Discussion: Snow, Snow, Snow!

Deep snow is in the forecast for this year's Salomon Snowshoe Raid.
Check out this video of race Director, Bob Miller, snowshoeing through the forest at Blue Mountain earlier today.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3484514019630...

Late fees kick in in a few days so register soon to save a few bucks.

Regular fees are available until tomorrow night, Wed. Jan. 8 at 11:59 p.m.

Snowiest. Snowshoe. Raid. Ever.
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content...

And more SNOW...another 30cm to be precise!

Please send some this way...

Just realized that next year I could run with my grand daughter, Adventuregirl!, as a masters team. Not that she would ever want to.

...or that you would be able to keep up... ;)

I guess "run" was a bit of an exaggeration.

I realize that this falls into the "stupid question" category given the name of the event but is there really a benefit to wearing snowshoes for this event? I have never worn them and looking through previous years photos it appears all the "cool kids" wear them but I was curious to know if this is for the novelty or if the snowshoes actually give you a benefit while running. This question also stems from skimming the previous years maps for geography.

Some years there has not been much snow. This year there seems to be plenty. You won't be able to move without them.

I would wait and see what happens after this weekend's weather hits. But I'm expecting that snowshoes will be a necessity this time around, versus last time when it seemed better to run without. For what it's worth, we have been having good success on Atlas Race and Atlas Run snowshoes up here this winter, in conditions very similar to the SSR area.

Snowshoes are usually mandatory gear for this race but it's legal to carry them on your backpack instead of wearing them on your feet so if they weren't beneficial, the top racers wouldn't wear them. With the exception of last year, when the mandatory snowshoe requirement was removed for weather reasons, I'd say that pretty much everyone wears snowshoes in the forest and takes them off for road running sections. They are usually *hugely* helpful off-trail.

I didn't realize they were considered mandatory gear. Thanks for the info everyone.

Are you coming this year, InTIMidator?

I most definitely am. I will be the one tripping over his snowshoes every 30 feet :)

Oh, you won't be the only one doing that! :) They actually don't take too much time to get used to. Even with the rain forecast for Saturday, I think we'll be happy to have them. There is a TON of snow up there.

They don't have snowshoes listed on their gear list as mandatory:

http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content...

You're right, so they aren't mandatory in SSR 2014 unless we hear differently. Sorry! Most winter adventure races have required us to carry snowshoes for the snowshoe sections (much like requiring your bike to go on the biking sections) but maybe Bob is just treating it as a recommendation. In most years, you're penalized sufficiently by Mother Nature if you don't wear them.

Yeah. I think last year was the first year we didn't use them at all. This year, after seeing some of the videos, they are coming for sure. :)

I haven't raced SSR, but two years ago I criss-crossed the course to take photos. I looked longingly at all the racers who swished past me on their snowshoes like fleet-footed Legolas, while I slowly trudged in calf-deep snow in my boots. :)

Regardless if yiu choose snowshoes or not, you will be faster than pat-hectic.

I agree with Sudden

Official word from Bob: Snowshoes are not "mandatory gear" for SSR. However, he always gives advice in the final pre-race e-mail based on the latest snow conditions. Like BiT, I don't remember any other year besides 2013 when he said snowshoes weren't recommended. Right now, he says the snow is "crazy deep", and it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days.

I skimmed the photos from previous years before asking the question and 2013 was the only year of runnin shoes. In those photos you can see that the snow was only a few inches deep.

Looking forward to the snow flipper run.