Last Saturday was the 6th annual Stagecoach Classic Cross Country Ski Race. Starting at Devil’s Thumb Ranch and winding through private land, the old Idlewild ski area, and ending at the Rendezvous Events Center in Winter Park, the race and tour gives participants the rare opportunity to ski some of the best nordic terrain in the region.

“In the past, the Idlewild trail system connected to Devil’s Thumb Ranch, connecting Tabernash, Fraser, and Winter Park, and is still remembered by skiers as the best nordic area in Colorado”, said Devil’s Thumb Ranch Recreation Manager, Marie-Ange Anderson. “This is a rare chance to ski such a beautiful ‘off the map’ course. The Stagecoach Classic only happens once a year because most of the course trails are on private land.”

At Devil’s Thumb Ranch, participants completed registration in the Broad Axe Barn prior to the race and tour. “This year, we had a total of 370 participants. 156 people registered for the 15K tour, 92 participants did the 30K race, and 122 took part in the 15K”, said Anderson.

Most of the participants parked in Winter Park and took advantage of The Lift transit buses shuttling them out to the starting point.

“The conditions are much better this year than last”, proclaimed KBCO Disc Jockey and event emcee, Ginger Havlat.

As the snow gently fell, you could feel the excitement at the start of the races and tour. “It was a great classic race, due to the cold temperature and snowfall during the week and day of”, said Anderson.

Below are the results of this year’s Stagecoach Classic Cross-country Ski Race:

30K Female:

1st place:  Tina Gini Larter, Boulder

2nd place:  Maria Wik, Boulder

3rd place:  Sierra Jeck, Boulder

30K Male:

1st place:  Josh Smullin, Steamboat Springs

2nd place:  Dan Weinberger, Boulder

3rd place:  Andrew James, Grand Junction

15K Female:

1st place:  Bettina Burgess, Boulder

2nd place:  Madison Larter, Boulder

3rd place:  Xan Courville, Breckenridge

15K Male:

1st place:  Spencer Lacy, Boulder

2nd place:  Zack Larter, Boulder

3rd place:  Lance Anderson, Colorado Springs  

Congratulations to all participants that took place in this special, once a year event. If you missed it this time, there’s always next year!