Last year Far West Nordic debuted a brand new race-the Tahoe Rim Tour. The Race was designed to add another long point to point race to the area allowing people the adventure of skiing or snowshoeing 30 kilometers on a groomed trail across the wild lands between Tahoe XC and Northstar. Last year a huge blizzard forced us to change the course on race morning to a 20 kilometer loop but this year we are hoping to use the full course and experience the magic of traversing all eighteen miles from Lake Tahoe to the XC Center at Northstar. Primarily a classic race, there is also a skate division for those who prefer the latter technique.
The race will begin at North Tahoe High School in Tahoe City and will cruise through parts of the Tahoe XC Touring Center before climbing 1100 feet up the “Fiberboard Freeway” to 7700 foot Starratt Pass. Over the top of the pass, the race will veer off from the familiar course of the Great Ski Race and will instead head East along the Sierra Rim before connecting into the trail system of Northstar Cross Country. The course will finish by following the rolling terrain of the Northstar trails to the finish line at the Northstar XC Center. It’s a challenging 30 kilometers with approximately 2000 feet of climbing, similar in difficulty to the Great Ski Race. After reaching the finish, participants can celebrate their accomplishment at the post race party: hot food, drinks, raffle prizes and more will take place right at the finish area and buses will be waiting to take finishers back to Tahoe City.
There are three great options for entrants in the Tahoe Rim Tour, you can choose between classic style skiing, skate skiing, or snowhoeing. The classic skiers will start first at 8:30 AM to take advantage of the fresh groomed tracks and the (hopefully) good waxing conditions. The skate wave will start at 9:00 AM and the snowshoers will start immediately after the skaters. Snowhoers will take a shorter route once on the trails of Northstar making their course a half marathon distance of 21 kilometers. The course will be groomed with classic tracks on the right and a wide skating lane on the left. There should be plenty of room for everyone. Prizes will be awarded for age group winners in each of the three categories: Stride, Skate, and Shoe.
The Tahoe Rim Tour will be a fund-raiser for the Far West/Auburn Ski Club Junior Nordic programs. Northstar Resort and Tahoe Cross Country are generously donating their services to make this tour an incredible winter experience and to help raise money for Tahoe’s young skiers. It is a win, win, win event giving people a chance to challenge themselves on a new course, with three different choices of style, and all of the proceeds going to junior skiers- Come join us for the second Annual Tahoe Rim Tour!
RACE DETAILS:
Date: Sunday, January 25
Time: Classic Wave 8:30 AM, Skate and Snowshoe wave 9:00 AM.
Start: North Tahoe High School Tahoe City.
Finish: Northstar Resort Cross Country Center.
Distance: 30 Kilometers for skiers, 21 kilometers for snowshoers.
Cost: 45 dollars pre-registration, 60 dollars day of event. Juniors: 10 dollars pre reg, 15 dollars day of.
Aid Stations: At Starratt Pass, approximately the half way point.
Transportation: buses will run finishers back to Tahoe City between noon and 2:00 PM.
Awards: 3 deep in ten year age groups. Far West Masters team and Fischer Cup points only awarded for the classic portion. Sierra Ski Chase points for either skate or classic
Registration: On line at www.Farwestnordic.org
Questions? Email web@farwestnordic.org
