The Burt Kettle Classic 2025
3/2/2025
The pleasant conditions that graced the Rangeley 50km Freestyle Loppet gave way to the more lion-like March proverb, "In like a lion, out like a lamb." Sunday brought a whole new day and dramatically different conditions. A polar front swooped in, causing the temperatures to plummet. Ahead of the front was a precipitation event. Fortunately, only snow fell in Rangeley, but some surrounding areas saw a good amount of rain before a brief changeover to snow. Skiers arrived again to a fresh coating of snow and wondered about the grooming.
The Burt Kettle Loppet follows the same loop as the Freestyle Loppet. Day two at Rangeley kicks off with the Classic Kort Loppet, then about 40 minutes later, the Freestyle Kort Loppet. The delay gives time for most of the classic racers to enjoy solid tracks over the course before the freestyle racers demolish them. The temperature on Saturday was warmer than expected, and the temperature on Sunday was colder than expected.
Commuting skiers were relieved that Rangeley had not received rain the night before. The temperature was around zero at the start of the race, and there was a strong, gusty wind. Participants did not spend much time testing wax or warming up. Most waxed in advance, so they did not have to be in the elements trying to do that. Many elected not to strip to their race suits and instead kept their outer layers for extra warmth. Many coated their faces with Vaseline or another protective product for their exposed skin, and Sarah Pribram remembered to apply glitter to brighten the spirits of everyone in attendance. Sarah also gave me some toe warmers without making me apply glitter, which I would have done had it been a condition.
The big question was if the fresh new snow adhered to the lightly transformed snow from Saturday. My kicking the snow wax test satisfied me in determining that there was excellent fusion. Sometimes, the new layer sits on top of the old layer, creating a risk of the new layer peeling off the old layer and clumping onto the ski. Fortunately, where I tested, there was a good amalgamation of the layers, and that was enough for me. NWVE's recommendation of Guru Green kick wax was the choice of the day. Other greens were in use as well.
With seven minutes to go, I went to the starting line. It was only me and a volunteer. I asked if the start had been delayed, and he said no, about seven minutes. It took me three minutes to get my warm-ups off, and there were still only a few people. The five-minute warning was given and corrected to about three minutes. Somehow, Dhyan Nirmegh (NWVE) appeared and took a spot on the line. I lined up behind him. A few other skiers entered the stadium, and soon the corral was full. A few of us doing the double were a little wary of how much energy had been expended in the 50km freestyle and what today's race would bring. Eric Darling (NWVE) and Sarah Pribram (NWVE) had refueled with some Tater Kegs, pizza, and salad at a local restaurant and were confident that the Tater Kegs would power them through the race. It sounded good to me!
Soon, the race was off with a clean start. People were happy to be moving, and with a smaller field than Saturday, there was good room as we left the stadium. Skiers looked for the fast snow. With the high wind and fresh snow blowing over the glazed snow, it seemed people preferred to be out of the tracks as they looked wind-blown. However, when the course pitched up slightly, I decided to get in the tracks and stride a bit. Initially, I thought only to run and advance a spot, but to my delight, the tracks here were sufficiently fast, and I stayed in them, passing several skiers, including Jonathan Rodd (NWVE) and Nirmegh (NWVE). Sarah was quick to realize what I had discovered and hopped in the tracks as well. We both prefer to stride when we can over-double poling, too. Sarah and I advanced using the tracks. We could see Stephen Wright (NWVE) up a short distance and Eric Darling (NWVE) a little further beyond Stephen. We figured both would pull away, but we started to gain on Stephen. Soon, we bridged to him, and we skied as a group for some distance.
It was fun skiing as a team, and having three people find the fast snow was more efficient than searching on our own. We had some tracks to follow, but pace lining was an advantage in the windy conditions. On the Pipeline Trail, the course was more exposed, and the tracks were filled with powder. We skied out of the tracks, and slowly, Stephen and Sarah pulled away from me. Anders Vikstrom (Team HAMP) caught me as I tripped myself with my pole. He went by and continued on to join Stephen and Sarah.
Jonathan Rodd (NWVE) and Nirmegh (NWVE) soon found themselves working together on the course. Much like with Stephen's group, there was not much action on the course after the first few kilometers. The skiers just found their rhythm and tried to stay warm. Jonathan and Nirmegh could see Bruce Condit (Auburn Nordic) in the distance, but could not reel him in. Having each other's company was motivating and kept the racing honest.
At the front of the field, Henry Swartzentruber (SMS), Felix Battle (RADO), and Colin Pogue (MNC) skied together until the final sprint, with Henry having a fraction of an advantage at the line over Felix and Colin, dropping back on the Geneva Loop, not as fresh having skied the double. Eric Darling (NWVE) continued skiing solo for the majority of the race. He held position and was pleased with the weekend, commending the crew at Rangeley for an outstanding weekend. Stephen Wright (NWVE) hit the Geneva Loop and launched. He shook off Sarah Pribram (NWVE) and Anders Vikstrom (Team HAMP) at the start of the loop and finished uncontested. Sarah executed Stephen's plan to a lesser degree and held off Anders. I think I got a little hypothermic as I noted to myself that I was making bad decisions on the lines to ski on Geneva, but I made it in safely, thankful for the toe warmers, and happy to get my warm-ups on.
While Sarah, Stephen, Anders, Eric, and I were talking at the finish line, a big commotion crested the hill into the stadium. It was Jonathan Rodd (NWVE) and Nirmegh (NWVE) in an all-out sprint. Nirmegh had been drafting a bit when he realized it was the finish and zeroed in on the line. There was not much Jonathan could do as Nirmegh cruised to win the sprint. Jonathan was Nirmegh's ride home, and it seems Nirmegh made it home, so maybe Jonathan was okay with it. NWVE had one racer in the Freestyle Kort Loppet. Todd Taska (NWVE) skied in his first race of the season. He has been busy being a grandfather and had a bit of an injury most of the season. He was happy to be out and looking forward to wrapping up the season with a few more races. He skied with Bruce Katz (Unattached), who decided to double up on freestyle events this weekend.
Skiers enjoyed another hearty feed after the race and tried to stay warm. Not many chose to continue skiing after in the harsh elements, but were happy to have raced and in the end, the cold was not as bad as it seemed at the start. Thank you to the crew at Rangeley for hosting such a fun weekend!
Damian
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