BACKCOUNTRY SKI TOURING. When asked at the start about their goals in the Atomic Waymaker, the "United States of Canada" team answered with a mixture of emotion and irony: "To be able to say in 20 years that we took part in the very first, now globally successful, Atomic Waymaker."

Team Weride at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 7th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

Now the three top athletes from the USA and Canada will be able to wrap up their story with a very satisfying punch line - because not only did they compete in the inaugural Atomic Waymaker, they also won it.

This is a very symbolic victory for the world-class trio of Marc Smiley, Andrew McNab and Reiner Thoni and is indicative of the shape of things to come: this ski touring challenge, which demands fitness and creativity, navigational and freeskiing skills, a sense of responsibility and team spirit, has international potential. "The Atomic Waymaker represents a milestone. I believe that this event can take ski touring to a whole new level," said Patrick Tritscher of the Waymaker event team.

Strabag Alpin Team_at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 7th 2013 © Armin Walcher

Team Preber_at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 7th, 2013 Jakob Schweighofer

Thoni Reiner

Event Participants at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 7th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

"We're incredibly proud to have won this event," added Marc Smiley, who hopes, along with his wife Janelle, to become the first to complete all fifty classic climbs of North America by 2014. "And we had two fantastic days in the Dachstein. One of today's descents took us through a steep couloir (Ed.: narrow gully) with a gradient of over 50 degrees where there was some great snow – it was an experience that puts everything we've ever done in Europe in the shade."

Team United States of Canada winners of the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 7th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

There was thick fog between Ödensee and Krippenstein on Saturday and on Sunday the conditions were even worse: from the 5am start on the Krippenstein, visibility was reduced by the fog to just a few meters. Consequently, the jury were forced to abandon their assessment of the teams at 11am and allow the teams to finish at their own pace. "Safety comes first," said Putz.

Atomic Waymaker
www.atomicwaymaker.com
07.04.2013

Atomic Waymaker, Day 1: Test of strength on the Krippenstein

On day one of the Atomic Waymaker, the competitors were up against thick fog between Pichl-Kainisch and Krippenstein. The athletes made up for poor visibility with maximum performance – to the delight of the panel of expert judges which includes Red Bull Air Race Champion Hannes Arch and legendary climber Beat Kammerlander.

Team Weride at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

The start at Ödensee: thick fog.
On the Däumkogel: thick fog.
The finish on the Krippenstein: thick fog.

"It's incredible," said Red Bull Air Race Champion and Atomic Waymaker judge Hannes Arch, "that the athletes still managed to do their thing today despite the adverse weather conditions."

PreberTeam_at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th 2013 © Jakob Schweighofer

Eight three-man teams set off from Ödensee at 7am on Saturday, arriving at Krippenstein between 3 and 4pm. They were allowed to plan their own route - apart from the fixed point of Däumkogel - in between: because Atomic Waymaker is not about achieving the quickest time. It's about planning the most creative route and demonstrating the greatest versatility.

Team Kilians Choice at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

"The first day of Atomic Waymaker has been impressive," said Head Judge Heli Putz. "To my knowledge, many of the routes taken today have never been used. It's surprised us just how varied the routes taken by the teams have been." (The live tracking traces on atomicwaymaker.com show just how differently the terrain was used). Putz is especially pleased that "All of the teams took our "safety first" mandate seriously and showed responsibility in adapting to the challenging conditions."

The United Sates of Canada_at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th 2013 © Jakob Schweighofer

For competitive climbing pioneer Beat Kammerlander, day one of the Waymaker was indicative of form. "Before we hit the high alpine terrain tomorrow, with its steep gorges and abseil points, I first wanted to make sure that all of the competitors were capable of negotiating the rocks. That's why I paid close attention to the teams on the via ferratas on the Däumkogel. My conclusion: top performances across the board."

Team Yellow Travel at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

Preber Team at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

Team Kilians Choice at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th, 2013 Photo: Ray Demski

The teams also demonstrated outstanding conditional performance: over almost nine hours of competition, no fewer than three teams managed an elevation gain of 3,000 meters and covered 30 km. Judge Andi Ringhofer, himself an endurance king, applauded them for it: "We sat down last night and observed the teams planning their routes. We thought some of them were a bit on the ambitious side - so it's incredible that almost all of them actually carried it off."

Kufsteiner Kaiser Schitourer_at the Atomic Waymaker at Dachstein, Austria on April 6th 2013 © Jakob Schweighofer

Atomic freeskier Matthias "Hauni" Haunholder focused on the downhills: "It was a day which freeriders would normally consider a typical down day."

For him, those teams which didn't know their way around the terrain were the biggest surprise: "They set off with the abandon of freeriders and found some cool routes. I've been really impressed by their committed performances in spite of the challenging conditions."

Atomic Waymaker
www.atomicwaymaker.com
06.04.2013