Wasatch Citizens Series
The Wasatch Citizens Series (WCS) consists of five events held each year at
the major cross country ski areas along the Wasatch Front and Back. Two
classical technique and three free technique races are included to provide
the balance local athletes need to prepare for national and international
competition. In addition to our seventeen age categories for each gender,
the WCS includes novice classes, to encourage beginners to get involved in
the sport, and expert classes, for more serious racers. Awards are given
to the top three finishers in each of these groups at each race. Points are awarded to all race finishers, and the top
three skiers in each age group receive special prizes at the end of the
season. Participants' ages range from less than 5 to more than 70, and
many families regularly attend the races.
The WCS ski races have been Utah's premier nordic skiing events since 1979. When the US Ski Team moved its coaching staff to Park City in the 1980's, the WCS became a training ground for many of the country's top skiers. The Park City Junior Nordic Ski Team has launched several young athletes to national recognition, and some of our older participants have consistently won National Masters titles. Members of the last three U.S. Olympic Teams, Laura McCabe and Wendy Wagner, began their skiing careers in our races.
Principal sponsor for the 2009/2010 WCS is Smartwool.
Various local retailers act as individual event sponsors: Wild Rose, White Pine, Kirkham's, REI, and Wasatch Touring. Clif Bar provides energy bars and Shot Bloks for all of our participants at each race. Also, lunch will be provided at the first race (Soldier Hollow), the fourth (Soldier Hollow), and the last (White Pine Farm), compliments of: MidValley Animal Clinic, Nate Wade Subaru, and Scott Machinery Company.
A number of companies provide products that are given out after the races by random drawing. Donors of drawing prizes are: Allen Wealth Management (financial planning), Atomic (skis), Black Diamond (gloves, headlamps), Crystal Inn (overnight getaways), CW-X (conditioning wear), Fischer (skis, poles), Golite Footwear (shoes), Jan's (ski grinding), Kelty (packs, bags), Lone Peak (packs), Nathan (packs), The Winter Sports School (clothing), Petzl (headlamps), Rossignol (skis, ski/boot bags), SportHill (clothing), Swix (wax, ski poles), Timberland (footwear), Toko (wax, clothing), Ultimate Direction (packs), Wild Rose (outdoor gear, ski grinding), X Bionic (long underwear), X Socks (high performance socks), and Yaktrax (friction devices for shoes, socks).
The schedule for Wasatch Citizens Series events, as well as most of the
other races in Utah and vicinity that are popular with local cross country
skiers, is shown below. For more information about cross country ski
racing in Utah, check the The Utah
Nordic Alliance (TUNA) website, or send email to me at hanscom 'at'
cs 'dot' utah 'dot' edu. Click on the races that have already occurred to
see results.
| date | race | technique(distance) | location | start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat,Dec 12 | White Pine/TUNARelay ** | 1 leg classical, 2 legs free (3 x 5k) | White Pine | 10:00 |
| Sat,Dec 19 | Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series | classical (10k) | Soldier Hollow | 10:00 |
| Sat,Jan 2 | Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series | free (15k) | White Pine | 10:00 |
| Sat,Jan 9 | Potato Cup | pursuit (4/10/20k) | Mink Creek, ID | 10:00 |
| Wed,Jan 13 | Wild Rose Fun Race | any (5k) | Mountain Dell | 4:30 |
| Fri,Jan 15 | JO Qualifier | free | Jackson, WY | - |
| Sat,Jan 16 | JO Qualifier | classical | Jackson, WY | - |
| Sat,Jan 16 | Teton Ridge Classic | classical (6/14/28k) | Driggs, ID | 10:00 |
| Sat,Jan 16 | BASH Winter Triathlon | run/bike/ski | Soldier Hollow | 8:30 |
| Wed,Jan 20 | Wild Rose Fun Race | any (5k) | Mountain Dell | 4:30 |
| Sat,Jan 23 | Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series | classical (10k) | Mountain Dell | 10:00 |
| Wed,Jan 27 | Wild Rose Fun Race | any (5k) | Mountain Dell | 4:30 |
| Fri,Jan 29 | JO Super Qualifier | classical (sprint) | Soldier Hollow | - |
| Sat,Jan 30 | JO Super Qualifier | free | Soldier Hollow | - |
| Wed,Feb 3 | Wild Rose Fun Race | any (5k) | Mountain Dell | 4:30 |
| Sat,Feb 6 | Boulder Mountain Tour | free (30k) | Sun Valley, ID | 10:00 |
| ??? | Silver Ski Tour | any (5/10k) | White Pine/Willow Creek Park to Kimball Junction | 10:00 |
| Wed,Feb 10 | Wild Rose Fun Race | any (5k) | Mountain Dell | 4:30 |
| Fri,Feb 12 | JO Qualifier | free | Boise, ID | - |
| Sat,Feb 13 | JO Qualifier | class | Boise, ID | - |
| ??? | Moose Chase | free (25k) | Jackson Hole, WY | 10:00 |
| Sun, Feb 14 | Bryce Canyon Archery Biathlon | free (6k) | Ruby's Inn | 11:00 |
| Mon, Feb 15 | Bryce Canyon Ski Festival | free (10k) | Ruby's Inn | 9:00 |
| Wed,Feb 17 | Wild Rose Fun Race | any (5k) | Mountain Dell | 4:30 |
| Sat,Feb 20 | Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series | free (10k) | Soldier Hollow | 10:00 |
| Sat,Feb 27 | Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series / TUNA Club Championship | free (20k) | White Pine (farm) | 10:00 |
| Sat,Mar 6 | Yellowstone Rendezvous | classical (25k) | West Yellowstone, MT | 8:45 |
| Sat,Mar 6 | Yellowstone Rendezvous | free (25/50k) | West Yellowstone, MT | 9:00 |
| Sat,Mar 13 | Wooden Ski Classic & Potluck | classical (5k) | Alta (upper parking lot) | 10:30 |
| ??? | Steamboat Pentathlon | alpine, cross country, snowshoe, bike, run (24 miles total) | Steamboat Springs, CO | 9:00 |
| ??? | LUNA Scenic Tour (formerly LaSalLoppet) | any (any) | Geyser Pass Trailhead, Moab | 10:00 |
| ??? | Wasatch Powderkeg Backcountry Ski Race | - | Alta | 7:30 |
| ??? | Ullr Chase | free (???) | Franklin Basin in Logan Canyon | 10:00 |
| ??? | Spring Fling Relay & Potluck | 2 legs classical, 2 legs free (4 x 4k) | Solitude Nordic | 10:00 |
Last update: June 30, 2009
06/30/09 - First draft. The local Utah race schedule looks pretty solid through February, but be sure to check periodically for possible changes and for March/April event dates.
