trevor Linden Fitness last year in Coquitlam.
2011 Boulder Mountain Ski Tour Results
February 5, 2011, the 36th annual 32-kilometer (19.8-mile) cross-country ski tour. The course started at Senate Creek near Galena Lodge Touring Center 23 miles north of Ketchum and ended at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters 8 miles north of Ketchum. Of 770 racers who finished the 32k course—76 more than last year—466 were male and 304 female. There were 825 who registered for the tour. Senior racers were Charley French, 84, of Ketchum and Shauna Thoreson, 76, of Ketchum. Youngest were Vincent Bonacci, 10, and Ben Slawson, 10, both of Salt Lake City, Utah. Of the 770 finishers, 161 or 21% of the total field listed Wood River Valley addresses, meaning 79% came from out of the valley. Finishing times of the locals who completed the course are listed by age class in hours, minutes and seconds. Age after each racer's name. Complete results at bouldermountaintour.com.
TOP WOMEN
1—Evelyn Dong, 25, Bend, Ore. 1.12:39 (23rd overall). 2—Chelsea Holmes, 23, Truckee, Ca. 1.13:15 (24th). 3—Nicole DeYong, 28, Ketchum 1.15:12 (38th). 4—Brooke Hovey, 38, Ketchum 1.15:31 (39th). 5—Sarah Max, 35, Bend, Ore. 1.17:14 (55th). 9—Katie Bono, 23, Ketchum 1.18:49 (69th). 10—Liv Jensen, 39, Hailey 1.18:55 (71st).
FEMALE RACERS
Ages 75-79
Podium: 1—Shauna Thoreson, 76, Ketchum 2.33:16.
Ages 70-74
Podium: 1—Joanne Davis, 74, Sun Valley 2.14:47. 2—JoAnn Levy, 70, Sun Valley 2.26:49.
Ages 65-69
Podium: 1—Dagmar Eriksson, 65, Bend 1.36:29. 2—Grace Dyck, 69, Hailey 1.42:08. 3—Marit Glenne, 67, Park City 1.49:56.
Ages 60-64
Podium: 1—Linda McClatchy, 61, Hailey 1.32:40. 2—June Lane, 64, Truckee, Ca. 1.33:10. 3—Nancy Fichter, 62, Park City 1.44:05.
Also: 11—Carol Monteverde, 64, 1.57:30. 14—Diana Wadsack, 63, 2.20:52.
Ages 55-59
Podium: 1—Kim Springer, 56, Wilson, Wyo. 1.31:54. 2—Marilyn Franzen, 58, Minneapolis 1.33:35. 3—Margie LaPoint, 56, Truckee 1.36:14.
Also: 4—Charlotte Alexander, 58, 1.39:55. 6—Carol Mutzel, 58, 1.42:50. 12—Francette Labatut, 57, 1.58:07. 14—Karen Bossick, 55, 2.07:05. 15—Joni Cashman, 56, 2.08:01.
Ages 50-54
Podium: 1—Elizabeth Youngman, 51, Sun Valley 1.19:05. 2—Adrienne Leugers, 51, Hailey 1.19:12. 3—Susan Reynolds, 51, Truckee 1.22:09.
Also: 4—Muffy Ritz, 53, 1.22:21. 7—Katherine Nalen, 54, 1.28:40. 8—EJ Harpham, 54, 1.28:58. 11—Sue Engelmann, 51, 1.33:36. 14—Katharine Sheldon, 1.36:57. 16—Brenda Spackman, 53, 1.37:20. 18—Kelly Bird, 50, 1.38:34. 19—Becky Reitinger, 53, 1.38:48. 25—Gloria Kimball, 54, 1.43:00. 28—Millie Reidy, 50, 1.44:21. 31—Alexandra Sundali, 53, 1.45:35. 32—Nancy Parsons-Brown, 54, 1.45:55. 34—Joney Otteson, 50, 1.48:44. 39—Gloria Gunter, 54, 2.06:35. 41—Cynthia Woolley Kearns, 52, 2.16:09.
Ages 45-49
Podium: 1—Mia Stockdale, 46, Vail, Colo. 1.18:14. 2—Roxanne Toly, 48, Park City 1.18:38. 3—Heidi Watanabe, 47, 1.21:38.
