8:35 p.m. | Cyclists faced an extra mental challenges at the Bicycle RollerRaces at the Irish Embassy Pub Wednesday night.
On stationary indoor rollers, the riders competed to pedal the greatest distance in 15 minutes.
Riding on rollers is a fairly common training tool, but it can make for wobbly ride if you don’t go fast enough. It was also hot in the cramped pub.
“I was way overheated,” rider Bob Kyper said.
Adding to the challenge, their time and kilometers pedaled ticked by on screens behind the racers making it difficult to gauge when they should be pushing toward the finish, he said.
He road 16.2 kilometers or about 10 miles in 15 minutes and was second in the standings at about 8 p.m. Steve Morozowich was in the lead at that time.
Racing was scheduled to wrap up about 9 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Fort Lewis Cycling Team.
8:18 p.m. | Words of seemingly interstellar origin stumped the final two teams at Spellebration Wednesday at the Henry Strater Theater. The annual fundraiser for the Durango Education Center drew 10 teams.
In the end, neither team could spell charivari, a mock serenade, or caoutchouc, rubber. So First National Bank of Durango, playing as Death Star Savings and Loan, and Stone Age, Inc., teams will share the honor of first place this year.
The Durango Nurses playing as the Intergalatic Colonic Probes came in second after missing the word epergne, an ornate centerpiece.
The Payroll Department was third after missing Ptisan.
5:48 p.m. | The Bartender’s Contest at Moe’s Lounge was close and attracted lots of former professionals and past winners.
Michael and Lauren Richardson, dressed as Kylo Ren and Darth Vader, won first place for their Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, from the book the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Star maiden Jana Goldstein won second for Princess Lei-Me, a bourbon-based drink.
Rita Anderson, a former bartender in Denver, took third for her shot Space Brains, a vodka based-libation.
5:38 p.m. | While Snowdowners showed up with impressive replica costumes of popular Star Wars and Star Trek characters, it seems personal creativity was the key for winning this year’s costume contest at the Palace Restaurant.
Justa Whitt won the individual category on Wednesday, dressed as a mermaid/avatar/out-of-this-world purple creation. Whitt said she painted her face paint herself, but was helped by a friend for the rest of her costume.
The team costume category was stolen from the hands of Durangoans by an outside force from Denver, known as “The Glamares.” The duo looked like Bob Marley had been abducted by aliens, and returned in a time of New York City’s 1980’s rave scene.
5:20 p.m. | The Spellebration judges getting ready.
5 p.m. | The bartender’s contest is getting started at Moe’s the first drink is called Winter Sunshine. Drinks are judged on taste and presentation.
Lauren and Michael Richardson created a drink inspired by Hitchhiker’s Guide the Galaxy for the competition.
Return favorite Jana Goldstein is expecting to make Princess Lei-me, made with bourbon.
12:30 p.m. | Snowdown 2017 has arrived. And kicking it off is fan favorite, the Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, which began at noon today. Donald Trump has even made an appearance. Check back later for more pictures and coverage from the week’s events.
(And don’t forget to check out our photo galleries. Each day, one lucky winner will have his or her photo circled. That person should swing by The Herald offices, 1275 Main Ave., to collect a $25 gift card.)
