Entries for a new winter Ski-An-Duro event, combining mountain biking and skiing, have opened. The Ski-An-Duro on March 17, 2018, has been created by Lochaber-based No Fuss Events to include skiing and mountain biking.
It will take place on Britain’s eighth tallest mountain, Aonach Mor, located in the so-called Outdoor Capital of the UK. I wrote about the event for my latest Sunday Mail outdoors column.
What is the Ski-An-Duro?
Ski-An-Duro takes its format from events such as the Ski To Sea races at Mt Baker in the US and combines downhill mountain biking with skiing.
Frazer Coupland, of No Fuss Events, said: “The aim is to race from the summit of Aonach Mor – or wherever there is snow – to the base station over three enduro-style stages.”
The first stage of a timed race on skis or snowboards. Frazer said: “There will be a set course that makes the most of the terrain and where there is snow.
“In an ideal world this will be from the top of Aonach Mor to the base station but this is Scotland and we are being realistic. We will make the most of the snow that is there and offer a brilliant course.”
The competitors will head back up the mountain on the resort’s gondola from the base station at 100m to the top station at 650m for the next timed stage.
Stage two is a timed mountain bike race on a series of downhill and cross-country trails. This will makes use of some of the famous World Cups trails at Nevis Range.
For the final part of the Ski-And-Duro, competitors will return up the mountain for a ski-and-bike stage. Frazer said: “This third stage will start with a Le Mans-style run to the competitors’ skis or snowboards.
“Those with the best times for the first two stages will have prime position off the ‘starter grid’. After skiing a set course, they will enter a transition area and then take off on their bikes to reach the finish line.”
The winner will be the person with the best total time for the three stages.
Frazer added: “We know that many people who mountain bike and take part in some of our mountain biking events are also skiers and boarders. That gave us the start of the idea for this enduro event.
“Then we came up with the name, which we really love, and looked around for a location.
“Nevis Range is a good for for this style of race.”
Frazer is realistic about the Scottish winter skiing season. He said: “We know that Scotland may or may not have good snow in March but we think we will be able to make the most of what is there at the time.
“This will be a fast and fun event for anyone who likes the fun of a challenge and combining two fast and technical sports.”
Chris O’Brien, destination manager for the Outdoor Capital of the UK, is delighted by the idea. He said: “Just when you’re settling down for a some gentle 2018 planning No Fuss Events come along with something totally off the wall.
“The whole team here is excited about a stunning new race for the Outdoor Capital calendar.”
Peter MacFarlane, managing director of Nevis Range, said: “It’s great that our mountain resort will be hosting another new and exciting No Fuss event.”
To enter or find out more see No Fuss Events or keep an eye on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nofussevents or Twitter at twitter.com/nofussevents.