19-20/12: 2007 Russian Ski Mountaineering Championships (RU)

Russian Ski Mountaineering Championships
This is well and truly over due, but better late than never.......

The Russian Ski Mountaineering Championships took place on the 19th -22nd December in Magnitogorsk situated in the Southern Ural mountain range.
The top racers from Russian gathered, all with hopes of being selected for the Russian ski mountaineering team to race in the upcoming SMWC.

Strong winds and a lack of snow were the theme for the championship and a lack of snow meant that all the ski descents were on man made snow of the ski area. This lack of snow how ever did now restrict the race organisers imagination for the ascents, with some very interesting and challenging climbs in the singles and teams races.

The vertical race was held on the 19th , with racers starting one at a time in 15sec intervals. The vertical gain was 450m.
Results-
Men:
1. Kazakov Maxim. (Murmansk region) -0.26.27 (26 min. 27 sec.)
2. Kurganov Jury (Magnitogorsk) -0.29.32
3. Sibaev Gena (Magnitogorsk) -0.29.43
women:
1. Kirievskaya Elena(Magnitogorsk) -0.38.32
2. Elkova Diana (CAMP Alpindustria, Moskow) -0.39.57
3. Papush Elena (CAMP Alpindustria? Moskow) -0.42.22

The next day was the teams race, were Elena Kirievskaya and Agata Mavrinskaya had an easy win in the woman's division, well in the 2250 vertical meter men's race only 4 mins separated the top 3 places!
men
1.Kazakov Maxim - Kojin Alexander (Murmansk region) -3 h.57 м. 43 sec.
2. Kirievskiy Gena - Sibaev Gena (Magnitogorsk) -4.00.33
3. Kurchakov Slava - Romanov Sergey (СAMP Alpindustria, Moscow) -4.01.02
women
1.Kirievskaya Elena - Mavrinskaya Agata (Magnitogorsk) -3.06.08
2. Elkova Diana - Papush Elena (CAMP Alpindustria, Alpindustria) -3.16.20
Elena Kirievskaya
The 21st seen the much anticipated 1800m individual race. Unfortunately Gena Kirievskiy, tired from the teams race the day before (and from spending 3 months climbing a new route on K2!!!) did not start the race. Strong winds and temperatures around -20 made for tough racing. Gena Sibaev, one of the pre-race favourers and current New Zealand ski mountaineering champion, was forced to retire from the race due to the cold (to much time at the beach in NZ?). This left Maxim Kazakov and Alexander Kozhin, both from the Murmansk region battling it out for the honours, with Kazakov winning by 3mins. Elena Kirievskaya was again impressive, winning the woman's division with ease.
individual race
men:
1. Kazakov Maxim (Murmansk region)_______________2.32.13
2. Kozhin Alexander(Murmansk region) ______________2.35.24
3. Kurganov Jury (Magnitogorsk)___________________2.41.11
women:
1. Kirievskaya Elena (Magnitogorsk)_____________2.44.48
2. Elkova Diana(CAMP Alpindustria, Moscow) ________3.03.22
3. Papush Elena(CAMP Alpindustria, Moscow)________3.54.39
The 4th and final day was a rely race, with teams if 2, each member doing 2 laps. Elena Kirievskaya and Maxim Kazakov continued there dominance, both anchoring there respective teams to first place and finish the championships with 4 gold medals!!