STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Nine degrees--the coldest temperatures in 20 years—greeted racers at the starting line for the10-kilometer Billy Goat Loppet Saturday. But the Trail Creek and Proctor Loop trails at Sun Valley Nordic Center were impeccably groomed and racers crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces as temperatures climbed into the teens.

“It was zero at my house this morning, but the sun came up and it was another beautiful day in Sun Valley,” said Jenny Busdon, who organized the race with Ted Angle.

The cold dissuaded some would-be racers, and Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Nordic racers were away at a competition in Soldier Hollow in Utah. But, still, 30 racers turned out for the heck of it.

Brandy Stewart leads Kim Kawaguchi and Jason Williams as they navigate a small hill.

Busdon and Angle launched the Billy Goat Loppet 20 years ago on behalf of the Sun Valley Ski Club. At the time, Angle said, the focus of the ski club had always been on alpine skiing, and he and Busdon thought it should have a Nordic component given the growing popularity of cross-country skiing in Sun Valley.

They held the first few races at Billy’s Bridge 17 miles north of Ketchum and named it Billy Goat Loppet as a nod to the goat viewing that takes place there. They moved it to the Sun Valley Nordic Center after a couple years of low snowfall and parking limitations made it difficult to have the race at Billy’s Bridge.

Saturday’s race was billed as a good way to get ready for Boulder Mountain Tour, and Bill Dana took that to heart.

“I do the Boulder Mountain Tour because it’s there and because it gives me a good training goal,” he said. “It was beautiful out there today, although it was really cold—I might have gotten frostbite on my fingertips.”

Abbie Mallory cruises along the Trail Creek loop crossing the Sun Valley Golf Course.

“It was phenomenal,” added Matt Birkebak, a Seattle resident who is spending a few weeks in Sun Valley. “I love going fast and so I really enjoyed this.”

Yuhko Grossman’s dark hair had turned white from the cold by the time she crossed the finish line, but she didn’t care.

“It was a beautiful day,” she said. “I do this to support Jenny and all the people who put it on. It was really slow going—I should have waxed my skis beforehand—but I’m glad I did it.”

Busdon said participants have encountered the full spectrum of weather conditions, including blizzards, over 20 years: “This being the coldest year ever, it was a hearty group that endured the weather.”

Tom Liby leads Matt Birkebak by the slimmest of margins halfway through the race.

Heeds Sports Drink provided energy drinks to replenish electrolytes at the finish line and Backwoods Mountain Sports provided gift certificates and prizes for an end-of-the-race drawing.

The winners:

MEN’S 10K

Matt Birkebak—32 minutes 31:26 seconds

Bill Dana crosses one of a handful of bridges on the Trail Creek and Proctor loops.

Martin Aulie—36.30:56

Zack Beatty—39.28:43

WOMEN’s 10K

Laura Theis—41.36:27

Abbie Mallory—42.33:44

Brandy Stewart—47.34:18