Chad and Hons battling to the finish line (timing cards in hand) Photo: Bellingham Herald
Mom and Dad Camping Out the night before the big race
I like to camp
Warm Temperatures but plenty of snow at Mt. Baker. Fun Fact: Mt. Baker holds the record for the most snow fall in a season 1,140 inches (1999)
Mom and Chad post race
How sweet is it to have a ski race in May? Each year the Ski to Sea multi-sport relay race kicks off with a xc ski race on Memorial Day Weekend Sunday. This year was one of the most competitive fields ever. Ivan Babikov made the trip and he is one of the best climbers in the world (plus he was 5th at the Olympics)
A blast of dynamite starts the 450+ cross country skiers. A pack of 10-15 elite skiers formed pretty quickly at the front of the race. I started off conservatively and let drafting and my skis do most of the work on the downhills. We began the big climb (9-10 min) and Babikov, Koos and I had a small gap on the field. About halfway up Koos showed signs of tiring and Ivan started breaking away. I decided to just go for it and made a surge to bridge the gap. I haven’t skied near Ivan very much but it was easy to see why he is such a good climber. He pulled over to let me lead but I didn’t have much interest in that and stayed behind. After asking me several times to take a pull I reluctantly went to the front. I wanted to do my fair share of the work, but perhaps this was a mistake. With about 1km to go Ivan took the lead and a few feet slowly turned into 24 seconds. Still a great race for me and a good position for my team Sportmans Challet. I tagged off to my high school friend Sol Woras for the downhill ski.
Me, Martin, Dave, Torin and Kent enjoying a long cool down. Martin (15th Vasaloppet gave us some good double pole tips and advice, thanks!)
Results
| 1 | 00:00:00 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Ivan Babikov | 00:18:15 | 74 | Boss Construction | Competitive Open |
| 2 | 00:00:24 | 2 | 00:00:24 | Brian Gregg | 00:18:39 | 60 | Sportsman Chalet | Competitive Open |
| 3 | 00:01:06 | 3 | 00:01:06 | Eric Bjornsen | 00:19:21 | 3 | TEAM ISLAGIATT | Competitive Open |
| 4 | 00:01:12 | 4 | 00:01:12 | Martin Rosvall | 00:19:27 | 18 | Boomer’s Drive-In | Competitive Open |
| 5 | 00:01:29 | 5 | 00:01:29 | Dan Roycroft | 00:19:44 | 1 | clippercanoes.com | Competitive Open |
| 6 | 00:01:41 | 6 | 00:01:41 | Torin Koos | 00:19:56 | 35 | Barron Heating | Competitive Open |
| 7 | 00:01:43 | 7 | 00:01:43 | Josh Smullin | 00:19:58 | 75 | Boss Construction 4 Western Football | Competitive Open |
| 8 | 00:02:00 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Kent Murdoch | 00:20:15 | 471 | Boss Construction, MASTERS | Masters |
| 9 | 00:02:31 | 8 | 00:02:31 | Sam Naney | 00:20:46 | 50 | POS-X | Competitive Open |
| 10 | 00:02:45 | 9 | 00:02:45 | Jed Hinkley | 00:21:00 | 27 | BAGELRY | Competitive Open |
| 11 | 00:04:03 | 10 | 00:04:03 | Sarah Konrad | 00:22:18 | 61 | Dr. Hogan’s Heroes | Competitive Open |
| 12 | 00:04:07 | 1 | 00:00:00 | David Christopherson | 00:22:22 | 494 | Win or Die | Veterans |
| 13 | 00:04:10 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Dasha Gaiazova | 00:22:25 | 39 | BOUNDARY BAY BREWERY | Competitive Women |
| 14 | 00:04:16 | 2 | 00:02:16 | Rune Harkestad | 00:22:31 | 475 | @tdcurran | Masters |
| 15 | 00:04:34 | 11 | 00:04:34 | Joshua Korn | 00:22:49 | 53 | Frank and Lola | Competitive Open |
| 16 | 00:04:36 | 2 | 00:00:29 | Olav Stana | 00:22:51 | 488 | Bank of the Pacific | Veterans |
| 17 | 00:04:45 | 12 | 00:04:45 | Karl Hochtl | 00:23:00 | 73 | Nomad GCS | Competitive Open |
| 18 | 00:05:04 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Jacob Hartsoch | 00:23:19 | 128 | BEAVERS TREE SERVICE | Whatcom County Open |
| 19 | 00:05:11 | 3 | 00:03:11 | Vesa Suomalainen | 00:23:26 | 470 | Pape Rents/Bobcat West | Masters |
| 20 | 00:05:48 | 13 | 00:05:48 | Inge Scheve | 00:24:03 | 28 | Questionable Motives | Competitive Open |
| 21 | 00:05:52 | 2 | 00:00:48 | Steve George | 00:24:07 | 167 | RunningShoes.com | Whatcom County Open |
| 22 | 00:05:59 | 14 | 00:05:59 | Mike Argue | 00:24:14 | 2 | MRSAnaries | Competitive Open |
| 23 | 00:06:22 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Evan Turner | 00:24:37 | 451 | Made in the Methow-Mazama Store | High School |
| 24 | 00:07:05 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Luke Heckrodt | 00:25:20 | 511 | Moore Sharp Heckrodts On the Way | Family |
| 25 | 00:07:24 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Chad Gregg | 00:25:39 | 214 | Self Serve | Recreational Open |
| 26 | 00:07:27 | 3 | 00:02:23 | Chad Honsinger | 00:25:42 | 125 | Chisels of Fury | Whatcom County Open |
| 27 | 00:07:35 | 2 | 00:00:11 | Kristina Owen | 00:25:50 | 312 | Viking Football Alumns For Bring Back WWU Football | Recreational Open |
| 28 | 00:07:39 | 3 | 00:00:15 | Bruce Christopherson | 00:25:54 | 340 | RAM / WATTS | Recreational Open |
| 29 | 00:08:18 | 1 | 00:00:00 | Dan Froula | 00:26:33 | 123 | CrossFit X | Whatcom County Mixed |
| 30 | 00:08:21 | 4 | 00:03:17 | Vern Latta | 00:26:36 | 166 | HOMECRAFTERS NORTHWEST | Whatcom County Open |
