Here's everything you need to know about Ski to Sea, from alarm clock to Zuanich Point Park.

A: Alarm clock. With the road closures on Mount Baker Highway, the hour-and-a-half ride up to Mount Baker Ski Area and 7:45 a.m. pre-race meeting for skiers, it is suggested that skiers, runners and road bikers carpool and leave Bellingham no later that 5:30 a.m. YAWN!!! Better set that clock early and lay off the snooze bar.

B: Bell. Is there a better feeling that ringing the bell at the finish line after completing the 85-mile relay? That's why everybody com-petes, isn't it? OK, that and the beer garden … but that starts with "B," too.

C: Couch. An old Ski to Sea legend has it that most out-of-town contestants don't actually get hotels the nights before or after the race, but instead sleep on teammates' and friends' couches. Nothing like completing your leg with a sore back or a stiff neck.

D: Deadline. Many teams will not judge their success by how they finish overall or even within their division, but rather on whether they beat the deadlines for the final five legs and avoid getting disqualified for not completing the course in time. The deadlines are 11 a.m. for runners, 1:45 p.m. for road bikers, 4:30 p.m. for canoeists, 5 p.m. for mountain bikers and 7 p.m. for kayakers.

E: E-mail. This is the second year Ski to Sea will use electronic timing, but this year the race committee is hopeful that split times for each athlete will be able to be posted at the finish line before contestants make their way to Fairhaven. How will it work? E-mailing raw data to the finish line every 20 minutes and a whole lot of positive thoughts.

F: Fairhaven. It all ends in Fairhaven. That's where you'll find the finish line … and, of course, the aforementioned bell and beer gar-den. Watch as athletic competition turns into block party in a matter of minutes.

G: Green Team. A new addition to the race committee this year, as Ski to Sea attempts to limit its carbon footprint on the environment. Though this year will be used mostly to set a baseline for future years, the race will focus on its recycling efforts and getting competitors and volunteers to carpool up Mount Baker to start the day and bus to Fairhaven to finish it.

H: Heat. As in the Heat got beat. Barron Heating Open had a dynasty going that would make the New York Yankees jealous, but Clip-perCanoes.com upset them last year by about a minute. Was it just a one-year absence from the top of the podium for Barron, which still has won six of the past nine overall and open titles, or is there a new team to beat?

I: Intensity. Every team has it's own way of showing intensity — whether it's trying to knock off Barron Heating Open or just complete the race before the 7 p.m. cutoff.

J: Joe Galbraith: The first winner of the Mount Baker Marathon — the race that eventually led to Ski to Sea — in 1911. For his efforts, he claimed a $100 purse. The Galbraith Cup will be awarded to the top finishing Whatcom County Men's Division team.

K: Kicked in the Nooksack. Ski to Sea team names range from those that will make you laugh to the ones that leave your scratching your head. Kicked in the Nooksack does a little of both and throws in a little local flavor. That's why its selected the best team name in the race for a second consecutive year.

L: Leg. A bit obvious yes, but it's what makes Ski to Sea so different. The race has seven legs, with cross-country skiing, downhill ski-ing, running, road biking, canoeing, mountain biking and kayaking. Each leg represents a recreational segment of Whatcom County.

M: Mount Baker Highway. A good portion of the race takes place on the Highway 542, as runners pound out eight miles down from the Mt. Baker Ski Area and road bikers start their leg on the highway. The road also creates the greatest logistical issue for teams, with the highway being closed at Canyon Creek Road in Glacier at 8:30 a.m.. It is the only way to and from the ski area, and organizers suggest skiers, runners and road bikers from each team carpool.

N: Nooksack River. Another major part of the race, as canoeists paddle 18 miles from Riverside Park in Everson to Hovander Park in Ferndale. Spectators often line the bridges over the river, hoping to catch site on amateurs struggling to control their crafts, sometimes even going for a swim. But this year spectators will not be allowed on the river to take pictures, as the river will be closed to everyone but competitors and safety boats on race day.

O: Ouch! There's no better way to describe the running leg of the race. There has got to be some reason runners immediately jump in the ice-cold creek near the transfer area at the Shuksan Department of Transportation station after completing . The eight-mile run drops approximately 2,000 feet and takes its toll on plenty of knees, shins, ankles and feet.

P: Podium. The top three teams in each of 14 divisions receive plaques, and the "Top Dogs" in each leg also will be honored. This year the race committee has worked to create a program the official race guide promises will be a "high-energy, multi-media, show biz ex-perience that attendees will never forget."

Q: Quiet heroes. Ski to Sea wouldn't exist without all the volunteers who help put the race. It takes approximately 750 volunteers on race day and about 1,000 for the Ski to Sea Festival, organizers say.

R: Recreation Divisions. The heart and soul of the race. Teams are made up of friends, families and co-workers who just want to get out and have a good time competing together. Who doesn't root for the weekend warriors?

S: Ski to Sea. OK, another obvious choice. But it says what this race is all about. How many other counties can host an event like this that features skiing in the morning and canoeing and kayaking in the afternoon? Mix in some running and biking legs, and you've got a cross section of the Whatcom County recreation sports scene.

T: Timing chip trigger area. Some of the problems during Ski to Sea's first year using electronic timing occurred when competitors tried to log their times at the beginning or end of their legs. This year, timing chip trigger areas will be well marked with orange cones. Competitors are asked to pass the chip through the trigger area at knee height or lower to record their times.

U: Uphill climb. If it weren't for this, the downhill skiing leg would be far too easy — and probably too much fun. Before they get to show their skiing skills, racers must hike up North Face to the top of Chair 1, a climb of approximately 1,000 feet. Where's the express lift?

V: Veggies. It's difficult to miss them on the course. A recent staple of Ski to Sea has been a team dressed as vegetables — and a cow — for the race. It serves as a reminder that for every team trying to finish first there are plenty just out to have fun during Ski to Sea weekend — even if they aren't breaking out the costumes. Which teams will dress up this year?

W: Wristband. It's Ski to Sea's version of the baton, as athletes relay it from Mt. Baker Ski Area to Marine Park in Fairhaven. For the second straight year, the wristband is a Velcro strap with the timing chip attached for scoring purposes. Lose it and team will be dis-qualified and charged $95.

X: X-factor. In Whatcom County in late May, it's always the weather. Three years ago, low snow pack forced organizers to scramble the skiing legs and high temperatures caused problems for athletes. The sun and spring rains can also cause the Nooksack to rise and pick up speed, while rain can cause for a slick course for bikers and runners. And don't forget the high winds kicking up waves for the kayaking leg. You never know what you'll get.

Y: Yogi. As in the cartoon character. Last year, many runners were surprised to see a black bear along the Mount Baker Highway. No reports of the bear coming face-to-face with any competitors or if he made off with any picnic baskets.

Z: Zuanich Point Park. A great place to watch the final exchange and view kayakers make their way across Bellingham Bay to the finish line. Plus on a nice day, there aren't many nicer places to be.