New Balance 100s selling out quick

The hottest shoe to hit the market this spring is the updated, ultra light, trail comp shoe from New Balance, the 100. This shoe comes in under 8 ounces and has a new, tougher rock protection than its predacessor, the 790. Early reports have New Balance selling out of these quick and replacements may not appear until September. The 100 retails for $75, so if you see a pair and they have your size, grab em, decide if you like them later. Word of advice, no heel strikers need apply, these are made for "light on your feet" mid and fore foot strikers only.

Natalie third in America's Uphill

Woody Creek Racing's Natalie Ward continued her strong season with a third place overall in yesterday's America's Uphill race in Aspen. America's Uphill has been going on for 22 years, it is a straight uphill race from the base of Aspen Mountain to the summit. Natalie has won this race 3 times and was the course record holder for a few years. Yesterday she entered for the first time in a couple of seasons and had a great race, recording a 55:40* (probably a 56:24 in reality). She was also the top skier as the first two racers were in the "open" division which usually utilizes spiked running shoes or snowshoes. Good job skier!

* A side note: Ricky Gates went super fast and posted a time that will officially go down as a course record, 40:26. However, there was substantial confusion over the timing as the finishing clock showed a 41:10, some 9 seconds short of legendary Matt Carpenter's record. Many racers had timed themselves including multiple winner Mike Kloser. Their times were almost exactly in time with the finishing clock, throwing the record in dispute. Here's hoping the timing goes perfectly next year and Ricky can set the record and leave no doubt.

Left: Natalie climbing her way up the infamous Spar Gulch

Right: Natalie Ward (L) - 3rd, Megan Lund (C) - 1st, Cynthia Arnold (R) - 2nd

WCR finishes Aspen Cup with multiple victories

Woody Creek Racing has had a great season and last weekend secured some top results in the Aspen Cup. Here is the final tally, congrats to our cross-country team; Natalie Ward, Russ Bollig and Mike Trecker

Classic technique:

1. Mike Trecker, WCR, 44pts.

2. Natalie Ward, WCR, 40

3. Russ Bollig, WCR, 36

4. Tim Lindholm, 36

5. Dave Peterson, 34

Women

1. Natalie Ward, WCR, 40

2. Helen Carlsen, 18

3. Noelle Larson, 10

4. Haily Swirbul, 8

5. Cara Borchers, 7

Skate technique

1. Russ Bollig, WCR, 137

2. Natalie Ward, WCR, 123

3. Pierre Willie, 120

4. David Borchers, 113

5. Drew Larson, 106

Women

1. Natalie Ward, WCR, 123

2. Cara Borchers, 93

3. Noelle Larson, 44

4. Jenny Nelson, 31

5. Shannon Myer, 27

Combined Overall Aspen Cup(best 5 scores total)

1. Pierre Willie, 147

2. Russ Bollig, WCR, 137

3. Natalie Ward, WCR, 129

4. Mike Trecker, WCR, 123

5. David Borchers, 113

Women

1. Natalie Ward, WCR, 129

2. Cara Borchers, 93

3. Noelle Larson, 54

4. Helen Carlsen, 38

5. Jenny Nelson, 31

Above left: Mike Trecker, pictured out training on the touring skis

Above right: Natalie Ward showing off her Madshus Nanosonics and the new Swix Triac poles.

Russ Bollig 5th at Snow Mountain, 3rd at Silverboom

WCR xc skiers continued a fine season with some excellent performances at two of Colorado's oldest races, the Snow Mountain Stampede and the Silverboom race in Snowmass. Russ Bollig put in a heroic traveling weekend finishing 5th at the Stampede, a 42k freestyle race that was won by Nathan Schultz. The race was highlighted by the warming temperatures and softening snow. Russell finished only 10 minutes behind Schultz and then hopped in the car for the journey to Aspen.

Joining his Woody Creek teammate Natalie Trecker for the Silverboom, Bollig followed the early pace set by Dave Aschwanden long enough to secure 3rd place. Russ traveled to Aspen many times this season and it payed off with the overall title in the Skate discipline and 2nd place in the combined Aspen Cup, which was won by Pierre Willie for the 2nd time in a row.

Meanwhile Natalie rode an old, reliable, high-cambered pair of super fast Madshus straight cuts to a 5th place finish overall just behind long time Aspenite Ben Dodge. Winning the woman's division all 7 races, Natalie has won the town series for longer than anyone can remember and the official Aspen Cup for the 2nd consecutive time. Way to go Natalie, you rock!

For Russ the weekend wasn't quite done yet. A massive rock slide has closed I-70 and Russ had to spend an extra day in Aspen before deciding on the slightly longer southern route through Gunnison and over Monarch pass to get back to Denver and take care of his Podium clients. Super season Russ and good luck on the rest of it.