Also: 6—Tricia Swartling, 45, 1.25:06. 9—Robin Potts, 49, 1.27:34. 10—Kim Kawaguchi, 49, 1.27:52. 12—Susan Thoreson, 49, 1.30:37. 13—Eva DeWolfe, 46, 1.31:33. 15—Gretchen Flint, 47, 1.32:37. 17—Lucy Chubb, 46, 1.36:37. 19—Leigh Morse, 48, 1.37:11. 24—Lucy Bourret, 49, 1.42:32. 31—Lisa Mary, 48, 1.46:09. 36—Kathy Berman, 45, 1.50:08. 46—E.M. von der Heyden, 45, 2.02:30. 48—Laurie Breedveld, 48, 2.03:40. 52—Kathy Ogilvie, 48, 2.41:59.
Ages 40-44
Podium: 1—Becky Bjork, 40, Bend 1.21:37. 2—Tina Gini Larter, 43, Boulder, Colo. 1.21:38. 3—Robin McGee, 41, Jackson Hole, Wyo. 1.22:06.
Also: 5—Rebecca Rusch, 42, 1.22:37. 14—Tizz Miller, 42, 1.28:38. 22—Janelle Conners, 42, 1.33:29. 23—Louise Stumph, 42, 1.33:31. 33—Tory Canfield, 40, 1.40:45. 39—Courtney Gilbert, 40, 1.47:28. 40—Kristina Kind, 43, 1.48:01. 42—Renee Perin, 42, 1.50:19. 45—Kirsten Ritzau, 43, 1.51:45. 49—Veronique Forgeat, 41, 1.52:52.
Ages 35-39
Podium: 1—Brooke Hovey, 38, Ketchum 1.15:31. 2—Sarah Max, 35, Bend 1.17:14. 3—Liv Jensen, 39, Hailey 1.18:55.
Also: 4—India Wysong, 37, 1.22:29. 11—Berit Campion, 36, 1.31:46. 18—Christine Davis-Jeffers, 38, 1.45:50. 19—Katherine Rixon, 37, 1.46:35. 23—Cygnia Rapp, 39, 1.48:44. 26—Jenny Emery-Davidson, 38, 2.02:38. 28—Erin Finnegan, 37, 2.16:26.
Ages 30-34
Podium: 1—Tamsen Pruzan, 31, Wilson, Wyo. 1.21:02. 2—Kate Whitcomb, 30, Ketchum 1.21:35. 3—Laurel Douglas, 31, Missoula, Mt. 1.24:57.
Also: 6—Hannah Young, 33, 1.28:36. 7—Trina Benson, 30, 1.29:33. 8—Naomi Goldberg, 30, 1.31:29. 9—Kathryn McNeal, 30, 1.32:30. 10—Cortney Vandenburgh, 33, 1.32:33. 15—Olympia Nuttall, 32, 1.48:50. 16—Jenny Haynes, 34, 1.51:01. 18—Cindy Dondero, 31, 2.04:38.
Ages 25-29
Podium: 1—Evelyn Dong, 25, Bend 1.12:39. 2—Nicole DeYong, 28, Ketchum 1.15:12. 3—Stephanie Howe, 27, Bend 1.17:06.
Also: 7—Ashley McQueen, 26, 1.19:37. 8—Abbie Harris, 28, 1.19:46. 9—Laura Theis, 27, 1.23:21. 17—Mollie Parker, 25, 1.40:09. 18—Katherine Bridwell, 28, 1.41:11.
Ages 18-24
Podium: 1—Chelsea Holmes, 23, Truckee 1.13:15. 2—Katie Bono, 23, Ketchum 1.18:49. 3—Sarah Willis, 24, Bozeman, Mt. 1.22:05.
Also: 4—Lexie Praggastis, 24, 1.27:33.
Ages 14-17
Podium: 1—Ine Marie Raa, 17, Redmond, Ore. 1.32:11. 2—Sierra Foster, 16, Redmond 1.35:36. 3—Elissa Brouillard, 17, Redmond 1.36:11.
Also: 16—Cheyanne Stopol, 14, 2.04:20.
Ages 13-and-under
Podium: 1—Mariah Bredal, 13, Victor 1.29:32. 2—Leah Lange, 12, Park City 1.32:56. 3—Annika Landis, 12, Hailey 1.32:58.
