By Tanda Gmiter | tgmiter@mlive.com | Posted May 14, 2018 at 04:06 PM | Updated May 14, 2018 at 04:08 PM
IRONWOOD, MI – More than 450 athletes gathered at Copper Peak’s ski jump tower this past weekend. But instead of flying down the hill, these runners were racing up the 40 stories to the top as part of the Red Bull 400. It is the steepest 400 meter race in the world.
Topping the winners’ podium in this calf-burning quest were Ian Torchia from Marquette (4:47.5) and Anna Mooi from Ironwood (7:15.3).
It’s one of several vertical races the energy drink giant has planned for this year.
Built in 1969, Copper Peak hosted 10 international ski competitions before it closed in 1994.
Plans are in the works to host more events at the Ironwood site.
Mooi, the women’s winner, said: “It was awesome to have an international event come to our town, for the exposure and to highlight the awesome recreational opportunities we have here in Ironwood,” according to a Red Bull press release. She is a nutritionist at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital. “We had a lot of fun out there and I’m glad I was able to win.”
Women’s Winners:
First Place: Anna Mooi, 25, Ironwood, (7:15.3)
Second Place: Katie Kubont, 34, Marquette, (7:19.4)
Third Place: Jennifer Chaudoir, 45, Green Bay, (7:25.3)
The men’s winner, Torchia, said: “I studied at Northern Michigan so the Upper Peninsula feels like home to me. I’ve always watched videos of Red Bull 400 and thought how intense the race is but wanted to compete,” according to a press release from Red Bull. “It means a lot to come back and win here at the steepest, hardest run I’ve ever completed in my life.”
Men’s Winners:
First place: Ian Torchia, 22, of Marquette (4:47.5)
Second place: Matt Lipsey, 27, of Harrisburg, Pa. (5:01.4)
Third place: Jared Shumate, 19, Park City, Utah. (5:21.4)
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