Fernie Lizard Skinner

Isothermal snow in January? Just another day in Fernie! Once again, conditions were spiced up with a rain crust before the 2nd annual Fernie Lizard Skinner. Things weren't as spicy as last year and the steep groomed climbs offered a little more traction, and skiing down the Diamondback run was not as miserable, except for some grabby alders. The course was even more of a groomer drag race this year with a short skintrack in the trees near the top of the 1st and 2nd climbs was removed with the course instead sticking to the groomed run. I don't mind the lap format.

Skin rip transition grams. So hot right now #skimo #skiuphill #skitour #thighgap #mahalo #ferniestoke #lizardskinner #bombsforbreakfast #centerplow 📷 @nachopicsdaily

A photo posted by Peter Knight (@peteyknight5) on Jan 23, 2017 at 4:22pm PST

I felt great. I took the lead going pretty hard, but not "chasing Eric and Nick and then paying for it on the last climb" hard. It was a similar tactic as last year, but this year it worked as I was able to ski to victory. For those of you reading since the very beginning, this is my first "Canada Cup" victory as my only other victories have come at smaller night races (Vert 180, Tiki Torch Dash) and a race in the States (Whitefish Whiteout). Things are starting to come together in time for world championships next month.

Like at the Castle Cat road, I looked back at my GPS file for a comparison


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Year	Elapsed Time	Elevation Gain (Garmin)	Ascent Rate (m/hr)
2016-1	00:27:02	540	1199
2016-2	00:27:20	534	1172
2017-1	00:26:16	530	1211
2017-2	00:26:19	524	1195