STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK
PHOTOS BY NILS RIBI
There won’t be a BMT Stomp this year.
“At least, I don’t think so,” Kelly Allison said, hedging her bet as she crossed her fingers.
Last year Bob Rosso enlisted those at the finish line of the Boulder Mountain Tour to stomp down the course as a foot of snow fell between the start and finish of the race. Delighted stompers scurried to get off the course as the first racers emerged on the scene.
The racers themselves were only too happy to see the finish after soft snowy conditions that had prolonged their times by 20 minutes or more—the slowest results since the Boulder Mountain Tour was reconfigured to its present 34-kilometers.
This course for the 43rd annual Boulder Mountain Tour presented by Zions Bank on Saturday should be fast, with partly sunny skies in the forecast and highs near 45 after an overnight low of 26.
And there’s enough snow at the finish line across from SNRA headquarters that there’s no need for the shovel brigade that was required a couple years ago, said Rosso.
“Not too long ago, we were developing a contingency plan for the Boulder Mountain Tour, but it started snowing. And now the BMT is in full bore,” he said.
That said, concern about snow—or, the lack thereof—has curtailed registration slightly. As of Monday morning, 740 racers had cast their stocking caps into the ring, a few dozen fewer than last year. But Allison, who co-chairs the race with her husband Glen Allison, expects that number to pick up by tonight’s 9 p.m. deadline.
“There’s a lot waiting because we’re one of the few areas that have snow. Some people are not sure about their fitness—for instance, I’m not seeing some names out of Utah that we always see because they haven’t had snow.
“And others are not sure about the weather. Because of climate change, people are waiting to register because they’re worried races might be cancelled. When the American Birkebeiner was cancelled last year in Wisconsin, that was a big deal. I expect the Half-Boulder to fill from 170 to 200 by the time registration closes. And I hope we reach 800 for both the full and the Half-Boulder.”
The reigning champion Silas Talbot will be back, as will Sawyer Kesselheim, his colleague from Bozeman, Mont. Sun Valley Ski ‘s Gold Team Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Gold Team racers Cole Morgan and Matt Gelso will be right in there, as well.
Caitlyn Gregg, the reigning women’s champion will be here, although her husband Brian who took second place last year will be at a Super Tour back East. Gregg will be pushed by Bend, Ore.’s Sarah Max and Anja Gruber, of Bozeman, Mont.
The Master’s Race will include Sun Valley’s Betsy Youngman, who just came home from last week’s World Masters in Minneapolis with more gold to add to her heavy metal collection.
“I created a special race category—Charley’s class—in honor of Charley French. Instead of “90 and above” it’s now Charley’s class,” added Allison.
The Boulder Mountain Tour is part of the prestigious American Ski Marathon Series, as well as the Intermountain Nordic Marathon Series, which includes the Moose Chase Marathon in Jackson, the Teton Ridge Classic and the Yellowstone Rendezvous 50K.
“I’ve gone to these other races, including the Birkebeiner and the City of Lakes Loppett, and I always see people wearing Boulder Mountain Tour hats,” said Allison. “The BMT is one of the best known races. We have racers coming from as far away as Florida and Washington, D.C.—places you wouldn’t think they have Nordic skiers, as well as Canada.
Those in Saturday’s race will be tested right off the bat with winding climbs running under cliffs and overlooking the Big Wood River between Galena Lodge and Prairie Creek. The ski course opens up at Prairie Creek allowing skiers to break into groups and draft off one another.
“It’s one of the most beautiful races you can do. I remember looking up as I raced past the Boulder Mountains and going, ‘Wow! I don’t feel so good right now, but look where we are!’ ” said Allison. “And it certainly has some of the best grooming in the nation. I go to other places and the grooming doesn’t even compare.”
All racers will get a Boulder Pass good for four free days on North Valley Trails Feb. 1 through 4. The passes are available at The Elephant’s Perch, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Sturtevant’s and Galena Lodge.
Friends and family can buy a three-day pass for $45.
The Boulder Mountain Tour is one of a handful of events going on this week for both racers and recreational skiers as part of the Sun Valley Nordic Festival.
The Nordic Festival was condensed from 10 days to four days this year, with Ski the Rails being moved to Saturday, Feb. 10, and Paw ‘n Pole being moved to Sunday, Feb. 25.
“When we started the Nordic Festival, we were hoping we would draw people from out of town for it but that didn’t happen,” Allison said. “It was still the local people who were showing up at the fun events, like Ski the Rails and Paw ‘n Pole. So we decided it was better to have them later when it’s warmer and showcase the BMT, which is why the majority of people come to town.”
The Town Sprints will still go on, as will the Boulder Mountain Tour Expo and Demo Days.
Olympian Caitlyn Gregg and Matt Gelso will be among those to beat in the sprints, said Sun Valley Nordic Coach Rick Kapala.
“The sprints give us an opportunity to showcase our sport for the town, show people how fast these guys can ski,” added Kapala
Racers can exchange their bibs for free skiing at the Sun Valley Nordic Center during Sunday’s Demo Day. Only a few trails are open there, but Manager Steve Haims says he’s got enough snow to hold the Demo Day and provide grooming on Leif’s, Practice, White Clouds and part of the Trail Creek trails.
Non-racers can avail themselves of a discounted $10 pass at the Nordic Center on that day.
A LOOK AHEAD:
Thursday, Feb. 1, 3:30-5:30 p.m. NORDIC TOWN USA SPRINTS & Boulder Mountain Tour Opening Ceremony. Competitors go head to head in a two-person sprint relay around a 4-meter oval in a race for $600 of prize money. Registration is free for youth and $20 for adult teams. 4th Street and Second Avenue across from Ketchum Post Office.
Friday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. BMT Race Packet Pick Up and EXPO, Ketchum Innovation Center. Features more than 20 local vendors and event sponsors. 311 1st Ave. N. Ketchum.
Friday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m. BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL at the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum, with doors opening for Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center raffle at 6 p.m. Tickets are $19 in advance, available at The Elephant’s Perch, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Sturtevants, Ski Tek and Chapter One Bookstore.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m. BOULDER MOUNTAIN TOUR starts at Senate Meadows near Galena Lodge. Top competitors are expected to finish across from SNRA headquarters just after 11 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 11:30 a.m. 15K HALF BOULDER MOUNTAIN TOUR starts at Baker Creek.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 5:30-7 p.m. AWARDS CEREMONY at Sun Valley Inn Limelight Room. All racers will receive a raffle ticket good for a chance at skis, boots, poles, clothing, bags and more.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL continues.
Sunday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. NORDIC DEMO DAY at Sun Valley Nordic Center. Exchange your race bib for a free trail pass at the Nordic Center. A discounted $10 trail pass will be available for non-racers.
Monday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m. BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL concludes.