Ski to Sea is a popular multi-sport relay race where teams of competitors tackle a course from the slopes of Mount Baker down to Bellingham Bay. It's an annual event rooted deeply in the community spirit of Whatcom County, Washington.
Understanding the Ski to Sea Race
At its core, Ski to Sea is a team-based race where athletes sequentially complete different legs of a long course using various modes of transportation and endurance sports. Think of it as a multi-stage relay race, but instead of just running, participants transition between skiing, biking, running, and paddling.
Key Details: When and Where
The race is held annually on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend each year. The entire event takes place within Whatcom County, Washington, starting high up on Mount Baker and finishing near the sea in Bellingham.
Team Structure
A Ski to Sea team is made up of between three and eight racers. These individuals divide the race's segments among themselves, with each person (or pair, in the case of canoeing) responsible for completing one or more legs before passing the "baton" to the next teammate.
The Race Legs: Seven Sports, One Goal
The heart of the Ski to Sea race lies in its seven different sports or legs. Each team must have a participant skilled in each discipline (or have one person do multiple legs) to complete the entire course. The sports are typically completed in a specific order, representing the descent from the snowy mountain peak to the sea.
Here are the seven sports included in the race:
- Cross Country Ski: Kicking off the race, athletes navigate a cross-country ski course.
- Downhill Ski/Snowboard: The second leg takes racers down a slalom course on downhill skis or a snowboard.
- Running: Participants then transition to a running leg on pavement.
- Road Bike: Cyclists take over for a long, fast road biking segment.
- Canoe: This leg requires two paddlers working together in a canoe.
- Cyclocross Bike: Racers switch to cyclocross bikes for a mixed-terrain course.
- Sea Kayak: The final leg involves a solo paddler navigating a sea kayak to the finish line in Bellingham Bay.
Teams work their way through these legs, with each racer handing off to the next at designated transition areas until the final sea kayaker crosses the finish line. The team with the fastest cumulative time wins.