Teammate Mike Trecker was still out with a bum knee but has been able to ski a little powder from time to time.
Left: Natalie Ward gets her act together before blazing the Silverboom

Right: Russ Bollig(L), Skate champion of the Aspen Cup, pictured with The Big Shooter

KDUNK 4th in Inferno!

One of Woody Creek Racing's favorite friends and new team recruit, Kevin Dunkelberg of Aspen, finished 4th this past weekend in the annual Inferno race, an uphill/downhill event in Highland's Bowl. KDUNK finished right near the front with such luminaries as Mike Kloser(2nd), Brad Yule(3rd) and Rickey Gates(5th). The Inferno starts at the top of Loge Lift at Highlands, does a Lemans type start and then up to the top of Highlands Bowl, quickly clicking in and down the the bottom of the Bowl through a number of specified gates. The Inferno is one of the truest tests of all around winter badassness in the Roaring Fork Valley and huge congratulations are in order for Kevin. CHEERS MATE!!

Natalie 4th at Owl Creek Chase

Woody Creek Racing once again had a great weekend here at home. The annual Aspen Nordic Festival and Owl Creek Chase are two of the highlights of the season for us and this year was no exception. Although Mike Trecker is out with a knee injury, Natalie (Ward)Trecker took up the slack and thrilled the hometown crowd with a couple of fun and inspiring races.

On Saturday Natalie bolted out of the gate and brought the spectators to a fever pitch as she took the early lead at the 1.5km mark in the 5k classic AVSC SuperTour event. Natalie eventually succumbed to an over aggressive race plan and faded to 9th place, but it was still an amazing day for her, competing in front of the home town fans.

On Sunday Natalie again took to the trails against some of the best skiers in the country. She skied solidly and finished in the money in 4th place. The 21km Owl Creek Chase is one of the premier events in the country and also part of the USSA SuperTour and it was fantastic to see Natalie skiing so well.

On a special note, Polly Tucker from Swix, loaned Natalie a pair of the new Swix Triac poles that are currently being used at the Olympics. Said Natalie about the new poles,

"Right away, double poling out of the start, I said to myself, these poles are awesome, I don't have to be as careful, I feel like I can really get after it. They are really light and stiff."

Thanks Polly for the help this last weekend and to the whole staff at Swix, one of Woody Creek Racing's biggest supporters.

Pictures on the way, stay tuned.

Above Left: Madshus skiers Kristina Trygstad-Saari, Glen Randall and Natalie Ward

Above Right: Natalie skis through the half-way point in 4th place

Left: Natalie previewing the classical course on Friday

Natalie 2nd at Governor's Cup

Woody Creek Racing's nordic skiers continued to hit their stride mid-season, first with some fine performances at the Aspen Pursuit and the following weekend at the 23rd Governor's Cup at Devil's Thumb Rancher in Fraser, CO.

Mike Trecker, Natalie Trecker and Russ Bollig were 2nd, 3rd, and 4th overall in the 2-day Aspen Pursuit, with Natalie skiing particularily well, taking 3rd overall in the 10k classical portion, under a minute behind the winner, Mike Trecker.

Yesterday at Devil's Thumb, Natalie conitnued her great skiing and stayed with perrenial favorite, Sarah Konrad of Laramie, for the first 15k lap. This move helped Natalie stay clear of the field and secure 2nd place in the women's race, 17th overall against the men. The silver medal position was also good for a $600 pay day. Special thanks to Igor and the Fanch's from DTR, they put on a great day of racing and helped raise the bar for future Governor's Cup events. Great Day DTR, thanks a bunch. On the men's side, Mike Trecker finished in 16th overall, just in front of Natalie with Russ just behind in 18th. These results were also good for 3rd and 4th on the day in the men's 40-49 age division. Congrats old dudes!

Woody Creek Racing opens Nordic season, 1-2-3 overall in Aspen Cup standings

Woody Creek Racing's nordic skiers opened their seasons this past weekend with some solid racing. Natalie Ward(Trecker) won both women's races yesterday at the Aspen Cup openers while Mike Trecker took second in the classic race and Russ Bollig took third in the skate event. At the end of the day, Mike Trecker leads the overall combined men's and women's standings with a 2 point lead on Bollig while Natalie picked up enough points racing against the boys to hold third overall 6 points back.
Congrats Woody Creek Racing and keep it up.

Also of note: One of Woody Creek's favorite athletes, Simi Hamilton of Aspen, is the new USA Nordic Sprint national champion. Congrats to Simi, one of the best all around pure skiers in the world.