Bellingham’s Pacific North Sports rings the bell for 2026 Ski to Sea victory
Pacific North Sports took first place in the 53rd annual Ski to Sea race on Sunday, May 24. The team’s sea kayaker, Ian Sawyer, rounded the buoy, placed roughly 100 feet from land, and paddled to shore at Marine Park at around 1:20 p.m.
Sawyer was greeted by his team, cheers and applause from the Bellingham community.
“One of the reason [my family] moved up here is so we could participate in Ski to Sea and be a part of this community.” Sawyer told The Herald.
Following shortly behind him was Steve Juranovics from the Maar’s heating team. Austin Kieff from the Boomer’s Drive-in team claimed third place. Complete results are available at the Ski to Sea website.
All spots were filled for registration this year, as previously reported by The Herald. Registration opened Thursday, Jan. 1, and the event sold out that evening with 500 teams registered.
The race dates to 1973, taking its inspiration from the 1911 Mount Baker Marathon, The Herald’s Robert Mittendorf reported on last year’s race.
The multi-leg race includes downhill skiing/snowboarding, cross country skiing, running, road biking, canoeing, cyclocross biking and sea kayaking.
Several thousand people were at the finish line by early afternoon, where businesses, nonprofits and others staffed informational booths. Concessions offered beer, coffee, gyros, pizza and other foods.
Mo Stewart, one of the race’s co-chairs, has been working the event for 15 years, her job includes setting up, tearing down and cleaning up the beach, but for her — it’s all about the community.
“When I see these racers coming up the beach here waiting for them, and they’re all going bonkers and crazy, and the hugs, and it’s just amazing,” Stewart told The Herald.
This Memorial Day weekend race is one the community looks forward and shows up for.
“It’s the energy you can feel, everybody’s happy. It’s just, so much fun,” race spectator, Cerri Davis said.
This year, nearly 5,000 people showed up to support the teams, according to Stewart.
When the Emcee announced that the first kayak had hit the water, the crowd began to flock around the designated spectator area and excitedly buzzing and anticipating when the first racer would ring the bell under the Peoples Bank banner.
When it was announced that Sawyer was rapidly approaching the shore and would be taking the first-place trophy for the Pacific North Sports team, people began ringing bells and cheering him on as he rang the bell and was declared the first-place winner.
“It gets better every year. Honestly, the vibe gets better,” Stewart said. “When my husband and I went out to dinner last night and the night before, and we’re wearing our [Ski to Sea merchandise] and people [from out of town] ask us questions — all of a sudden we’re making all these friends everywhere we go and this is what it’s about.”