Aspen welcomed avid ski mountaineer athletes to compete in the Audi Power of Four ski mountaineering race on Saturday, Feb. 10. Similar to the trail and bike versions of the event during the summer months,.
Swenson, now a perfect four-for-four in Life Time Grand Prix events, achieved a Leadville Trail 100 MTB three-peat in astonishing fashion, completing the 104.8-mile course in 5 hours, 43 minutes and 31 seconds.
Ironically, much of the 2023 race played out similarly to 2022. Swenson bolted off the front one-third up the Columbine climb, riding 50-plus solo miles to a win, while Howard Grotts, Vermeulen and Gaston were the major players fighting to round out the podium.
Four races over five years is all it took for Katherine Keel to go from last to legend in the annual Grand Traverse ski mountaineering race from Crested Butte to Aspen. Partnering with Jenya Berino for the first time, the duo from Basalt finished in 10 hours, 29.3 seconds on Sunday.