March 9, 2005 – As the Eastern marathons were in full swing in New England, the western group of spirited Team Rossignol athletes traveled to Truckee, CA for the Great Race. The 2005 Great Race was recording-breaking in every respect – record number of skiers, record Sierra snowfall, record-worthy Spring weather all culminating in record-breaking course times. The Sierra has experienced one of the best winters in recorded history, which on Sunday was complemented by an as-good-as-it-gets Sierra Spring day – clear blue skies, calm winds and just enough chill in the air to keep snow conditions primo. Rossignol’s Baughman, hot off a top three finish at last weekends Birkie, once again left nothing to the imagination. The Great Race’s point-to-point course is simple its all up and then all down, which plays perfectly to Baughman’s strengths. She took hold of the race lead from the ready-set-GO to the rip-roaring, bobsled-like chute spitting racers out onto the finishing field above historic Hilltop. Baughman sizzled up Staratt Pass, leaving a trail of tears in her wake to finish in 1:14:03.

Next to fly onto the one-of-a-kind finishing venue was Rossignol’s Greyhound Grethe-Lise Hagense at 1:16:44, taking a solo second. Former speed skating Olympian, Beth Heiden Reid finishing in 1:16:52, swiped the last podium spot. Rossignol’s Hipless Wonder, recently crowned Hip Replacement Poster Child, Muffy Ritz rocked to a top five, finishing in 1:20:40 According to Rossignol’s Owen Hanley, “The men’s field shattered five kilometers into the race, with Patrick Weaver setting the pace.” Weaver who held a 15 second advantage over Starrat Pass, continued his rocket-like pace and crossed the finish line in a record setting time of 1:07:00. Justin Easter battled to a second place finish in a time of 1:07:07 with Marshall Greene grabbing the bronze. Rossignol’s Owen Hanley and Josh Smullin rounded out the top five finishing fourth and fifth respectively in 1:08:38 and 1:08:43. Team Rossignol’s Resident MD. Wins the Sibley Ski Tour race. Adam Swank, Team Rossignol’s resident doctor from Duluth, MN found time between his busy schedule at the Duluth Clinic to travel to Thunder Bay, ONT for the Sibley Ski Tour. This long held race attracts over 1000 participants and is one of the bigger races north of the border.

Under clear skies with temperatures hovering around zero degrees centigrade, Adam Swank put down the hammer on the rest of his competitors to take top honors in this prestigious race. Second place and third place went to Bruce Bauer and André Watt also of Duluth, MN.