Ski to Sea is the ever-evolving race. Here are the top 10 new things to watch for in 2012.
1. Beating the rooster: The start of Ski to Sea has been moved 15 minutes earlier to 7:45 a.m. The reason isn't to get skiers and runners out of bed earlier, but to make sure kayakers get into Fairhaven earlier to avoid late-afternoon winds that tend to kick up on Bellingham Bay. If all goes as planned, the last kayaker will be hitting the water at 5 p.m.
2. Cross-up on cross-country skiers : A late change made by Race Director Pete Coy was the decision to switch the order of the second and third loops of the cross-country skiing leg. The reasoning was to help prevent cross-country skiers from colliding with downhill skiers flying down the mountain at high speeds. But the change has since been reversed because it might cause more problems than it solved. So the course will be the same as previous years.
3. Sweeping up: Ski to Sea will send a "sweeper" van down the Mount Baker Highway at about 10:30 a.m. to sweep the course and pick up any runners it sees walking or still on the course. The runners will be given a ride to the Shuksan Department of Transportation shed and given a time. Their road biker may or may not still be at the DOT.
No teams will be disqualified, but it will allow the highway to be opened to westbound traffic earlier than in past years. The van also will sweep up on the road biking course to help any bikers that are struggling or need assistance.
4. Expanded early release: In an effort to speed the race along and make sure every team is finished close to 6 p.m., Ski to Sea plans to use early release much more at each of the six exchange points. Each exchange point will have 30 to 40 extra timing chips to hand out to teams that are near the back of the pack.
No teams will be disqualified because of early release - times from each leg will be compiled at the end of the day.
5. Music to their ears: Though the fastest ones on the course, in terms of speed, road bikers have always had the longest wait of any of the seven legs. Road bikers have to leave Bellingham at the same time as the skiers and runners, because of the road closure on Mount Baker Highway, but they have to wait up to three or four hours to compete at one of the most remote points on the course.
To help ease the boredom, Ski to Sea has invited a band to perform and will offer other forms of entertainment and even a tent and heaters if conditions warrant.
6. Changing gears: Ski to Sea is lightening the restrictions for bikes in the road and mountain biking legs this year, allowing Recreation Division riders to use the same bikes as the Open divisions.
Cyclocross bikes also are allowed this year in the mountain biking leg, which no longer has tire size restrictions for anybody.
7. Ship shape: While the biking regulations have gotten a bit more relaxed, enforcement of the rules in the canoe and kayak legs is going to tighten. Rather than letting competitors be responsible for their own boats, and therefore their own safety, organizers will more closely check to make sure each boat is river or seaworthy.
8. Course changes: The road biking leg is staying on Silver Lake Road, a change that was made last year and added about four miles in length. The mountain biking leg is returning to the approximately 12-mile-long course it used in 2010.
Last year, four loops, measuring about eight extra miles, were added to help the overall race measure 100 miles in length.
9. Measuring up: Ski to Sea has placed mile markers along the Nooksack River to help canoeists determine their speed and how much longer they have to paddle.
10. Expanded beer garden: Ski to Sea has expanded the finish line beer garden. It will continue the shuttle bus service it started last year, with stops in downtown Bellingham, the finish line/Fairhaven festival area and Zuanich Point Park, where the kayaks will launch for the final leg of the race.
Spectators and competitors are advised to park in downtown Bellingham or the available Western Washington University parking lots.
Get race day updates, plus photo galleries from each leg, racer profiles and more at bellinghamherald.com/skitosea or on Twitter @skitosea.
Information on the cross-country ski leg was corrected May 24.
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2271.
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