STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Boulder Mountain Tour is approaching faster than ever this year, what with the big race from Galena to SNRA taking place on Feb. 1. And organizers are hopeful that some of those signed up to compete will want to hone their racing skills by taking part in the annual Billy Goat Loppet ski race.

This year’s Loppet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Sun Valley Nordic Center. Registration will be inside the Sun Valley Nordic Center between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. A mass race start will kick off at 10:30 a.m. for the men, followed by a mass race start for the women two minutes later.

Entry fee is $10 and members of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation who are under age 18 may ski the 10-kilometer race for free.

Connor Marland, Martin Aulie and Tom Dehart navigate the twisty Trail Creek trail.

“The Sun Valley Nordic Center has excellent snow conditions so we are hopeful that we get a great turnout for all those that want to get a pre-Boulder workout,” said Jenny Busdon, who is co-chairing the event with Ted Angle. “With a thousand skiers registered in the Boulder and Half Boulder, there must be a few locals who want to get well tuned for this event two weeks beforehand!”

Now in its 20th year, the Loppet is sponsored by Backwoods Mountain Sports and hosted by the Sun Valley Nordic Center and Sun Valley Ski Club. The freestyle race will go out Trail Creek and loop around Proctor before returning to the Nordic Center on the backside of the Trail Creek Loop.

Backwoods Mountain Sports has donated a variety of raffle prizes so everyone has a chance to win.

Questions? Call Jenny Busdon at 208-720-2540 or Ted Angle at 208-720-2822.