Sports - Ski to Sea

POSTED: Sunday, May. 24, 2009

Perfect weather, conditions make Ski to Sea race best in years

The 2009 Ski to Sea race on Sunday, May 24, appears to have been the smoothest in years, with perfect weather, timing chips working and no legs cancelled.

It was a big change from recent incarnations of the seven-leg relay race from Mt. Baker Ski Area to Marine Park, which this year measured a record 90 miles in length. In 2008 the canoe leg was cancelled due to high water, the kayak leg had to be shortened because of high winds and a confusing first-place finish mucked up the Memorial Day weekend festivities.

But not this year.

In Marine Park, thousands gathered to cheer on The Bagelry’s kayaker and team captain Jeff Hilburn as he came across the finish line first, pumping his fist in the air as he hopped out of his kayak.

Race watchers enjoyed mini donuts, barbecue and free samples from the likes of Costco and the Community Food Co-op as they waited for teams to finish. Kalen Nelsen was on hand for his first Ski to Sea.

“We always come down,” said Dale Nelsen, the father of 7-month-old Kalen as the bongo-infused stylings of Sabrina y Los Reyes tapped out Latin fusion rhythms in the background.

More than 50 Girl Scouts were on hand to “green” the park for the finish line events, said Linda Justice, a Girl Scout leader. Her daughter Sadie Rabener and fellow Scouts Rose Hopper and Lyndsay Ekdahl, along with others, manned trash and recycling cans to help people find the proper place to dispose of their refuse.

The finish line wasn’t the only place with smiles. Competitors in the earlier legs couldn’t have asked for better conditions — the mountain courses were well-groomed, the sun was shining, and temperatures stayed mild.

“It was really fast,” said Jesse Heckrodt, the cross-country skier for team Moore Heckrodts on the Way, shortly after being the second person across the finish line of the first leg. “It was really good that it froze up overnight.”

Heckrodt, who lives in Salmon Arm, B.C., has been competing on the same family team for seven years and always does the cross-country skiing. “It’s just for fun,” he said after catching his breath. “I try to go as fast as I can, but I’m not going to try to kill myself out there.”

Many seasoned Ski to Sea skiers took advantage of the weather and started hitting the course as early as 6:30 a.m. to warm up and practice “doing the monkey,” the body movement needed to ensure timing chips are read by sensors buried under snow.

First-time competitors Stephanie Walbon and Janel Warrington admitted they were probably under-prepared as far as training goes, but were thrilled to be involved in the annual event.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” said 23-year-old Walbon, who moved to Bellingham last summer. “But I’m excited!”

Walbon and Warrington, part of team Cobra Kai, had on T-shirts emblazoned with “Bow to your Sensei” on the front and “Fear does not exist in the Dojo.”

“Getting here and seeing all these people … the atmosphere is electric!” said Warrington, 27, who was preparing for the cross-country skiing leg, even though she had only cross-country skied twice before. “It’s fun to be part of it.”