Third Flatiron Race: The Movie

October 15, 2003

Note: We made the media with this event: http://www.climbing.com/news/flatspeed/

Yet another of Satan’s Minions Flatiron Time Trials was held on Wednesday. This time we wanted to document the event on film. Galen Burrell and Dave Mackey took the point on this project and we recruited lots of still photographs and camera operators. Galen’s dad, Buzz, had another objective: to set the fastest known time for the roundtrip on the Third Flatiron.

The turnout for this race was our best ever and the talent was stellar. Leading the pack was Buzz Burrell, one of the two alpha males of Flatiron scrambling. Buzz was in peak fitness and very motivated to make a lasting mark on the record books. Just last week he had won the inaugural race up the East Face of the First Flatiron, setting the speed record for the round trip.

Bill Briggs, the other alpha male held the record on the Third Flatiron. Bill showed up at the start of the event, but was hobbled by a nagging ankle injury and wouldn’t be racing with us. He endured a few interview questions for the cameras and then melded into the background.

The camera crew, directed by Galen, was bustling around before the start and most of them headed up the trail to their assigned locations long before the gun went off. We had Kre and Joseffa on top of the Third’s summit, having carried a couple of ropes up there to fix for the rappel descent. Dan Mottinger was at the base of the rappel lines. He also made the climb up to the summit and strung a third rope for us. Roaming on the face itself, cameras in hand were Dave Mackey, Galen, and Dave Silberman. In the woods and on the trails were Mike Record, Myke Komarnitsky, Peter Spindloe and his wife, and Buzz’s girlfriend Sue.

The racers were a “Who’s Who” of Boulder speed climbers. Josh Wharton, an internationally known alpine speed climber, showed up for the first time. Josh owns the speed record for the Naked Edge with Phil Gruber, who also came out. Phil was second in the last TTT and was back to see if he could improve his result.

Jon Sargeant, a 4:30-miler, was returning as well. Jon was third the last time we raced the Third and fifth last week on the First Flatiron. Christian Griffith, founder and owner of Verve, toed the line for his first Third Flatiron race. He had finished in fifth place on the First last week. Christian is one of the most famous Boulder climbers and can trace his climbing roots directly to Layton Kor via Pat Ament.

David Stewart, who competed for his first time last week on the First, was more comfortable and confident this time and ready to unleash his fitness. Ben Mottinger, who I had raced occasionally on the trails, was now taking our rivalry to the rocks.

Most exciting to me was for the first time ever, we had all four founding members of Satan’s Minions Scrambling Club out for a Flatiron race: Mark Oveson, Homie Prater, the Trashman, and myself. Mark had never broken an hour on the Third, but had done 1h01m unsupported, so he expected a huge PR with the rope support here. Homie claimed he wouldn’t go fast, as he often does, but he was very fit and climbing surprisingly well.

Mark “BTO” Bockmann is an adventure racer extraordinaire. This year he has entered four races and won them all. At one race he even won a two-year lease on a brand new Ford Escape (SUV). And, like Layton Kor and all his amazing climbs with inexperienced partners, he did it with a complete buffoon on his team

Ben Hoyt is a regular on Flatiron excursions, but had always missed the races before. This time he not only showed up, but he brought a huge batch of cupcakes for after the event. No cupcake went uneaten.

Bill Briggs served as the honorary starter and when he cut us loose, Phil bolted out into the lead, followed by Josh Wharton, and then Jon, who usually employs this tactic. Josh had a bum ankle and knew he’d need a sizable lead by the summit if he was to hold off the others. Phil and Jon were very fit and trying once again to see if they could break Buzz. Buzz likes to start slow and then he just continues to turn the screw until everyone else cracks. This time Christian went with him, but I was already falling behind. David was right next to me and Ben Mottinger and BTO were on my heels. I was hurting early and couldn’t shake these guys. Ben moved past me before the Bluebell Shelter and David moved by a bit later, but I stayed on his heels. Stefan, who likes to start slow as well, went blasting by us all as we hit the woods. Stefan said, “Come on, Bill!” as he went by and this exemplifies the attitude of most of the people out here. He wanted me to do well and cheered me on, but I couldn’t stay with him.

Photo 1: Jon Sargeant on the East Face of the Third (photo by: Peter Holcombe)

I looked over my shoulder before entering the woods and I saw Homie and Tony not too far behind. I wasn’t having a stellar day and just couldn’t get going on the approach. I hit the wall right behind David and passed him almost immediately. Christian was only twenty seconds in front of me, but he steadily increase his lead. Stefan was going great and way up the face. BTO was right behind me as we hit the face and I knew I had to push on the climb if I was to take him. I followed Christian’s path up and left, on the regular route. I usually head straight for the summit, which is a bit harder but more direct. I don’t think it mattered today. I was gassed and my calves were screaming with the effort. I passed Dave Mackey filming on the face and tried to answer a question or two, but didn’t have the lungs for it.

Just before the summit, I caught and passed Ben. He was taking the final friction pitch a bit conservatively and I paddled up it at top speed. I moved over to the rappel lines and found a free one. I fumbled with my device for too long and put on my special rappelling glove (actually, my biking glove). This glove was my secret weapon. Buzz was the only one to use a glove last time and he had smoked on the rappel. This time a number of us came prepared. Kre and Joseffa were filming and cheering us on. These two are angels. Later they would tell us that Mic Fairchild, an early starter, had pushed so hard to the summit that he hurled before rappelling off. I love the effort people put into this event.

