EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 12th in a series of weekly stories leading up to the May 25 Ski to Sea race that will give a behind-the scenes look into the largest annual community sporting event in Whatcom County. Each story will be written by a member of the Ski to Sea Race Committee. Second-year race director Pete Coy, who has been involved with the race for more than 30 years as an athlete and a volunteer, wrote this week’s entry.

The Ski to Sea Race is the largest single-day event held each year in Whatcom County.

At the Marine Park finish line we usually have more than 25,000 spectators, with many more at each exchange point or along the course cheering for the racers.

The Ski to Sea Race can trace its roots to the Mt. Baker Marathon in 1911, although the current race was created in 1973. Local folks designed the Ski to Sea Race to showcase and protect the geographical diversity and recreational opportunities of Whatcom County.

In recent years the race has also become part of the healthy Northwest lifestyle so popular here in Whatcom County.

The Ski to Sea race was created by local citizens and has always been managed by local volunteers, so it is truly a local event.

Although its popularity has led to racers coming to compete in the race from all over the world, the majority of the racers are still from Whatcom County. Many of the racers from out of the area may have lived or attended school in Whatcom County in the past and have come back to compete with or against their friends.

The Race Committee is made up of 45 local volunteers who plan the race on a year-around basis.

On race day the number of volunteers grows to more than 800, as we have local folks at each of the exchange points as well as along the course for the safety and convenience of the racers.

We also have police from Bellingham and Everson, Whatcom County sheriff personnel, State Patrol personnel, U.S. Coast Guard personnel and many local businesses and civic groups donating their time to make this event such a success.

The community has been very supportive of the Ski to Sea race over the years, and the race committee has done its best to keep this truly a local event.

We have local sponsors, local volunteers, local racers and both local and outof- town spectators.

Last year we expanded the awards for the Whatcom County teams and got more local folks involved in planning the event.

Many other northwest communities have tried to copy the Ski to Sea Race because they see it as a way to increase tourism and showcase the recreational opportunities of their areas. Even the Seattle area has created the Mountains to Sound race and officials come to the Ski to Sea race each year to see what we are doing in Bellingham to have such a successful event.

The Bellingham/Whatcom County community can be proud of hosting the Ski to Sea Race and the other Ski to Sea events each year.

To read past Ski to Sea articles, please go to TheBelling hamHerald.com/skitosea. For more information on the race, go to www.skitoseas.com.