10TH Annual Jazz Trax Snowshoe Stop Race Report

Well, this was a record year for the STOMP! The snow Gods were in full force and the race returned to its original location. The beautiful Bear Valley Cross Country Ski Area hosted the event, with a race start back at the meadow. 🙂 Paul Peterson, the owner of BVXC, set the course in fine form! The start banners were in place along with some nice flags to salute the race start, with beautiful sunny skies and air temperature around 35 degrees at 7,200 feet elevation!

Racers were greeted and signed up by members of the NCA JAZZ, a musical group from NorthCreek Academy out of Walnut Creek, CA. The kids worked hard with the help of parents to get the race started on time. Twelve of the musicians even took on the one-mile race as well.

Race Director, Patty Jo Struve, gave a stellar performance once again of the “National Anthem” on the trumpet, to begin the ceremonies.

The 5k and 10k start went out with 51 racers! This was the largest showing for these races ever! Along with this, the One Mile event started 5 minutes later with a record 33 racers! It was so exciting to see the kids and some adults taking on the One Mile challenge. We had racers ranging from age 3 to age 78! Many of the 10k racers were returnees and new faces were welcomed from the bay area as well. Kudos to the folks who traveled from CLUB SPORT in Pleasanton, a big showing by this new group. Many of them were first-time snowshoe racers and they had a great time.

The one-mile race was won outright by NCA student, Will Sauter, who had a big lead over the runner-up, James Walker, also from NCA. Student Natalie Neypes took the overall girl win on the heels of the boys. The best part of the one mile was seeing the 4 youngest girls run in with a dad “babysitter/runner”, they were ages 3 & 5! These folk know how to start ‘em young.

The first 5k runner was returning winner, Jim Burton, a long time local of the community. He had a great time and close behind him was Jim Dixon. Michele Maley took the women’s crown for the 5k and she was very excited to finally take the gold in this race. Kayleen Clemens, local gal, took 2nd overall, with a win in her age group. Also, noted was finisher, Carol Pechler from the bay area, 75 years young! She looked amazing and was really pleased with the race and went home and told all her running friends about how much fun she had! The other noted racer in this event was 71-year-old, Michael Erickson, a returnee finishing strong in the 5K.

Returning athlete from the San Jose area, Joseph Raneti, was the victor in the 10K with a very fast time of 1:02:19. He is a young runner and is a threat to the older men, at the ripe age of 16. The 10k had some newcomers this year, one being Rene Sepulueda, national snowshoe athlete, coming in 2nd place behind Raneti. 50 year old Rene took the 50-59 age group win. Not far behind him, was the 55 year old, first place woman, Vicky Johnson. Vicky has been a long competitor in this event and when she finished she said “I had to work hard for this one, those girls behind me are fast!” She has never won the 10k, but has been the 5k victor in the past, so this was very exciting for her. She was also the hostess to 25 junior high musicians (NCA JAZZ) who stayed at Tamarack Lodge, just down the road from the event.

Another amazing finish by our OLDEST competitor and my hero, was Jim Kauffold, age 78. He was headed to Nationals a week later.                                

Congrats to all of the finishers! Racers were treated to a deluxe lunch made by our awesome friend, Paula Gonzalez. She puts out a great meal for all and we love her! The awards party (and it is a party!) was the best part for the race director. She is the teacher of the NCA JAZZ and that is her passion for this event. The group played music from swing to rock for the listeners while they ate great food and received their awards and raffle prizes. Everyone went home a winner! Blessings to all!

There were many behind the scenes people to thank for helping make this event the best yet!

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Paul & Diane Peterson
Tamarack Lodge
Atlas Snowshoe Company
Rudy Project
Sam Nilsen (Sound GUY)
Paula Gonzalez (Cook)
Smokin’ Barrel
Colleen Brophy
Greg Steele-NCA principal
ALL THE PARENTS FROM NCA JAZZ
Photographer-Denise Quan
Hazel Fisher School
Clint Jodie
Subway in Arnold

Jazz Trax Snowshoe Stomp – 2016

1 Mile Race Results