Editor’s note: On May 25, CDN profiled and published portraits of a competitor for each leg of Ski to Sea 2022. Here’s a rundown of how they fared:
Kayla Kaiser
Cross-country ski for the Bellingham Firefighters
Leg place: 159
Leg time: 43:52
Team place: 15th overall, first in Corporate division
Team time: 6:59:54
Highlight: Hearing the bagpipe play with the arrival of the team’s kayaker and seeing the community out again.
Hardest part: The poor conditions of the cross-country leg and the chaos of a mass start.
“I think my favorite part was remembering why I love to live here so much, having the town come alive again, after it being dormant for so many months.” — Kayla Kaiser
Alex Honn
Snowboarder and sea kayaker for The Tall, the Short, and the Ugly
Snowboard leg place: 110
Snowboard leg time: 1:03:23
Sea kayak leg place: 100
Sea kayak leg time: 32:54
Team place: 69th overall, 20th in Competitive Open division
Team time: 8:19:19
Highlight: The feeling of accomplishment from completing both the snowboard and kayaking legs.
Hardest part: Planning logistics and the hike to the top of Pandome.
“That was really cool to soak up — starting at the mountain in the morning and finishing the day with kayak.” — Alex Honn
Derek Thornton
Runner for BEAVERS TREE SERVICE
Leg place: First runner to finish, 8th fastest time
Leg time: 39:01
Team place: Second overall, first in Whatcom County Open division
Team time: 6:00:21
Highlight: Being the first runner to hand off from the downhill skier and maintaining the lead.
Hardest part: The cold, damp weather preventing him from ever getting warm during the leg.
“It’s fun to see how worlds collide. There are so many different connections.” — Derek Thornton
Haley Peters
Road biker for the Girls, Gays and Theys
Leg place: 298
Leg time: 2:45:49
Team place/time: No data due to early release.
Highlight: Being cheered on by spectators while riding through the county.
Hardest part: The rain and the unexpected steepness of the hills.
“I expected it to be mostly downhill, but it was mostly flat with some steep uphills.” — Haley Peters
Madeline May and Sam Rice
Canoeists for the TOKU-E Bobcats
Leg place: 203
Leg time: 2:37:46
Team place/time: No data due to early release
Highlight: Watching the team’s kayaker cross the finish line with the rest of the team cheering him on.
Hardest part: The wind during the canoe paddle.
“Our team all finished our individual legs around the average time, which was the goal.” — Madeline May
Charles Linneman
Cyclocrosser for 2009 Jr. Ski to Sea Runners-Up
Leg place: 75
Leg time: 51:32
Team place: 40th overall, third in Recreational Open division
Team time: 7:54:11
Highlight: Watching the team’s kayaker surpass the racer who was in third place for the Recreational Open division in the 50-foot sprint to ring the bell.
Hardest part: The muddy mile of the cyclocross leg where he had to get off his bike and run through it.
“I expected it to be liquidy mud, but it was like running through warm cake batter.” — Charles Linneman
Bethany Anderson
Sea kayaker for the Leisure Sportsmen
Leg place: 279
Leg time: 1:35:10
Team place: 268th overall, 43rd in Recreational Mixed division
Team time: 10:19:15
Highlight: The sense of community fostered by the race.
Hardest part: The wind making the bay rough.
“The feeling of being in the middle of the ocean and part of something bigger was awe-inspiring.” — Bethany Anderson
