The 9th annual Teva Mountain Games, the nation’s largest celebration of mountain sports and lifestyle, drew a record number of over 2,200 registered athletes and massive crowds of spectators from June 3 – 6. 

Colorado blue skies and warm temperatures also contributed to the Games’ success. Winning athletes walked away with a cash purse of over $100,000 and bragging rights for a year until they have to return to defend their titles at next year’s 10th anniversary Games.

“We couldn’t be happier with the turnout this year,” said Michael Imhof, Vice President of Sales and Operations for the Vail Valley Foundation. “The Games’ continued success can be attributed to so many things, but they would be nowhere without the dedication of the athletes who support the Games by coming out and taking part.”

The Games kicked off with the Bud Light Lime Steep Creek Championship presented by Thule on Homestake Creek where New Zealander Sam Sutton found himself atop the men’s leaderboard after two smooth runs. “This Colorado river scares me,” said Sutton after his run. “I’m stoked just to be alive when I get to the bottom of that.” Tanya Faux captured women’s Steep Creek gold with a crisp first round.  When asked about her win she said, “I just felt like an Olympic paddler.”

The IFSC Bouldering World Cup presented by Pyramide was one of the weekend’s biggest attractions drawing huge, enthusiastic crowds for its men’s and women’s pro finals. Thirsty for victory after a second place finish at last year’s Games, US Climber Daniel Woods secured a well-deserved men’s gold. “It’s an improvement from last year,” said Woods. “Psyched to come out victorious, it felt really good.” Leading the pack on the women’s side was Chloe Graftiaux of Belgium, outdoing Anna Stohr and Juliane Wurm for the gold medal.

The upset of the weekend occurred at the debut of the First Ascent SUP Surf Sprint presented by C4 Waterman, where sixteen-year-old Hawaii native Noa Ginella beat seasoned stand up paddlers, including his mentor, teammate and C4 Waterman co-founder Brian Keauluna, Dan Gavere and Charlie MacArthur. Prior to hopping on his board on Gore Creek, Ginella had never paddled in whitewater or ever been to Colorado before arriving for the Games.

The Games came to a close on Sunday with the conclusion of the grueling four-pronged, multi-sport Ultimate Mountain Challenge, where Vail locals Josiah Middaugh led the men and Gretchen Reeves the women.  Also, twenty-year-old Canadian native Eric Lawrenuk emerged victorious in Slopestyle Bike presented by Native Eyewear after delivering two high-octane runs in the finals, one of which included a front flip on the final kicker.

Among the sports featured at the Teva Mountain Games this year – World Cup, amateur and citizen bouldering, stand up paddling, road cycling, kayaking, trail running, mountain biking, fly fishing and DockDogs competitions – the event also brought in a slew of other outdoor activities promoting the active mountain lifestyle. Sunday’s whitewater finals were cancelled due to dangerously high water levels on Vail’s Gore Creek, but spectators still had plenty of action to see. Throughout the weekend photographers snapped shots of athletes as part of the 2010 Mountain Click Photo Comp. Games-goers also enjoyed free films and concerts, which were part of the Bud Light Lime Mountains of Music series, headlined by Julian “JuJu” Marley and Uprising Band. Not to mention the raging Teva Blackout Party, a great way to blow off some steam after an exhausting sport-filled day. Plus, there were many more free vendor-based activities in Gear Town, the Green Light District and Bear Naked Adventure Village.  

 

 

 

 

Men

1. Daniel Woods (USA)

2. Tsukuru Hori (JPN)

3. Kilian Fischhuber (AUT)

 

Women

1. Chloe Graftiaux (BEL)

2. Anna Stohr (AUT)

3. Juliane Wurm (GER)

 

Men

1.  Noa Ginella – 18:15.53 (Kahuku, HI)

2. Dan Gavere – 18:32:23 (Hood River, OR)

3. Dave Collins – 18:38.95 (Lamanzilla, MX)

 

Women

1. Jenny Macarthur – 21:00.49 (Aspen, CO)

2. Nicole Duke – 21:37.29 (Boulder, CO)

3. Jennifer Koki – 21:39.57 (Honolulu, HI)

 

Men (Pro)

