The big race
05/05/24 01:19
Fifty-one years ago, about a month before our wedding there was a unique race that took place in Whatcom County. Teams competed in skiing, biking, canoeing, and kayaking. That first run was the beginning of what is now a major event in our area. The race is set for May 26 this year. The date of the race is the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Teams can be from three to eight members with seven unique sports: Cross Country Ski, Downhill Ski 0r Snowboard, Running, Road Bike, Tandem Canoe, Cyclocross Bike and Sea Kayak. The bicycles used in the biking portion of the race are specialized bikes. For the road bike portion, the bikes have very narrow tires and are designed for maximum speed on paved roads. The cyclocross bikes are designed for off road racing. They have wider tires and often have specially designed top bars to make them easier to carry if a particularly difficult obstacle is encountered. Both types of bikes are stripped of all unnecessary weight.
The race course runs through several towns in our county: Glacier, Maple Falls, Kendall, Everson, Lynden, Ferndale and Bellingham. It starts at the Mount Baker ski area and finishes at Marine Park in the Fairhaven District of Bellingham. The neighborhood of Fairhaven holds an annual festival with arts and crafts displays, food vendors, and special deals in shops and restaurants. People come from all over the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia, and from more distant places. This year’s race will feature at least one team from Alaska that has competed in previous contests.
When we first moved to this area, I thought I might be interested in participating in one of the paddling portions of the race, but after I learned more about it I realized that I am not at all in the league of the competitors.
The race breaks down into seven legs. Leg one is a 4 mile cross country ski race. Leg two is a 2 1/2 mile downhill course on which competitors can either use downhill skills or a snowboard. Leg three is an eight-mile running race. Leg four is a 42-mile road bike race. The course is paved and there are some significant downhill sections with lots of winding and curves. At the town of Everson, the race goes onto the Nooksack River for an 18.5 mile tandem canoe run downstream to the town of Ferndale for leg five. Leg six is a 14-mile cyclocross bike race. The final leg is a 5 mile kayak race on Bellingham Bay ending at Marine Park in Fairhaven.
I like to ride my bike and I enjoy paddling both canoes and kayaks, but I am no racer. These days I appreciate going slowly and frequently find that I don’t have any need to go faster than others. The Ski to Sea Race, however, is a really big deal in our area and there are plenty of serious competitors who put a lot of effort into training and spend a lot of money on equipment for the competition. There won’t be any woodstrip canoes or kayaks in the race. Instead racers will be paddling ultra-lightweight boats made of kevlar and other special materials. I’m not sure how teams go about getting all of the equipment assembled for the race. In addition to boats, racing skis, and snowboards are prepared. The bicycles are especially expensive pieces of equipment.
There are seven divisions of racers: corporate, veterans, high school, Whatcom county teams, car-free teams, masters, and family. Car-free teams must transport all team members, supporters, and race equipment to and from each leg of the race without the use of any auto, truck, or other motorized form of transportation. Masters teams must have all members over the age of 40. Family teams must all be related, but can include step-relations, cousins, in-laws and long term partners. Within each division, there are three sub-divisions: open (racers can be any gender), mixed (four or more women per team or four legs assigned to female racers), and women (all female teams).
There are specific rules about the type of bikes and other equipment allowed. All boats are inspected and must conform to race rules that set minimum and maximum lengths and specific length to width rules. All paddlers must wear US Coast Guard approved life vests at all times. Unzipped life vests result in disqualification. Inflatable life vests are not allowed. Whistles and paddle leashes are required for the kayaking portion of the race. Racers must be able to demonstrate self-rescue such as a kayak roll, paddle float self-rescue, or cowboy remount. Kayaks must be paddled by a single racer. Tandem kayaks are not allowed.
Each team is issued a timing chip which must be carried by team members and handed off at specific locations. Paddlers must attach the chips to themselves so that they are not lost in the event of a capsize. Chips must pass by timing tables at each station. There is a ceremonial bell that is rung by each team upon completion of the race.
If the weather is rough on the day of the race the sea kayak portion will follow a different course than if the winds are calm and there are no waves on the bay. The ski portions of the race are set each year depending on snow conditions on the mountain.
