Methow Valley Pursuit Ski Race with Title Sponsorship by Winthrop Mountain Sports

Gear up for the Winter Olympics in the sunny Methow Valley! Join Nordic skiers from across the Northwest in the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association’s 30-kilometer Methow Valley Pursuit ski race on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Like a wintertime Cutthroat Classic – MVSTA’s popular late-summer trail run that rewards runners with the spectacular views and terrain of the North Cascades – the Pursuit course features steady climbs, steady descents and stunning views at the top. And in a first for Pacific Northwest Nordic skiing, the Methow Valley Pursuit is now on the acclaimed American Ski Marathon calendar, North America’s longest-running citizen’s racing and touring series.

Due to uneven snow conditions on the usual valley-floor race route, the Pursuit course has been shifted  to start at the Cub Creek trailhead, climb over Rendezvous Pass, and drop into the Rendezvous Basin, following the terrain of the Rendezvous Mountain Ski Tour. A one-day race this year, the classic event has been cancelled, with the individual skate race taking its place on Saturday. Skate skiers of all abilities are invited to try the challenging endurance course at their own pace.

Cost of the race is $40, free for skiers under 17, which includes shuttle bus service and a commemorative ski hat. Awards will be given to winners in each age category. Register at www.mvsta.com.

Other events in the two-day Nordic Festival weekend include Backyard Ski Day on Friday (Jan. 24), with free skiing on 75 kilometers of expertly groomed trails, free cross-country ski rentals, and free lessons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mazama Corral trailhead. And don’t miss Saturday night’s Nordic Festival Party and Dinner, a fundraiser for the Methow Valley Nordic Team, at the Winthrop Barn from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dinner tickets are $10-$16 in advance, available by emailing mvntdirector@gmail.com.

The Methow Valley Pursuit is sponsored by Winthrop Mountain Sports and 13 other local businesses. For more information go to www.mvsta.com, or contact Program Manager Danica Ready at events@mvsta.com, or (509) 996-3287.

The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) is a non-profit organization that connects people to the special nature of the Methow Valley and supports community vitality.

The MVSTA trail system includes over 120 miles of cross country ski trails in the winter months, and is recognized as one of the finest trail systems in North America for Nordic skiing, mountain biking, trail running and hiking.