#wrightmountainchallenge | Meet The Top 5 Women

During the month of January, 2019, Wright Training athletes took to the backcountry to earn points in the Wright Mountain Challenge. Different runs were worth different points and athletes earned points each time they summited with proof either through an Instagram post or an email. Gym sessions also counted for one point each, and a minimum of six sessions were required. Winners, both male and female, won a coat from Arcteryx and the top 5 in each category also won prizes.

Meet the top five women who braved the elements, pushed through the physical pain and hit their gym session.

Emilee Walker – 52 Points

Q: What inspired you to participate?
A: I thought at the very least I might get a participation trophy.

Q: Favorite part of the challenge?
A: Daily emails to Crystal became like “Dear Diary – Today I….”

Q: Favorite run of the challenge?
A: The day it was 40mph gusts, 0 visibility, and I Tomahawked like 3 times down Glory. The Tomahawk is my best trick.

Q: What motivated you to keep going?
A: Free stuff. Especially when it’s Arcteryx

Q: What was your record for points gained in one day?
A: 5

Q: What did you eat to keep yourself energized?
A: Bananas and Sparkle Juice

Q: Anything you did special to keep your body working hard each day?
A: Extreme Napping

Q: Final thoughts/comments on the challenge?
A: Through this challenge I was really able to deepen and bring more awareness to my Selfie practice – Namaste

Katie Steinberg – 31

Q: What inspired you to participate?
A: With a one year old at home, I need all the motivation I can get to get out the door before that first sip of coffee or glass of wine!

Q: Favorite part of the challenge?
A: The camaraderie! I skied with other wright training members who I had not skied with in a long time as we were both trying to get more points! People were very supportive of my progress and always helped encourage me to do more!

Q: Favorite run of the challenge?
A: Maverick with Mrs. Wright herself.

Q: What motivated you to keep going?
A: Seeing how hard others were pushing and being inspired to try and get close (or get half!) as many points.

Q: What was your record for points gained in one day?
A: 3

Q: What did you eat to keep yourself energized?
A: Coffee, ice cream, and wine

Q: Anything you did special to keep your body working hard each day?
A: I was not used to double sessions (snow king and the gym) and would try and stretch at home in the evening. I also took a rest day once a week to restore.

Q: Final thoughts/comments on the challenge?
A: Loved it! I love how each of Wright challenges allows people with different strengths to compete (sometimes endurance based, sometimes strength based). Next time I think you should get points for stretching and yoga 🙂

Crista Valentino – ??

Q: What inspired you to participate?
A: I loved how it combined going to the gym while getting out in the mountains. The Challenge shows how both are important to staying healthy and having fun, and how they compliment each other.

Q: Favorite part of the challenge?
A: There were some days when I was tired, busy, or feeling lazy and unmotivated to go to the gym or get on my skis, but the challenge overrode my excuse and helped motivate me to get going. Once in the gym or outside, I was always so happy I was there. My favorite part of the challenge was remembering that it’s always worth going, even if I don’t feel like it at first.

Q: Favorite run of the challenge?
A: I hadn’t skied Mt. Taylor until this year, and it definitely became my favorite go-to run.

Q: What motivated you to keep going?
A: It’s easy to find excuses on not having enough time/energy/whatever to get out or get to the gym. Watching people involved in the challenge that have full time jobs, kids to take care of, and other responsibilities still getting after it every day helped to keep in perspective that you can find time if you want it! Plus, it was awesome to feel how much easier a Glory hike or Taylor skin was at the end of the month compared to the beginning. There’s no better motivator than seeing and feeling progress!

Q: What was your record for points gained in one day?
A: Maybe 3? Nothing too impressive.

Q: What did you eat to keep yourself energized?
A: A lot of homemade burritos and tea. It was always worth the extra weight!

Q: Anything you did special to keep your body working hard each day?
A: Sleep!

Q: Final thoughts/comments on the challenge?
A: I’m looking forward to a summer one! (hint hint)

Laken Rush – 23

Q: What inspired you to participate?
A: 1) I love a good competition 2) I was already doing a lot of uphill travel (in December alone I think I skied the pass more than I ever had in a season), so why not really challenge myself to do more and see if I could get a jacket out of the deal too? I live in Victor, so this competition really pushed me to ski before work more than I might have otherwise.

Q: Favorite part of the challenge?
A: My husband and I skied in the national park together for the first time!

Q: Favorite run of the challenge?
A: Off the back of Edelweiss. I hadn’t skied there before, but now it’s one of my favorite spots.

Q: What motivated you to keep going?
A: I’m definitely a slow and steady kind of competitor. I just wanted to get five points a week. Luckily they added up!

Q: What was your record for points gained in one day?
A: Two. Which is twice as many as I would have been able to count before this competition.

Q: What did you eat to keep yourself energized?
A: Peanut butter filled pretzels are my snack of choice this season.

Q: Anything you did special to keep your body working hard each day?
A: I’m trying really hard to be better about hydrating.

Q: Final thoughts/comments on the challenge?
A: I thought this was an awesome out of gym challenge. If nothing else, it motivated me to ski things I had never skied before and ski more than I probably would have. I’m not sure I would have made it into the national park without those two points to motivate me!