Quadrathlon gets special new logo

This logo will be used to promote the 24th annual Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon which will be on Feb. 17. It was designed by Chrisine Korkalo of Virginia Beach, Va. [Courtesy Photo]

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The four pillars of events which make up the grueling Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon each year are featured in the special 2007 logo which will be used to promote the four-sport, 44-mile competition.

The 24th annual "Quad" will be Feb. 17, the third weekend of the month, as it has been since 1983.

In the event, competitors bicycle, run, snow ski and snow shoe from downtown Grants at an elevation of about 6,500 feet above sea level to the top of Mount Taylor at 11,301 feet high.

The winning design, as selected by the quad's organizing committee, is by Christine Korkalo of Virginia Beach, Va.

It features four flesh-colored pillars, each containing one of the letters of q-u-a-d at the bottom of the pillars, which are anchored by a bar saying "2007 mt. taylor quadrathlon."

In the sky above the top of the pillars is "Grants, New Mexico," and the bottom of half of the New Mexico state flag's Zia sun symbol. This portion is anchored between the tops of the third and fourth pillars.

Set at an angle across each pillar is a view from above of the marks left on the ground or in the snow by the four types of movement a tire tread by the bicyclists, the print of the pattern of the sole of shoe by the runners, the smooth double track by the snow skiers and the tennis racquet-like pattern of a snow shoe.

The Quad also retains a permanent logo which features the mountain inside the center circle of the Zia sun symbol with each quadrant holding an image of a contestant undertaking each of the four events.

Karen Fletcher, February's race director, said in a recent interview that things are progressing very well. She is especially pleased with progress because this is her first Quad as the race director. She succeeded Mary Savachek.

"All of the transition team leaders have been signed up," she said. These are the people in charge at the locations along the 22 miles up and 22 miles down where competitors switch to the next sport going from bicycles to foot power to snow skiis to snow shoes up to the very top, then down to snow skiis to foot power to bicycles. The bicycle segment covers the most distance, about 26 miles round-trip.

Because the event is almost twice the length of a marathon, teams usually consist of two or three people, and sometimes four, with the skiing and snow shoeing often done by the same contestant.

Fletcher invites anyone who wants to help to attend a committee meeting, at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday in the New Mexico Mining Museum (Grants-Cibola Chamber of Commerce). The chamber is used as the main contact point, so anyone interested can telephone (505) 287-4802.

The race director points out, "Our entire staff is made up of volunteers," with about 400 people needed each year.

"I think we'll have good weather," meaning lots of snow, "because of the rains we've had and the increase in moisture. We'll have a snowy weekend," she predicted.

Her husband, Terry Fletcher, who also has been involved in the Quad for many years, agrees. He said, "Usually we have good (snowy) weather. Last year was the first one we've had to cancel two events. So if we only have to do that once every 23 years, the odds are with us."

Because the mountain was almost bare of the white stuff this past February, the race committee made the snow skiers and snow shoers run their routes the steepest part of the 4,800-foot altitude increase.

The Quad season actually begins in less than a month, with the Junior Quad, the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7, at Grants High School's Pirates Football Field.

It is for boys and girls ages 6-14, with the proceeds used by the GHS music department.

Coupled with the chamber-sponsored annual Chili Fest in the afternoon at the park in front of City Hall and the Mining Museum on Santa Fe Avenue, it allows the entire family to celebrate the first Saturday of October in Grants.

Contestants can sign up at the downtown Grants chamber office for the various events which include running, riding and completing an obstacle course.

"It's to get the kids used to exercising," Mr. Fletcher explained.

The $20 entry fee includes a dinner.

Mrs. Fletcher added that if a school enters 25 or more students, the fee drops to $15 each.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).