Ski to Sea will include the cross-country and downhill ski legs, event organizers announced after months of uncertainty due to low snow at Mt. Baker Ski Area.
In February, Ski to Sea race director Anna Rankin and the race committee first started weighing the possibility of a contingency plan that would’ve replaced the two snow legs with a lower-course trail run and mountain bike leg.
Participants were asked to stay flexible in case there wasn’t enough snow left at Mt. Baker Ski Area over Memorial Day weekend to support hundreds of racers on the cross-country and downhill ski legs that usually kick off the event.
The decision of whether or not to change the course came down to the wire, but Rankin said in a social media video on Tuesday, May 7 that thanks to some creative snow-moving at the ski hill, the ski legs are happening as usual this year.
“We want to thank Mt. Baker Ski Area for saving snow for us and for doing everything possible to make the race happen this year,” assistant race director Aurielle Buermann said in the announcement.
The cross-country course will be slightly different this year — more information on the course will be released in the coming weeks — and because Junior Ski to Sea is happening this Saturday, May 11, the cross-country course will be closed for practice on Friday and Saturday until noon.
“We’re truly excited that we’re going to have ski legs this year. We’re going to have a true Ski to Sea, and we’re looking forward to seeing you all on May 26,” Rankin said.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
