EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 13th 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. For previous stories, please visit The BellinghamHerald.com/ski tosea.

The mission of the Ski to Sea Race is to “showcase and maintain the geographic diversity and varied outdoor recreational opportunities of the Whatcom County region.”

As part of this, the Ski to Sea Race Committee has formed a Green Team for the 2008 race and all future races. The purpose of the Green Team will be to look at ways in which the Ski to Sea Race can reduce its “carbon footprint” in the community.

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “You release greenhouse gases as a result of using energy to drive, using electricity to light and heat your home and through other activities that support our quality of life like growing food, raising livestock and throwing away garbage.”

The Ski to Sea Green Team will first be looking at the quick and easy ways to reduce the race’s impact on the environment.

There are the obvious things an individual or event can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Some of the easiest ways in which racers and spectators can reduce their carbon footprints is to carpool to the Mt. Baker Ski Area or other exchange areas the morning of the race.

We are also teaming up with the “It All Ends in Fairhaven” festival by using buses from WTA to transport attendees to Fairhaven and Marine Park on race day, thereby reducing the number of cars in Fairhaven.

The Ski to Sea Race is also working with Sanitary Service Company (SSC) to ensure even more recycling of waste occurs at each exchange point on race day.

The Green Team will also be looking at long-term ways in which the race can make changes to lower its carbon footprint.

We have always tried to be good stewards of the environment by keeping the race course on established trails and protecting foliage along the course.

This year we changed the mountain bike course slightly to keep racers on maintained trails rather than cutting our own course under the bridge on Eldridge Avenue.

We are also asking racers and spectators along the course to recycle all waste and to avoid trampling vegetation by being aware of where they are walking.

We are still in the early stages of evaluating ways in which we can make the Ski to Sea Race a better steward of the environment so more changes are likely in the future. The Bellingham Chamber of Commerce and the Ski to Sea Race Committee are committed to making the Ski to Sea Race an event that is always looking at ways in which it can enhance the community, protect the environment, and still bring a world class race to the citizens of Whatcom County.

If you have ideas for the Ski to Sea Green Team, please send them to SkitoSea@Bellingham.com. For more information on the race, go to skitosea.com.