Registration for the 52nd Ski to Sea, Whatcom County’s renowned Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay multisport relay race, is 60% full as of the first week in February.
In 2024, 500 teams, made up of 3,877 participants, registered for Ski to Sea, selling out the event for the first time since 2011.
Registration opened Jan. 1 with the event set for the palindromic date of 5-25-25. Early bird discounted registration ended on Jan. 31 — entry is now $734 per team, excluding the all-high school division, which is free.
By Jan. 3, 100 teams had already registered, more than double last year’s number on the third day of registration. In 2024 the race sold out in April, a month before go time.
In the seven-leg relay, teams race from Mt. Baker Ski Area to Marine Park in Fairhaven. The legs are, in order, cross country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, road cycling, canoeing, cyclocross, and sea kayaking. See the course map here.
New in 2025 is the person leading the whole operation: former assistant race director Aurielle Buermann has taken over top duties as race director from Anna Rankin, who started in the position in 2016.
If you would rather lend a hand than compete, around 500 volunteers are needed to pull off the huge and logistically complex event. Signing up early to volunteer guarantees the opportunity to work at the race leg of your choice.
Find more information on volunteering or register to race at skitosea.com.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.