There are a whole lot of other details that are part of the event. It is a really big deal and involves a thousand or so volunteers to make it a success. Considering that the race has been held for over 50 years, there are a lot of people in our area who have participated in the race in some way, either as a racer or a volunteer and it isn’t difficult to find someone who can tell a few race stories. Teams return year after year, learning from their experience and refining their race skills. There is plenty of camaraderie among participants.
It is just one of the things that makes our area unique. And, from personal experience, it is something that makes parking in Fairhaven on race day nearly impossible.
The race course runs through several towns in our county: Glacier, Maple Falls, Kendall, Everson, Lynden, Ferndale and Bellingham. It starts at the Mount Baker ski area and finishes at Marine Park in the Fairhaven District of Bellingham. The neighborhood of Fairhaven holds an annual festival with arts and crafts displays, food vendors, and special deals in shops and restaurants. People come from all over the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia, and from more distant places. This year’s race will feature at least one team from Alaska that has competed in previous contests.
When we first moved to this area, I thought I might be interested in participating in one of the paddling portions of the race, but after I learned more about it I realized that I am not at all in the league of the competitors.
The race breaks down into seven legs. Leg one is a 4 mile cross country ski race. Leg two is a 2 1/2 mile downhill course on which competitors can either use downhill skills or a snowboard. Leg three is an eight-mile running race. Leg four is a 42-mile road bike race. The course is paved and there are some significant downhill sections with lots of winding and curves. At the town of Everson, the race goes onto the Nooksack River for an 18.5 mile tandem canoe run downstream to the town of Ferndale for leg five. Leg six is a 14-mile cyclocross bike race. The final leg is a 5 mile kayak race on Bellingham Bay ending at Marine Park in Fairhaven.
I like to ride my bike and I enjoy paddling both canoes and kayaks, but I am no racer. These days I appreciate going slowly and frequently find that I don’t have any need to go faster than others. The Ski to Sea Race, however, is a really big deal in our area and there are plenty of serious competitors who put a lot of effort into training and spend a lot of money on equipment for the competition. There won’t be any woodstrip canoes or kayaks in the race. Instead racers will be paddling ultra-lightweight boats made of kevlar and other special materials. I’m not sure how teams go about getting all of the equipment assembled for the race. In addition to boats, racing skis, and snowboards are prepared. The bicycles are especially expensive pieces of equipment.
There are seven divisions of racers: corporate, veterans, high school, Whatcom county teams, car-free teams, masters, and family. Car-free teams must transport all team members, supporters, and race equipment to and from each leg of the race without the use of any auto, truck, or other motorized form of transportation. Masters teams must have all members over the age of 40. Family teams must all be related, but can include step-relations, cousins, in-laws and long term partners. Within each division, there are three sub-divisions: open (racers can be any gender), mixed (four or more women per team or four legs assigned to female racers), and women (all female teams).
There are specific rules about the type of bikes and other equipment allowed. All boats are inspected and must conform to race rules that set minimum and maximum lengths and specific length to width rules. All paddlers must wear US Coast Guard approved life vests at all times. Unzipped life vests result in disqualification. Inflatable life vests are not allowed. Whistles and paddle leashes are required for the kayaking portion of the race. Racers must be able to demonstrate self-rescue such as a kayak roll, paddle float self-rescue, or cowboy remount. Kayaks must be paddled by a single racer. Tandem kayaks are not allowed.
Each team is issued a timing chip which must be carried by team members and handed off at specific locations. Paddlers must attach the chips to themselves so that they are not lost in the event of a capsize. Chips must pass by timing tables at each station. There is a ceremonial bell that is rung by each team upon completion of the race.
If the weather is rough on the day of the race the sea kayak portion will follow a different course than if the winds are calm and there are no waves on the bay. The ski portions of the race are set each year depending on snow conditions on the mountain.
There are a whole lot of other details that are part of the event. It is a really big deal and involves a thousand or so volunteers to make it a success. Considering that the race has been held for over 50 years, there are a lot of people in our area who have participated in the race in some way, either as a racer or a volunteer and it isn’t difficult to find someone who can tell a few race stories. Teams return year after year, learning from their experience and refining their race skills. There is plenty of camaraderie among participants.
It is just one of the things that makes our area unique. And, from personal experience, it is something that makes parking in Fairhaven on race day nearly impossible.
