At a Glance:Cool temperatures, low clouds and fast racing made for a memorable Cirque Series stop at Grand Targhee. Mason Coppi earned his second victory of the season as all three Men's Pro podium finishers broke one hour, while Alexa Aragon followed her Alta win with another first-place finish. Nature's Sunshine Mountain Team athletes battled and triumphed.
Grand Targhee always serves a spectacular backdrop.
On a clear day, racers on this mountain would be treated to sweeping views of the towering Tetons as they climb high above the forests of western Wyoming. But Saturday's Cirque Series race offered something completely different.
Almost everything to see hid behind a sheet of glowing white clouds. Cool temperatures and a ceiling of mist transformed the course into mystery. One racer, Aaron Gonzalez, whistled tunes from The Lord of the Rings score. It was an adventure.
With the Tetons out of sight, racers had little to do but focus on their feet: move fast through the fog, follow the trail-marking flags, and trust that somewhere ahead, a finish line was waiting.
And in those conditions, the racers were moving fast.
CLIMB FIRST. FLY LATER.
The race begins with a climb through the forest before heading higher into rocky alpine terrain and across two Teton peaks. With much of the hard climbing packed into the first part of the course, racers who still have something left can finally open up their stride and unleash on the mountain downhill toward the finish.
This year, the cool cloud cover created nearly ideal conditions for moving quickly—and the Pro field took full advantage.
COPPI DOES IT AGAIN
Mason Coppi is putting together quite a Cirque Series season.
After winning at Snowbird in July, the Lakewood, Colorado runner returned to the top of the podium at Grand Targhee with a blistering 49:33 finish.
Behind him, Hawk Call continued a hot streak of his own. Coming off a win at Alta two weeks earlier, the Provo, Utah runner finished second in 54:08. Wyoming local Matt Chorney rounded out the podium in 54:58.
Perhaps the most impressive number of all: every Men's Pro podium finisher completed the mountain course in under an hour.
Place
Athlete
Hometown
Time
1
Mason Coppi
Lakewood, CO
49:33
2
Hawk Call
Provo, UT
54:08
3
Matt Chorney
Jackson, WY
54:58
BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR ARAGON
The Women's Pro race brought another familiar name back to the top.
After defending her title at Alta, Salt Lake City's Alexa Aragon kept rolling at Grand Targhee, taking the Women's Pro victory in 59:27—and joining the sub-one-hour club herself.
Camila Noe of Bozeman, Montana, followed in 1:00:22, with Leah Taylor of Tallahassee, Florida, taking third in 1:03:43.
Nature's Sunshine Mountain Team athlete Jamie Brusa crossed the line in 1:03:44—just one second behind Taylor. One second may have separated third from fourth, but another strong performance keeps Brusa firmly among the point-leaders and standout athletes of the 2026 Cirque Series.
Place
Athlete
Hometown
Time
1
Alexa Aragon
Salt Lake City, UT
59:27
2
Camila Noe
Bozeman, MT
1:00:22
3
Leah Taylor
Tallahassee, FL
1:03:43
NATURE'S SUNSHINE IN THE CLOUDS
The sun may have stayed hidden behind the clouds, but Nature's Sunshine was out in full force.
As Title Sponsor of the Cirque Series alongside La Sportiva, Nature's Sunshine was back at the base area celebrating racers, sharing the energy of race day and supporting a community that keeps showing us just how much the human body can do in the mountains.
The mist may have hidden the famous Teton views this time around, but it gave Grand Targhee a character all its own: cool air, cloud-covered peaks, fast trails and hundreds of runners disappearing into the mountains before charging back toward the finish.
Sometimes you get the view.
Sometimes you get to run inside it.
SOAK UP THE SUN WITH NATURE'S SUNSHINE
You don't have to line up at a Cirque Series starting line to join us outside.
Beginning September 1, Nature's Sunshine is launching its official Soak Up the Sun Strava Challenge, inviting people everywhere to log 120 minutes of outdoor activity during the month of September.
Run. Hike. Ride. Walk. Get outside, get moving and soak up a little more of what nature has to offer.
The Cirque Series heads to Colorado next for Arapahoe Basin on Saturday, September 5, where racers will take on 9.4 miles and 2,211 feet of vertical through the high alpine terrain surrounding A'Basin.
Another starting line. Another mountain. Another chance to Push Peaks.
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