August 15, 2018 (Fayston, Vermont) – NENSA’s 2018 Bag Balm App Gap Challenge held on on Aug. 11 was an absolute success with almost 120 finishers – doubling the 2017 field. Held in a Pursuit-style format, the racers tackled the steep slopes of Vermont’s toughest climb, beginning with skating and then transitioning to Classic style mid-race.

The women’s field battled the 5km course and during their skate leg it was a tight race between Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury GRP) and Ida Sargent, with the top four only separated by nine seconds at the transition.

In the end it was Patterson who would smash the second half of the climb during the Classic leg, pulling out an advantage of 45 seconds over Sargent to take the overall win. Katherine Ogden (Dartmouth/SMS T) was third and Sophie Caldwell (SMS T2) finished 4th. Rena Swartz of GMVS demolished the Junior Women’s field winning by over a minute over second-placed Alexandra Lawson (Middlebury/CRAF) with Callie Young (Craftsbury Nordic) 3rd .

For the 7km men’s event, Kyle Bratrud of SMS T2 had the fastest skate leg and never looked back, finishing with a time of 25:44. Adam Martin (Craftsbury GRP) had the second best time, finishing just under a minute behind in 26:40. Lewis Nottonson (Middlebury) was third. Elliot Ketchel of GMVS took the Junior Men’s event over teammate Joshua Valentine with Craftsbury Nordic’s Finn Sweet in third. Joel Bradley of Ford Sayre won the men’s 30+ category.

Bratrud and Patterson each won $100 respectively for breaking the course record. NENSA thanks all the athletes, volunteers and sponsors who stepped up once again to make this event and the series a success.

The 5-stop 2018 Bag Balm Rollerski Race Series will continue on the Sept. 15-16 weekend with the NYSEF Challenge (3km prologue followed by 1.5km Sprint) and the legendary Climb to the Castle race on day two.

Senior athletes will also vying for a cash purse graciously provided by Marty and Kathy Hall. There are five races in the 2018 NENSA Rollerski Race Series. Athletes (senior only) will be ranked by their best 3 of 5 placements, with both male and female competitors vying $500 (1st), $300 (2nd), $200 (3rd). Juniors will receive recognition and prizes. The Marty Hall College Cup will be awarded to the college team that accumulates the most points over the course of the series – more on rules, prizing and awards here.

The Series wraps up this fall with the NENSA Elite Invitational at Trapp Family Lodge on Nov. 3 and features a $1,000 cash purse for the overall winners. Check out the interviews below with Patterson, Sargent, Caldwell and Simi Hamilton.

2018 Bag Balm Rollerski Race Series
Aug 11 – App Gap Challenge
Sept 15 – Lake Placid Doubleday
Sept 16 – Climb to the Castle
Oct 13 – NENSA Fall Rollerski Classic
Nov 3 – NENSA Elite Invitational

App Gap Challenge Results
By class here.
Overall here.
With both laps here.

2018 Bag Balm Rollerski Race Series registration and info here.

Caitlin Patterson Interview
https://reesebrown.smugmug.com/USST/Roller-Ski-Summer-2018/NENSA-App-Gap-81118/i-qm4m27r/A

Ida Sargent Interview
https://reesebrown.smugmug.com/USST/Roller-Ski-Summer-2018/NENSA-App-Gap-81118/i-QZ2FXN8/A

Sophie Caldwell Interview
https://reesebrown.smugmug.com/USST/Roller-Ski-Summer-2018/NENSA-App-Gap-81118/i-GVrSzgB/A

Simi Hamilton Interview
https://reesebrown.smugmug.com/USST/Roller-Ski-Summer-2018/NENSA-App-Gap-81118/i-jT67tPH/A