Fraser – In the world of endurance sports and adventure racing, Mike Kloser is known for his attention to detail, and it’s a crucial element of his game considering he’s usually trying to beat men half his age.
He made an uncharacteristic mistake the last time he competed at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, but he made up for it Sunday.
“Redemption,” Kloser said after winning the U.S. Winter Triathlon Championship and qualifying for a trip to the world championships next month in Italy.
Sunday’s race on cross country ski trails consisted of an 8K run (no snowshoes), a 15K mountain bike segment and a 10K ski leg. Kloser, a three-time Eco- Challenge winner and former world mountain biking champion from Vail, finished in 1 hour, 44 minutes, 15 seconds. Brian Smith of Gunnison was second in 1:48:08. Keri Nelson of Grand Junction was the winning female with a time of 2:14:47.
In last month’s tuneup race here, Kloser mistakenly did three laps on the mountain bike when the race called for two. It most likely cost him a win, considering he was third-fastest in the run and fastest in the ski.
He still finished 13th, but for a man who screws metal brackets to the bottom of his running shoes for better traction, it was a shocking oversight.
“I just didn’t listen well the last race,” said Kloser, the director of activities for Beaver Creek resort.
Kloser has had many metamorphoses as an athlete. In the 1980s he was a competitive moguls skier. After that came the mountain biking – he is a member of The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and is considered a pioneer of the sport – and adventure racing.
Now he’s 47, with a 13-year-old son who is a budding triathlete and a 14-year-old daughter who is a moguls skier.
“Some of these guys around here are kind of questioning how age will affect you as you get older and older,” Kloser said. “You know, I love beating kids half my age, so this was great.”
Smith compared him to another mountain biking great turned off-road triathlete, Ned Overend.
“He’s a mutant,” Smith said. “Just doesn’t quit, and he’s so strong.”
Smith, who won last month’s tuneup event, said Kloser went with wider tires Sunday and that was the difference in the race.
“I never like to let equipment be a factor,” Kloser said. “I spend a lot of time paying attention to detail and trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. Every little advantage that’s legal, I’m out there to gain that little edge. When you get a little older, you have to think about that stuff.”
Sunday’s race was Nelson’s first winter triathlon, and she had adventure racer Danelle Ballengee to thank for it. The two women met last August at the Pikes Peak Marathon – Ballengee was second, Nelson third.
Ballengee broke her pelvis and was lucky to survive a fall on a training run in Moab last December.
“Danelle Ballengee was the one who encouraged me to get out here and do it and really put a lot of faith in me,” Nelson said. “I owe a lot to her. She’s doing better. She’s recovering progressively every day, and she wanted to say hi to everyone out here.”
RESULTS
USAT National Championships
Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Fraser
8K run, 15K mountain bike, 10K nordic ski
Overall results
MEN
1. Mike Kloser, Vail, age 47, 1:44:15
2. Brian Smith, Gunnison, 32, 1:48:08
3. Spencer Powlison, Boulder, 24, 1:53:45
4. Nat Ross, Golden, 36, 1:53:47
5. Andy Biglow, Boulder, 37, 1:53:58
6. Peter Valentyik, Boulder, 39, 1:54:48
7. Jasper Blake, Victoria, British Columbia, 34, 1:55:20
8. Josiah Middaugh, Vail, 29, 1:57:29
9. Kraig Koski, Longmont, 41, 1:57:56
10. Dave Harrison, Sun Valley, Idaho, 43, 2:01:40
WOMEN
25. Keri Nelson, Grand Junction, 26, 2:14:47
35. Gretchen Reeves, Boulder, 36, 2:24:43
41. Heather Best, Fairbanks, Alaska, 30, 2:31:01
47. Katie Lindquist, Steamboat Springs, 42, 2:37:29
48. Kate Chapman, Gunnison, 21, 2:39:11
49. Lisa Isom, Vail, 35, 2:41:31
54. Molly Hummel, Durango, 23, 2:46:50
55. Julie Hudetz, Boulder, 39, 2:47:46
58. Amber Rydholm, Boulder, 29, 2:50:07