Also: 7—Sarah Verst, 12, 1.53:49. 10—Grace Gorham, 13, 2.02:36.
______________________________
TOP MEN
1—Sylvan Ellefson, 23, Vail. Colo. 1.06:43.8. 2—Leif Zimmerman, 27, Bozeman 1.06:45. 3—Bryan Fletcher, 24, Park City 1.06:52. 4—Brian Gregg, 26, Hayward, Wisc. 1.07:06. 5—Billy Demong, 30, Park City 1.07:07.1.
6—Taylor Fletcher, 20, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 1.07:07.5. 7—Brayton Osgood, 29, Bend 1.07:18. 8—Mark Iverson, 28, Anchorage, Ak. 1.07:25. 9—Matt Gelso, 22, Ketchum 1.07:40. 10—Mike Sinnott, 26, Ketchum 1.08:53. 11—Colin Rodgers, 29, Ketchum 1.08:54.
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MALE RACERS
Ages 80-84
Podium: 1—Charley French, 84, Ketchum 1.52:29.
Ages 75-79
Podium: 1—Tom Frey, 75, Kingston, Wash. 1.59:34. 2—Joe Csizmazia, 79, Underwood, Wash. 2.02:12. 3—Roy Hopland, 75, Rossland, B.C. 2.04:30.
Also: 4—William Pryor, 75, 2.34:53.
Ages 70-74
Podium: 1—Hans Muehlegger, 70, Sun Valley 1.28:42. 2—Raliegh Jensen, 70, Boise 1.37:32. 3—James Olson, 73, Sun Valley 1.39:19.
Also: 4—Peter Maier, 70, 1.40:55. 5—Sam East, 70, 1.54:20.
Ages 65-69
Podium: 1—Del Pletcher, 66, Sun Valley 1.17:34. 2—Tim Schuld, 65, Boulder 1.29:10. 3—Robert Disbrow, 67, Vancouver, B.C. 1.30:56.
Also: 5—Tullio Celano, 68, 1.35:48. 13—Mel Dyck, 69, 1.50:45. 14—Roger Miller, 67, 1.51:37. 16—Carl Bontrager, 65, 1.52:12. 18—Karl Wadsack, 65, 1.55:24. 20—Tom Campion, 68, 2.02:23. 22—Edward Flood, 65, 2.04:20.
Ages 60-64
Podium: 1—Chi Melville, 60, Alta, Wyo. 1.24:05. 2—Ralph Johnson, 62, Truckee 1.25:41. 3—Jeff Fereday, 61, Boise 1.26:29.
Also: 11—Matt Gervase, 61, 1.35:54. 16—Edward Miller, 63, 1.38:38. 26—Steve Kearns, 61, 1.42:40. 27—Rich Fabiano, 64, 1.44:16. 30—Michael Dunham, 61, 1.54:49.
Ages 55-59
Podium: 1—Donald Bauder, 58, Bigfork, Mt. 1.18:14. 2—Paul Conrad, 55, Whitefish, Mt. 1.19:18.2. 3—Randy Beckner, 58, Helena, Mt. 1.19:18.5.
Also: 4—Peter Harris, 58, Derby Line, Vt. 1.20:00.2. 5—Jim McClatchy, 58, 1.20:00.9. 6—Richard Knoebel, 57, 1.20:01. 7—Brian Elkins, 55, 1.21:58. 10—Pat Simpson, 59, 1.23:42. 24—Jon Holmquist, 57, 1.34:06. 26—Heinz Schlosser, 58, 1.35:38. 30—Keith Perry, 56, 1.38:07. 33—Thad Farnham, 56, 1.38:48. 34—James Keller, 58, 1.39:08. 38—Jay Hagenbuch, 59, 1.41:13. 39—Steve Berman, 56, 1.44:00. 42—Buck Drew, 58, 1.46:23. 57—Keith Sivertson, 57, 2.13:32.
Ages 50-54
Podium: 1—Rich Reynolds, 53, Truckee 1.14:07. 2—Jon Engen, 53, Ketchum 1.14:54. 3—Kris Thoreson, 53, Sun Valley 1.16:00.
