The Rossignol Southwest Nordic Race Series kicked off on Saturday in Pagosa Springs with its first of four races in the San Juan Mountain region.
Competitors from around the region competed in the 20K classic skate. Laura Spector from Los Alamos, N.M., and Brett Wilson of Durango ended up winning the race.
Eight women competed, but no one was close to Spector at the finish line. Spector ended up winning the race by well over a minute in 1 hour, 1 minute and 15 seconds. Molly Hummel of Santa Fe crossed second in 1:02:34. Michelle Wilson of Durango placed third in 1:06:42, followed by Gina Basse (1:11:15), Sanna Sevanto (1:11:44), Diedre Morrison (1:13:03), Kristen Johansen (1:27:35) and Mary Monroe (1:32:38).
The men’s race had a field of 20 competitors, but no one could catch Wilson. Wilson won in 56:52, besting David Rasmussen of Carbondale by 1:36.
Travis Brown of Durango crossed third in 59:37 and was followed by Kyle Beling (59:51), Ross Delaplane (1:00:40), Wade Mitchell (1:00:51), Buck Farley (1:01:16), Terry Daley (1:03:08), Nick Preston (1:03:28), Clay Mosely (1:04:04), Maxwell Jordan (1:08:07), Ben Mitchell (1:08:45), Keith Nicovich (1:09:02), Steve Ilg (1:13:16), Rene Garcia Reyes (1:15:3), Tom Kirchgessner (1:19:01), Joseph Murphy (1:27:20), Keven Reid (1:27:23), Pete May (1:35:14) and Mark Lawler (2:27:14).
The series will include three more races, with the next race Saturday in Chama (New Mexico). The third race will take place Feb. 11 in Telluride, and the Pine Needle Langlauf will conclude the season Feb. 18 at the Durango Nordic Center.
Three of the four races will be scored for each racer as the skiers compete for the titles of King and Queen of Nordic Skiing in the Southwest.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Laura Spector is from Durango. She is from Los Alamos, N.M.
