Antonio Olivero / aolivero@summitdaily.com
More than 150 athletes competed in this past weekend’s Imperial Challenge event in Breckenridge. The Imperial is an annual three-part race that sees athletes begin with a run or bike to the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort. Once there, athletes transition to their uphill gear, which could include skins on skis, a splitboard snowboard or snowshoes.
After reaching the 12,987-foot summit of Peak 8, athletes ski or snowboard back down to the mountain’s base to cross the finish line.
This year, a bevy of Summit County locals highlighted the podium positions across the Imperial’s 10 racing categories. In the “retro” events, the rule is racers must carry their ski or snowboard gear with them on their bike while cycling toward the mountain. And the “heavy metal” division requires racers to not use the more recent technology of lighter alpine touring ski gear.
Check out below for a full run down of the Imperial’s podium placers, who ground through Saturday’s chilly, precipitous weather to achieve their own Imperial glory!
Retro open men
1. Todd Olsen, 43, Keystone — 1:36:08
2. Kurt Sorensen, 50, Dillon — 1:39:08
3. Andy Kovats, 55, Manitou Springs
— 2:00:35
Retro open Women
1. Hannah Gall, 26, Breckenridge
— 2:36:24
2. Terrin Abell, 32, Breckenridge
— 2:36:30
3. Jennifer Schladale, 27, Dillon
— 2:47:20
Open women run
1. Grace Staberg, 17, Silverthorne
— 2:16:26
2. Nicole Mahobian, 33, Highlands
Ranch — 2:51:35
3. Sarah Hahn, 30, Golden — 2:53:08
open men Run
1. Pete Swenson, 51, Breckenridge
— 1:54:44
2. Eric Poore, 30, Golden — 1:58:24
3. Michael Shambarge, 44, Dillon
— 2:00:35
Splitboard/Snowboard men
1. Colby Lash, 40, New Castle — 2:00:06
2. Gram Shick, 30, Dillon — 2:16:57
3. Peter Iwaoka, 26, Denver — 2:17:10
Splitboard/Snowboard Women
1. Tricia Grenier, 41, Breckenridge
— 2:25:39
2. Christie Charleston, 32, Frisco
— 2:35:33
3. Jaime Mender, 41, Frisco — 2:44:12
Heavy metal rec open men
1. Dominic Baker, 33, Breckenridge
— 1:56:07
2. Jay Beckerman, 40, Breckenridge
— 2:07:05
3. Brady McMillan, 34, Breckenridge
— 2:14:07
Heavy metal rec open Women
1. Olivia Dawson, 25, Breckenridge
— 2:40:19
2. Jill Hutton, 31, Keystone — 2:50:52
3. Darcy Waddell, 52, Pueblo West
— 3:06:15
Team relay run
1. McGhee/McGhee — 3:08:23
Team relay Bike
1. Pena/Siegel, Breckenridge
— 2:34:45