1. Josiah Middaugh – 3:14:47.89 (Vail, CO)

2. Travis Macy – 3:21:41.53 (Evergreen, CO)

3. Mike Kloser – 3:29:01.50 (Vail, CO)

 

Women (Pro)

1. Gretchen Reeves – 4:02:09.15 (Edwards, CO)

2. Jari Kirkland – 4:49:37.60 (Crested Butte, CO)

3. Brandyn Roark Gray – 5:20:25.29 (Aztec, NM)

 

WOMEN (Combined time after two runs)

1. Tanya Faux – 4:05.75 (Alexandra, VI)

2. Martina Wegman – 4:19.70 (Almere, NH)

3. Nikki Kelly – 4:25.69 (Rotorua, NZ)

 

MEN (Combined time after two runs)

1. Sam Sutton – 3:41.98 (Rotorua, NZ)

2. Andrew Holcombe – 3:43.82 (Asheville, NC)

3. Tao Berman – 3:46.20 (White Salmon, WA)

 

Men

1. Dustin Urban – 590 (Buena Vista, CO)

2. Jason Craig – 500 (Reno, NV)

3. Casper Van Kalmthout – 355 (Den Haag, NTL)

 

Women

1. Emily Jackson – 260 (Rock Island, TN)

2. Tanya Faux – 180 (Alexandra, NZ)

3. Haley Mills – 140 (Salida, CO)

 

Men

1. Mike Dawson – 15:38.34 (Tauranga, BOP)

2. Sam Sutton – 15:46.70 (Rotorua, NZ)

3. Tao Berman – 15:53.26 (White Salmon, WA)

 

Women

1. Tanya Faux – 16:23.21 (Alexandra, VIC)

2. Adriene Levknecht – 16:29.87 (Flat Rock, NC)

3. Nikki Kelly – 16:34.07 (Rotorua, NZ)

 

1. Eric Lawrenuk – (North Vancouver, BC)

2. Paul Basagoitia – (Minden, NV)

3. Casey Groves – (Kelowna, BC)

 

XING TEA FREERIDE DUAL

PRESENTED BY NATIVE EYEWEAR

1. Paul Basagoitia (Reno, NV)

2. Petr Hanak (Winter Park, CO)

3. Aaron Chase (Glenwood, NJ)

 

Men (Expert)

1. Brad Cole – 1:41:50 (Fort Collins, CO)

2. Peter Kalmes – 1:47:36 (Steamboat Springs, CO)

3. Ross Holbrook – 1:48:15 (Breckinridge, CO)

 

Women (Expert)

1. Anne Gonzales – 1:21:19 (Aspen, CO)

2. Melissa Trainer – 1:24:50 (Boulder, CO)

3. Katie Lindquist – 1:27:14 (Steamboat Springs, CO)

 

Men’s Overall

1. Benjamin Day – 26:43.61 (Boulder, CO)

2. T. Burke Swindlehurst – 27:27.33 (Salt Lake City, UT)

3. Greg Krause – 27:34.68 (Littleton, CO) 

 

Women’s Overall

1. Katie Compton – 31:35.31 (Colorado Springs, CO)

2. Kelli Emmett – 32:31.32 (Colorado Springs, CO)

3. Erin Huck – 33:36.62 (Boulder, CO) 

 

Men (fastest time overall)

1. Mario Macias – 1:22:12 (Alamosa, CO)

2. Jason Delaney – 1:25:37 (Golden, CO)

3. Rickey Gates – 1:26:30 (Boulder, CO)

 

Women (fastest time overall)

1. Megan Lund – 1:39:37 (Basalt, CO)

2. Melody Fairchild – 1:45:25 (Boulder, CO)

3. Megan Kimmel – 1:46:01 (Silverton, CO)

 

Men’s Overall

1. Mario Macias – 45:48 (Alamosa, CO)

2. Rickey Gates – 46:48 (Boulder, CO)

3. Martin Cox – 47:19 (Boulder, CO) 

 

Women’s Overall

1. Brandy Erholtz – 53:58 (Bailey, CO)

2. Megan Kimmel – 56:00 (Silverton, CO)

3. Melody Fairchild – 56:25 (Boulder, CO) 

 

For full Teva Mountain Games results, including the 2 Fly X-Stream fly fishing and DockDogs competitions please visit www.tevamountaingames.com