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