I zipped down the line, said “Hi” to Dan Mottinger, who was filming at the base, and took off down the 3rd class ledges. I slipped near the bottom and ripped a small flapper on the heel of my hand. I caught and passed Mic in the talus field and could feel Ben in hot pursuit. I pushed hard on the descent and hit the smooth road still ahead of Ben. I could see Josh hobbling down the trail way up ahead, but Ben was fast closing on me. When Ben passed me I held out my hand to give him five. I had some painful stomach cramps I wouldn’t be giving him a run to the line. I crossed in 40:28, eight seconds behind Ben. I was disappointed not to break forty minutes. After last week’s PR, I was confident I could break 39 minutes here. Clearly I need to do a bit more training.

               

Photo 2: Buzz flying...and focused (all photos by Mike Record unless otherwise specified)

The top five broke forty minutes. Last time only three broke forty and this time we should have had six. Phil Gruber apparently started too fast and cramped up. He decided to drop out instead of continuing. Buzz ran down Jon and Josh before hitting the Third Flatiron, as usual. Then he turned on the jets and increased his lead all the way to the summit. Jon moved into second place and gave Buzz plenty of incentive not to let up on the descent. Buzz pushed hard clear to the line and shattered his own supported course record. He finished in a staggering 34:48 – nearly two minutes ahead of second place Jon Sargeant at 36:28, who now owns the second fastest supported time ever. Stefan did incredibly well, but was still two more minutes back at 38:28. CG was only ten seconds behind and Josh was the last one to squeak under forty minutes. He was hampered by a bum ankle and has already expressed his desire to compete in the next event.

               

Photo 3: Josh Wharton and Stefan Griebel flying to the base.

Behind me was BTO and David. David did extremely well on the approach and the run down and lost his time on the face. He was passed by Homie on the face, but was able to just run him down before the finish. The rest of the crew was Ben Hoyt, Tony Bubb, Mark Oveson, and Brad Schildt. Warren, Trashy, and Mic had started early and they finished well under an hour. This event is getting to be very fast.

Photo 4: Mic Fairchild - owner of the Bastille speed record.

Kreighton finished in 1h15m after sweeping the course. He wasn’t racing. The photographers and riggers came down in ones and twos and we all milled about on an endorphin high. We moved the party down into the parking lot to my truck where I pulled out all the schwag and I distributed it via a raffle. I passed out pants, pile sweaters, socks, DVD’s, books, chalk bags, etc. while we all munched on Ben Hoyt’s cupcakes. It was a great time. Fittingly, all the riggers won something. Finally, we all congregated at the trailhead for a photo. A few had to leave early, but we still had a big crowd for the photo.

Photo 5: Back row: Mark Oveson, Mark Bockmann, Dave Mackey, John Prater, Dave Silberman, Tony Bubb, Warren Teissier, George Bell, Brad Schildt, Stefan Griebel, Kreighton Bieger, Myke Komarnitsky. Front row: Galen Burrell, Peter Spindloe, Buzz Burrell, Christian Griffith, Bill Wright, Ben Hoyt, David Stewart.

Table 1: Full Results for Third Flatiron Race (! - indicates a PR)

Place

Scrambler

Time

1

Buzz Burrell

34:48! – course record

2

Jon Sargent

36:28!

3

Stefan Griebel

38:28!

4

Christian “CG” Griffith

38:38!

5

Josh Wharton

39:58!

6

Ben Mottinger

40:20!

7

Bill “Plan Man” Wright

40:28

8

Mark “BTO” Bockmann

41:29!

9

David Stewart

43:04!

10

John “Homie” Prater

43:09!

11

Ben Hoyt

45:36!

12

Tony Bubb

46:13!

13

Mark “I got ya White Rim” Oveson

51:36!

14

Warren Teissier

51:43!

15

Brad “I believe in consonants” Schildt

53:47!

16

George “The Trashman” Bell

56:17!

17

Mic Fairchild

1:01:00

18

Kreighton “King” Beiger (sweeper, not racing)

1:15:00

19

Phil Gruber (early leader, but cramped up)

DNF

 

Riggers and photographers were:

Name

Location

Task

Kre ?

Summit of Third

Rigger / Video Camera

Joseffa ?

Summit of Third

Rigger

Dan Mottinger

Base of Rappel Lines

Rigger / Still Camera

Galen Burrell

Start, base of rock, trail

Director / Interviewer / Video Camera

Dave Mackey

Start, East Face of Third

Second Director / Interviewer / Video Camera

Dave Silverman

Talus slope

Video Camera

Mike Record

Woods

Still Camera

Peter Spindloe

Woods

Still Camera

Myke Komarnitsky

Trail, Finish

Video Camera

Doug Haller

Finish

Timer

 

It remains to be seen how the photos and video will turn out. If we put together a short film, we’ll have a party for the debut showing.

I think nearly everyone PRed in this event. I didn’t, but that doesn’t matter. Warren sent me a note saying the best part was just hanging out with such a fun, cool, motivating group of people. I wholeheartedly agree. That’s a high for me. Nearly everyone also passed along their thanks and appreciation to all the riggers. These people make it so much fun for everyone. Kre and Joseffa both said they want to give it a go next time and I’m sure we’ll have no trouble finding riggers for that event, as everyone will want to give back to these people. Stefan and I immediately volunteered. One thought was to organize an all-female TTT with all males rigging. Then we all go out for pizza and beers. I missed that this time.