Dec. 23, 2011 - Issue #845: Headstones

Storm chasing

Snowshoe race offers a way to reconnect with winter recreation

Few people are as conscious of Edmonton weather these days as Kamren Farr. It's just weeks out from the January 8 start for his new Storm Snowshoe racing series, the first of its kind in the city, and snow is scarce.

But Farr isn't the type to worry. While he stops short of predicting powder, the race organizer exudes confidence in his new venture. He should; after all, Farr has considerable success behind him, having founded a thriving 5 Peaks Northern Alberta series which he's helmed for the past seven years.

"It's pretty exciting to see people's responses in Edmonton. Many people are first-time snowshoers," he says. "It's a new sport, in an organized sense, so it's going to take a little time and effort but as we've seen in trail running, it's got great potential."

From trail running to snowshoeing is, almost literally, just a slight change in step for Farr and business partner Clarance Howatt. Launching Storm has been a challenging endeavour, no doubt, but the two are taking it all in their slightly wider, wintry stride.

Driving it all are the managing team's core values—created in 5 Peaks but just as appropriate to winter, says Farr. "We boil it down to three things: fun, fitness and friends. We're aiming to build a really supportive, positive community. We want to present people with something that is challenging physically, and rewarding at the same time."

Key to that effort is simply inspiring people to get outdoors in winter, to relieve the effects of cabin fever, he suggests. "There's only so much indoor or treadmill training you can do before you yearn to get out, and some of our best weather is in the winter months. People really need to discover, or rediscover, how great it can be to be outside in January or February getting some exercise."
 

Unlike trail running, where there is an active core community to draw from, some of the main demographics Farr and his team are targeting with Storm are new participants and the less active. "People are saying, 'Hey, let's find ways to stay active year-round' and I think that's a really healthy sign for Edmonton. One thing we're trying to provide is a comfortable way to get into the sport and try it in a controlled environment," he explains. For snowshoe newbies there's a common saying: "If you can walk, you can snowshoe. I'd like to say that's oversimplifying it but really it's not," jokes Farr.

To engage participants at the entry level, the Storm series features two levels: the "race" and the "tour." The former will attract the more competitive types, like 5 Peaks regulars, while the latter is designed as an introductory experience, offering a shorter (approximately four kilometres), easier marked course. Storm will also be offering brand new snowshoes for demo for $10, as well as drop-in, introductory snowshoeing evenings (check the website for details).

One of the key elements is of course, location. Storm has partnered with the City to set four races this season, one each at Victoria and Riverside golf courses, Kinsmen Park and Goldstick Park from January 8 – February 26, each offering picturesque views and varying levels of difficulty. As with 5 Peaks, the race series will focus on building skill and stamina over the season, with the toughest terrain saved for last.

For newer racers or snowshoers, Farr recommends simple winter layering ("you underestimate how warm you're going to get") and good footwear. For the walkers, that means a decent hiking boot and for the runners, a solid trail runner with a stiffer foot bed to limit torque on the shoe and foot when off camber. And to keep the snow out of your boots, he says, gaiters are a worthwhile consideration: "You do kick up a lot of snow."

No doubt the snow will be flying at Victoria Golf Course on January 8.
 

More Information
stormxc.com

More stories in Snow Zone »

vueweekly.com comments: powered by Disqus