Also: 8—Jim Santa, 50, 1.19:44. 12—Bruce Rogers, 51, 1.21:56. 25—Dennis Botkin, 50, 1.28:04. 27—Frederic Boloix, 52, 1.29:19. 33—Rob Landis, 54, 1.32:59. 35—Andrew Hawley, 53, 1.33:18. 43—David McCormack, 52, 1.36:19. 46—Roger Mankus, 53, 1.37:58. 69—William Sherrerd, 50, 2.03:33.
Ages 45-49
Podium: 1—Barry Makarewicz, 49, Salt Lake City, Utah 1.11:19. 2—Shaun Marshall-Pryde, 48, Bozeman 1.12:26. 3—Dan Packman, 46, Bend 1.13:33.
Also: 17—Mike Wolter, 45, 1.22:53. 18—Jeff Ford, 45, 1.23:09. 21—Chris Williams, 45, 1.23:52. 34—Tim Hamilton, 47, 1.31:37. 36—Craig Delagardelle, 49, 1.33:16. 37—Alex Margolin, 46, 1.33:43. 40—John Baker, 47, 1.36:16. 43—John Kanellitsas, 49, 1.38:01. 49—James Gillespie, 47, 1.44:11.
Ages 40-44
Podium: 1—Eric Jensen, 43, Boise 1.11:37. 2—Matt Grover, 42, Boise 1.12:14. 3—Jason Travis, 41, Park City 1.12:34.
Also: 15—Mark Gilbreath, 44, 1.21:27. 18—Lee Roquet, 41, 1.22:07. 21—John Tormey, 44, 1.23:18. 25—Bill McCann, 41, 1.24:27. 30—Christiaan Cook, 40, 1.26:24. 33—John Kurtz, 41, 1.27:24. 37—Eric Huus, 40, 1.29:18. 43—Eric Giles, 41, 1.32:49. 47—Drew Kirk, 44, 1.34:15. 59—Chris Bigelow, 43, 1.40:10. 60—Mike Shepard, 40, 1.42:53. 62—John Dean, 41, 1.44:45. 64—Erik Boe, 40, 1.45:24. 65—Jeff Lamoureux, 44, 1.46:01. 68—Jesse Foster, 40, 1.49:42. 71—David Verst, 42, 1.58:04.
Ages 35-39
Podium: 1—Nathan Schultz, 39, Boulder 1.09:40. 2—Joseph Jensen, 37, Boise 1.11:45. 3—John King, 36, Ketchum 1.14:04.
Also: 10—Don Shepler, 37, 1.20:07. 28—Dan Gilmore, 39, 1.47:27.
Ages 30-34
Podium: 1—Billy Demong, 30, Park City 1.07:07. 2—Kurt Wolf, 30, McCall 1.10:27. 3—Jason Adams, 31, Bend 1.14:07.
Also: 8—Sam Young, 34, 1.17:18. 10—Travis Vandenburgh, 34, 1.19:41. 15—Matt McNeal, 30, 1.23:00. 23—Kyl Samway, 30, 1.31:30. 26—Bryan Bridwell, 32, 1.48:02.
Ages 25-29
Podium: 1—Leif Zimmerman, 27, Bozeman 1.06:45. 2—Brian Gregg, 26, Hayward, Wisc. 1.07:06. 3—Brayton Osgood, 29, Bend 1.07:18.
Also: 5—Mike Sinnott, 26, 1.08:53. 6—Colin Rodgers, 29, 1.08:54. 8—John Reuter, 26, 1.13:52. 9—Chris Mallory, 28, 1.14:33. 18—Bradley Guss, 26, 1.29:11. 19—Elliot Jacobs, 28, 1.30:16. 21—Graham Sours, 25, 1.33:31.
Ages 18-24
Podium: 1—Sylvan Ellefson, 23, Vail 1.06:43.8. 2—Bryan Fletcher, 24, Park City 1.06:52. 3—Taylor Fletcher, 20, Steamboat Springs 1.07:07.
Also: 4—Matt Gelso, 22, 1.07:40.
Ages 14-17
Podium: 1—Tyler Smith, 17, Park City 1.11:13. 2—Landon Beckner, 14, Helena, Mt. 1.17:30. 3—Zachary Jackson, 16, Park City 1.20:36.
Also: 4—Andrew Morse, 14, 1.24:05. 15—Averell Tian, 16, 1.39:00.
