Atlas Snowshoes Announces 2005-2006 Team Atlas Roster

Atlas Snow-Shoe Company is sponsoring some of the world’s top snowshoe athletes who use the sport to train, race and pursue their athletic lifestyle in the winter season. The company believes these athletes are excellent resources who can offer first-hand training advice, tips and testimonials for editorial about the benefits of snowshoeing.

Team Atlas, is comprised of a collection of internationally-ranked competitive snowshoe racers who also excel in adventure racing, trail/ultra running, mountain biking, triathlon and cycling. The team has more than 40 men and women located throughout the United States. They will compete in more than 30 sanctioned races throughout the U.S. and Canada including this year’s U.S. National Snowshoe Championships. The United States Snowshoe Racing Association (USSSA) located in Corinth, New York, acts as national governing body for the sport of snowshoe racing in this country. There are a growing number of nations around globe with organized snowshoe racing programs including Italy, Finland, France, Japan, and Canada.

2005-2006 Team Atlas athletes include:

• Dave Mackey: Trail running, mountain biking, ultra running, rock climbing and adventure racing make up this busy athlete’s lifestyle. Not only has he found the aerobic benefits important, but also cites the core strengthening workout from snowshoeing as key for climbing. “Let’s not forget the fun factor – the best snowshoer out there is the one having the most fun.”

• Nikki Kimball: Physical therapist by profession and world-class ultra runner by design, you can catch Nikki at any number of major 50 to 100 mile distance races around the globe. Commented Nikki, “Runners and cyclists don't often venture into each other's realms. But we meet in snowshoe racing. By December our joints and muscles need a break. Snowshoeing allows our joints and specific soft tissue structures a reprieve while we maintain, and perhaps even enhance our fitness.”

• Syl Corbett: Residing in Boulder, Colorado, this 34 year-old business entrepreneur is a dedicated mountain runner and professional triathlete/duathlete. She is a member of many elite teams including the Canadian Elite Mountain Running Team and the Salomon Adventure Racing Team. “Mountain running are snowshoe racing are obvious crisscross sports – they provide the synergistic benefit of increasing both strength as well as cardio capacity.”

• Greg Krause: National snowshoe champion, Greg is a professional triathlete, who competes in both off-road and traditional triathlons and was in the top 15 of American finishes at this year’s Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. “My training on snowshoes is what got me my top triathlon results today.”

• Peter Fain: Considered the top snowshoe racer west of the Rockies and one of the top mountain runners in America, this 31-year old Renaissance man isn’t your ordinary athlete. A former collegiate 800-meter track champion, Peter regularly runs on hard packed snow at clips of 6-1/2 minutes a mile often with outings that last four to six hours. During the off-season he’s a trail marathoner, climbing the 7,000 to 14,000 foot peaks before plunging back down again.

• Karen Melliar-Smith: Professional triathlete and nurse anesthetist, Karen espouses the virtues of snowshoe racing as strength and endurance training for cycling and running. She is currently ranked 9th at the National level, and was also an All-American in the 200 and 500 meter freestyle and an All-Academic American. “Snowshoeing provides a relaxing mental diversion while maintaining aerobic capacity – it is the only sport that I don’t notice my heart beating away at 190 beats a minute.”

• Adam Chase: Long-time athlete and author of “The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running”, Adam is an experienced endurance and adventure athlete who has competed in dozens of world class competitions including the Boston and New York Marathons, World’s Toughest Triathlon and the Eco-Challenge.