From the inspiring to the tragic, this is GearJunkie’s weekly wrap on exploration and adventure news of the week. Here’s what you missed this week and a few things to look forward to.
One skier and two runners set new course records at this year’s Arrowhead Ultra 135, the human-powered race that draws fat-bike cyclists, runners, and skiers to northern Minnesota every winter.
First, skier Shalane Frost (33) of Fairbanks, Alaska, busted through the overall course ski record by skiing faster than any man or woman had in Arrowhead Ultra history. Frost’s time of 20:40:00 dethroned Dan Campbell’s 2020 record by a stunning 17 minutes.
“I was confident I could get the women’s record,” Frost told Alaska Sports Report. “I didn’t actually think that I would have a shot at the men’s record. That’s fast, a 6.6 miles-per-hour average.”
The Arrowhead’s frosty footrace saw new course speed records for men’s and women’s divisions. Jake Hegge of La Crosse, Wisc. broke the tape with 28:27:00 on the clock, snuffing out the previous men’s speed record of 30:54:00. Then Gretchen Metsa of Duluth, Minn. clinched first in women’s and second overall with a time of 33:05:00. Metsa’s pace put her more than 9 hours ahead of the previous women’s course time and 16.5 hours ahead of her own performance in 2020.
Now in its 17th year, the Arrowhead Ultra 135 is considered one of the 50 hardest races in the world. Though 2022’s temps were just in the single digits (mmm, toasty!), the mercury has dipped as low as -45 degrees F in years prior. Arrowhead organizers proudly proclaim it as the “coldest gosh darn race anyplace, even the Arctic” — and we’re inclined to believe ’em.
Head to arrowheadultra.com for the full recap, and check out photographer Jamison Swift’s rad shots of the action at swiftphotography.com/Race-Events/Arrowhead-135-2022.
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