Returning racers tell us their favorite parts of Ski to Sea are camaraderie and community. From organizing your team to training, racing, and trading stories at the finish line beer garden, Ski to Sea is all about teamwork. It is also about our incredible community of over 800 volunteers who work together to make this event unforgettable, year after year, since 1973.

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The FBC has a cool post with mud puddle pics from the last cyclocross race of the the season at Riverside State Park. Good, wholesome fun. While you are there poke around the site check out details of the Full Moon Festivus Fiasco coming up in a couple weeks. Double-proof that cold weather doesn’t kill the bike shenanigans in this town.

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Stuart blasts through in the Men’s B heat on a single-speed. // Photo Jon Snyder

The Cyclocross race this Sunday at Farragut State Park in Idaho made for a nearly perfect November afternoon. OTM columnist John Speare hired Loren Dudley and his fifteen person-van with bike trailer allowing us to assemble a serious posse for the event. Call us team Fred. My wife and I grabbed the kids, some sandwiches, and an Atom And His Package CD and we were off. Our group consisted of 5 racers (2 of which were cyclocross virgins) and 7-man cheering section. If you’ve never done a cyclocross race before it is the perfect combination of mountain biking and road racing–the best racers have skills from both disciplines.

I saw racers from Vertical Earth, North Division Bike Shop, Cyclesports, and Mountain View Cyclery. These people were incredibly fast and seemed to float through obstacles. But one of the coolest things about the event was the other end of the competition. Lots of rookies, juniors and folks without hardcore cyclist physiques having a go at racing.

This gentleman got my vote for “Best in Show: Bike Jersey.”

This is a picture of my friend Patrick and me after finishing our first cyclocross race. We came in the back of the pack of the mountain bike division but we add a great time. Don’t let the smiles fool you. We are in pain here. Notice my skateboard helmet and AC/DC jersey. If I can look that goofy and still race surely you can too.

The last race of the season is supposed to be the best and it takes place at Riverside State Park next weekend. Thanks to Emde Sports for putting on a great race. Hopefully we’ll see you next weekend.

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