Sports - Ski to Sea

POSTED: Friday, May. 22, 2009

Here are the top 10 changes for 2009

1. EARLIER BLAST

The race will start a half hour earlier at 8 a.m. That means all pre-race meetings at each leg also have been moved earlier, as has the closure of the Mount Baker Highway, which is now scheduled for 7:30 a.m.

2. KINGS OF THE MOUNTAIN

Race director Pete Coy promises a new course that might be the most enjoyable for competitors of all the seven legs. It certainly is about five miles longer and should be more challengeing.

3. OPENING IT UP

Cars on the Mount Baker Highway should be released from the ski area about two hours earlier than last year. Starting at 9:30 a.m., police-escorted groups of eight to 10 cars will head down on the left side of the highway. Competitors on the running leg must stay to the right side of the double yellow line or face disqualification.

4. NEAR PERFECT TIMING

The electronic timing system should be improved so that results from each of the legs will be sent to the finish line in Fairhaven continuously and posted online shortly after each team completes each leg of the race.

5. EARLY RELEASE

In an effort to keep teams from falling too far behind, the final eight to 10 teams remaining at an exchange point of each leg will be issued new timing chips and released on the course at the same time. These teams will not be disqualified, and their times will be compiled at the finish line. They also will get to compete against each other and keep the race from finishing too late.

6. MESSAGE RECEIVED

Teams can sign up to receive text messages with their team's unofficial results each time a team member finishes a leg of the race. This should help competitors better follow how their team is doing when they aren't competing.

7. LET 'EM RING

The Bellingham Technical College has made modifications to the traditional Ski to Sea Bells so that they will ring even when a competitor runs through the finish line and pulls straight down on the cord.

8. EASY BEING GREEN

Ski to Sea's new Green Team hopes to increase the amount of waste material that can be recycled throughout the festival by making sure the right recyclables go in the proper containers. Girl Scouts will be on hand at every container to make sure competitors, spectators and volunteers get it right in the right bin.

9. TROPHY TIME

Ski to Sea is going back to the recycled old growth cedar fir award plaques because they represent the area better and are unique to the race. Top Gun awards also will have trophies appropriate to their legs of the race.

10. BACK IN ACTION

As long as Mother Nature cooperates, the canoeing leg will once again be staged on the Nooksack River, one year after dangerously high water levels and river speed forced organizers to cancel the leg for safety. The kayaking leg also hopefully should be able to return to its normal course after high winds on Bellingham Bay forced organizers to shorten the course last year.