PPP Weekend at FAR

Mount Fernie, April 8 2011

Nothing like waking to these views and blue skies on a Friday morning in Fernie, especially the weekend of the PPP! People are running around trying to get their team, equipment, costumes.. you name it, ready for this fun a popular season-ender race at Fernie Alpine Resort.

This race involves four legs - ski, bike, paddle and run and you can either compete solo or on a team. It's mostly just for fun... unless you talk to the winning team in any category! The start happens at the top of the Bear Chair, skiers have to run uphill to their skis in an attempt to spread the crowd out before traversing into Cedar, turning through a GS course, and straightlining to the tuck out and long traverse back to the base. Once there, they pass their toggle on to the bikers. Raring to go, they speed down from the Cornerstone Lodge, taking a right into the subdivision. A downhill, curvy sometimes sketchy road has racers checking their speed, but once they hit the highway it's fast pedaling all the way to town! The rowers/paddlers await in their boats, bikers ditching their roadies in the snow banks and running down to the river. Then the canoes and kayaks are off - people say this is where you win or lose the race. Not surprisingly I've stayed away from this leg. Back at the hill, the runners await news that their paddlers are in, and sprint up the road up to FAR like nobody's business when they hear their numbers over the radio! Turning into the subdivision, it's a continual and relentless climb all the way to the finish at the top parking lot.

It's early afternoon when the race ends, but it doesn't stop people from enjoying a celebratory beer at the Griz Bar. Dinner and dancing follow that evening, with prizes for winners in each category, and also for costumes, names, best effort, etc.

Join in the fun by cheering on the teams this year! And enjoy the sunshine.