| Experience the legacy of the 1911 Mt. Baker Marathon and discover the "Ski to Sea" held in Bellingham, Washington, USA every Memorial Day weekend. More than a race.
On Sunday May 29, 2011 there were 464 teams of eight competitors participating in a 90-mile, seven-leg extravaganza of athleticism and adventurism representing all levels of ability, from weekend warrior to professional athlete.
The course stretches from the Mount Baker ski area (4,300 feet) to Bellingham Bay, where the winning team will ring a bell in front of a crowd of perhaps 35,000 and win ... absolutely nothing.
The Ski to Sea — they call it the Bellingham Olympics here — might not have hit the big time yet (shoot, they don't even have drug testing), but it is one of the country's most creative, unusual sports events. And, to the participants, one of the most fulfilling. Race's roots go back to 1911
The history of the Ski to Sea. It has its genesis in something that began in 1911 called the Mount Baker Marathon. It was a manly, 116-mile race from downtown Bellingham to the base of Mount Baker (by car, train or horse), then a treacherous run up and down the glacier-topped mountain, then back to Bellingham. It was a hazardous trek on the mountain. In 1913, one of the runners fell into a crevasse. He didn't die, but everybody was scared enough that the race itself did.
Word has spread widely. Participation used to be mostly from locals. Now Ski to Sea attracts athletes from all over the country. A number of former Olympians have participated, and among those set to race Sunday are U.S. gold medalist kayaker Greg Barton, three-time U.S. cross country skiing Olympian Torin Koos and kayaker Philippe Boccara, a six-time Olympian (four times for France, twice for the USA). Left Image: Chris (right) and his son Ben (left) after finishing the race
Right Image: Ben crossing the finishing line in the 4 section
All the racers compete at the same time on the same course, but in different divisions. There are 14 divisions.
Leg 1: . The 464 cross-country skiers will finish in 20 to 50 minutes.
Leg 2: This is called downhill skiing,
Leg 3: The eight-mile running course drops on an insanely steep grade on hard pavement, conditions perfectly suited to shred the quadriceps muscles of even the fittest.
Leg 4: This leg cyclists and takes about 1 hour, 20 minutes
Leg 5: This Class 1 canoeing trip for two down the Nooksack River takes about two hours and is deceptively tricky. There are hidden hazards, and river knowledge can be crucial.
Leg 6: new mountain biking course, part of it along an abandoned railroad bed.
Leg 7: The sea kayaking course zigzags in Bellingham Bay.
Chris going for the finish!
There is quite a sea kayak culture in Bellingham, so this always is a spirited competition. Some of the best local kayakers could find themselves bow to bow with a former Olympic paddler.
Experience the legacy of the 1911 Mt. Baker Marathon and discover the "Ski to Sea" held in Bellingham, Washington, USA every Memorial Day weekend. More than a race.
Links:
http://www.skitosea.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo1DD2oLrkY |