.jpg)
 |
|
| Issue #14 January 14, 2009 |
|
Quick Links >>> |
|
||||
 |
 Switching Running/Mountain Bike Courses It was reported last fall that there would be a switch of the Running and Mountain Bike legs of the race to make it less punishing on the bodies of the runners and more challenging for the mountain bikers. This was prompted by local authorities’ need to close the lower portion of the Nooksack River dike due to flooding issues. Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to make this switch for 2009 because of an inadequate route for mountain bikes coming down the mountain. If there was a connector trail between the upper and lower trail systems, the Running leg could perhaps move off the highway and onto a dirt trail. Our goal is to have the runners get off the steep part of the highway. Unfortunately, it will not happen this year. |
||||
|
New Mountain Bike Course Race Committee Mountain Bike Leg Chairs John Burley and Pete Rensink are working with WHIMPs and Norka Recreation to create a new course. The new mountain bike course will now be 13 miles long rather than 9 miles with 5.18 miles on trails or gravel roads and 7.82 miles on paved roads. Some cycle cross features at 3-4 locations along the course will make it more challenging for the mountain bikers and exciting for spectators. The beach portion has been eliminated due in part to the concern over sand and salt in gears. Since the new course is now four miles longer, the total race is now 89 miles in length. |
|||||
|
|
|
||||
|
Registration for the race will open the first week of March. The entry fees for the 2009 Ski to Sea Race are as follows: |
|||||
|
|
Team Pages can include bios on each team member, photos or videos from prior years, your logo and other items that are in good taste or humorous. All sites are open to the public and there will be an award for the most creative team web site. The Bellingham Herald and the public will be able to access these Team Pages. The Bellingham Herald often runs stories about specific teams so be sure they can contact you by visiting your Team Page. The Team Pages replace the Media Page. |
||||
|
Improved Timing While we were able to gather the times quickly last year, getting split times to racers could have been more successful. This year, teams have the option of having text messages sent as each of their racers crosses a timing gate respective to their Race Leg. The website will also reflect these split times as they occur. By posting times sooner, when you arrive at Marine Park your finish times should already be available in the results tent. |
|||||
|
|
Environmental Stewardship While the Ski to Sea Race Committee has done our best to minimize the waste from this stellar event, we can still do more. This year we will have monitors on each recycle bin to inform folks what can go in them. We are also asking all of our vendors to only use recyclable or compostable materials so very little will become garbage. Finally, we have determined the carbon footprint for the race and are working to make the race a carbon neutral event. We have other plans to “green up” the race even more and these will be outlined in a future newsletter. |
||||
|
The Ski to Sea Junior Race will have its own website now. Teams in the Junior Race will also be able to build Team Pages. Visit it at http://www.skitosea.com/junior |
|||||
|
The Ski to Sea Festival is proud to have Chelsea Dier and Andy Gilbert as the 2009 Interns from Western Washington University. When you call the Chamber for questions on the Ski to Sea Festival, you will probably be talking to Chelsea or Andy. |
|||||
|
The theme for the 2009 Grand Parade will be made in the next few weeks. Keep watching the website for updates. |
|||||
The Ski to Sea Race Committee has many other changes planned to make the 2009 and beyond Race better each year. We will be updating you monthly on the progress we have made with these and other changes. If you wish to opt out of receiving these newsletters, you may do so. If you have other ideas of suggestions that you wish to pass along, email us at Ski2SeaRace@gmail.com.
Pete Coy, Race Director
Mel Monkelis, Race Coordinator
|
||||||||||||||||
- Notice to Teams
The media will use the new Team Sites to contact teams for stories. If you don't make a Team Site, the media cannot contact you.
- Team Sites
Click here to request a team site. Instructions on "How to Build a Team Site" The latest team sites are:
|
| Duh Winning |
|
| Slow Kids At Play |
