Ski to Sea downhill skiing/snowboarding all about the climb
THE COURSE
Year leg added to the race: 1973 (one of original three); snowboarding added as an option in 2004.
Where: Mt. Baker Ski Area.
Course length: Approximately 2½ miles.
Approximate time to complete: 20 minutes for top finishers, 25 to 45 minutes for everyone else.
Course description: This leg is not so much about skiing or snowboarding as it is about the climb up the mountain before competitors can ski or snowboard back down. After a quick ski to the bottom of Chair 2, competitors begin a 1,000-foot climb to the top of Chair 1. They then put their skis or snowboards back on to speed down Gunner’s Ridge, Blueberry Cat Track, Home Run and 7-Hills to the exchange point beside the Ski Shop.
Downhill skiing/snowboarding race chair: Adam Morvee.
Pre-race meeting: 7 a.m. at the Ski Shop.
Recommended departure time from Bellingham: 4:45 a.m.
Timing chip: Receive the chip from the cross-country skier, ski the leg and pass the chip off to the runner. The runner will swipe the chip to get the finish time for the downhill skiing/snowboarding leg. The downhill skier/snowboarder does not swipe the chip at either end of the leg.
TRAVEL AND VIEWING ADVICE
Mount Baker Highway will be closed at 7:15 a.m. at Canyon Creek Road in Glacier, going east toward the mountain. Any viewers, participants or additional support vehicles that want to go to the top of the mountain must pass Canyon Creek Road before then. The road will be closed westbound at 7:15 a.m. at the Mt. Baker Ski Area Heather Meadows Day Lodge. No vehicles will be allowed to travel down the mountain before it reopens.
Best place to watch the leg: Heather Meadows Day Lodge at Mt. Baker Ski Area, where spectators can see the handoff from the cross country skiers, a long line of climbers heading up the mountain and then a few minutes later see them come screaming off the slopes to hand off to the runners.
TIPS FOR THE RACE
▪ It might be a good idea to scout out the relay point with your cross-country skier and plan on meeting there.
▪ Dress comfortably. Avoid cotton. More than likely, you will slip during the climb.
▪ You are climbing in snow, and thus, you will be sinking as you step. Make sure to pace yourself.
▪ The snow in May is different from the snow the rest of the winter, so make sure that skis or snowboards are tuned for the current conditions. Wait until a couple of days prior to the race before deciding how to prepare gear.
2016 Top finishers
Men: Max Taam (Aeromech) 20:01
Women: Jessie Young (PRiME Massage and Sports Medicine) 23:05
This story was originally published May 23, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Ski to Sea downhill skiing/snowboarding all about the climb."