Ages 13-and-under
Podium: 1—Michael Kearns, 13, Salt Lake City 1.32:15. 2—Wilson Battle, 12, Salt Lake City 1.37:38. 3—Drew Palmer-Leger, 11, Park City 1.38:44.
HISTORY
32 kilometer courses
2011 Sylvan Ellefson 1.06:43.8
Evelyn Dong 1.12:39.5
2010 Zack Simons 1.13:52.7
Evelyn Dong 1.24:23.2
2009 Zack Simons 1.10:55.7
Rebecca Dussault 1.16:45.5
2008 Mike Sinnott 1.19:45.0
Kate Arduser 1.28:46.6
2007 Billy Demong 1.10:12.2
Evelyn Dong 1.16:06.0
2006 Zack Simons 1.22:12.4
Brooke Hovey 1.30:33.0
2005 Eric Meyer 1.09:43.3
Suzanne King 1.17:36.9
2004 Nathan Schultz 1.23:17.2
Rebecca Dussault 1.29:34.1
2003 Eric Meyer 1.06:27.6
Brooke Baughman 1.12:36.1
2002 Justin Wadsworth 1.16:01
Suzanne King 1.26:10
2001 Justin Wadsworth 1.12:49
Unni Odegard 1.20:16
2000 Carl Swenson 1.22:46.4
Kelly Schalk 1.27:59.5
1999 Carl Swenson 1.20:47.6
Laura McCabe 1.31:31.0
30 kilometer courses
1998 Carl Swenson 1.16:45.3
Kelly Schalk 1.28:05.7
1997 Marcus Nash 1.15:39.8
Ingrid Butts 1.27:46.0
1996 Ben Husaby 1.20:30.3
Ingrid Butts 1.32:06.6
1995 Havard Solbakken 1.05:34.3
Heidi Selnes 1.12:13.2
1994 Bjorn Laukli 1.13:11
Jeannie Wall 1.22:00
1993 Audun Endestad 1.12:29
Laura McCabe 1.18:31
1992 Asmund Drivenes 1.11:02
Laura McCabe 1.17:57
1991 John Aalberg 1.09:29
E.J. Holcomb 1.20:53
1990 Audun Endestad 1.14:59
Angie Stevenson 1.29:03
1989 John Aalberg 1.19:50
Roxanne Toly 1.34:22
1988 Ken McCarthy 1.16:29
Alison Kiesel 1.29:12
1987 Ken McCarthy 1.16:25
Sue Long 1.23:29
1986 Mark Pearson 1.26:44
E.J. Holcomb 1.38:35
1985 Dave Bingham 1.38:58
E.J. Holcomb 2.01:50
1984 Dave Bingham 1.32:07
Janet Kellam 1.47:34
1983 Not run
1982 Randy Meyers 1.28:30
Gabriele Andersen 1.42:59
1981 Not run
1980 Kevin Swigert 1.19:50
Gabriele Andersen 1.30:48
1979 Fritz Koch 1.40:25
Lindsay Putnam 1.57:11
1978 Jim Speck (tie) 2.08:34
Bob Kassow (tie) 2.08:34
Gabriele Andersen 2.14:57
1977 Not run
1976 Kevin Swigert 1:49.18
Kristina Hindert 2.08:28
1975 Kevin Swigert 2.05:50
Heidi Burkhart 2:33.07
1974 Bob Rosso 1.54:30
Polly Sidwell 2.18:15
1973 Brent Hansen 2.53:15
Julie Gorton 3.09:30
FASTEST BOULDER WINNING TIMES (32k courses)
Men—Eric Meyer of Boulder, Colo. 1.06:27.6 in 2003.
Women—Brooke Baughman of Ketchum 1.12:36.1 in 2003.
FASTEST BOULDER WINNING TIMES (30k courses)
Men--Havard Solbakken of Salt Lake City 1.05:34.3 in 1995, breaking the old record of 1.09:29 set by John Aalberg of Salt Lake City in 1991.
Women--Heidi Selnes of Salt Lake City, 1.12:13.2 in 1995, breaking the old record of 1.17:57 established by Laura Mueggler-McCabe of Summit, Utah in 1992.
Ketchum’s Nicole DeYong, 28, finished third among all Boulder Ski Tour women and 38th overall Saturday in 1.15:12. Photo by Willy Cook
