STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

A thousand skiers are expected to race in the 34-kilometer Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour on Saturday. But only one will win the 52-year-old race’s new award—the coveted rubber chicken.

The new award is for Best Costume. And it shouldn’t take any stretch of imagination to come up with something good.

While four BMT racers rolled down the trail as roly-poly blobs a couple years ago, any other attempts to rise above plain old Lycra has usually been reserved for enthusiastic female racers from Utah who show up in rainbow-colored tutus.

Racers have been waiting for months for Saturday to come.

“We sold out a thousand spots in nine weeks so we’ve had an unprecedented response,” said Jody Zarkos, who oversees the race, which is one of the premiere marathon ski races in the country. “We have 800 full Boulder racers, 200 Half-Boulder and 24 athletes from the Challenged Athletes foundation. We had a few hundred people on the waitlist—we were able to get many in but, sadly, we didn’t get everybody in.”

Zarko said the clamor to take part in the Boulder Mountain Tour has been growing since the COVID pandemic.

“People are after experiences, and this is one of the best you can have in Sun Valley,” she said. “People are appreciative of the great course and the wonderful grooming that the Blaine County Recreation District does. We get a lot of comments about how spectacular it from the scenery to the grooming to how well organized it is, which reflects on Rick Kapala and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. And participants love the soups from Galena Lodge and the baked goods awaiting them at the finish line.”

Annika Landis, who grew up in the Wood River Valley and now races for Enjoy Winter NTS Factory Team, says the Boulder Mountain Tour is one of her favorite races because it possesses a mix of “high-level performance, old-school charm and all-around good vibes.”

It probably doesn’t hurt that she finished second in 2024, coming in a split-second behind Mariah Bredal who posted a time of 1:20.21.03.

The race can be fun for spectators, as well, whether they’re watching the start at Senate Meadows outside Galena Lodge or at the finish line across from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters.

That’s because the course drops 2,231 feet while gaining only 1,239.

While skiers must charge up Hawk Hill and do a slog uphill near Russian John, most of the course along the Harriman Trail points gradually downhill or is even flat in some cases. That means racers tend to stay close together and photo finishes are quite possible--a boon for those at the bottom ringing cowbells.

This year’s racers are coming from throughout the United States and other countries. Katie Feldman and Mia Case, former SVSEF Gold Team members, will compete against Swedish skier Erica Laven and Norwegian skier Selma Nvin, both of whom ski for the University of Utah. Past BMT winners among the female competitors include Hannah Rudd, Erika Flowers and Roxanne Toly.

Local racer Peter Wolter, who won the 2023 Boulder Mountain Tour and finished second last year, will not be here as he is guiding blind Sun Valley Paralympic medalist Jake Adicoff at the Para World Championships in Italy and Norway before racing his own races in Norway.

In his absence, the men’s field will include Great Britain’s Joe Davies; Canada’s Sam Hendry and past BMT winners Matt Gelso and Ben Husaby. There’s even a family factor involved this year—Garrett Butts’ mother Ingrid, a former U.S. Ski Team member, won the 1996 BMT; Ari Endestad’s father Audun Endestad won the 1990 and 1993 BMT.

Last year there were 1,031 registrants—800 in the Full Boulder and 231 in the Half Boulder. Nearly 60 percent were men. Those between 30 and 60 comprised 60 percent of the participants—with 304 in the 30-to-45-year category and 312 ages 46-61. There were 35 under 12 and 27 at least 76 years.

The youngest was 7; the oldest, 97.

In additional to first, second and third-place medals for overall winners and winners in age categories, participant medals will be handed out at the finish line.

“Ceramic artist EJ Harpham has made ceramic medallions for us—she’s a three-time Boulder Mountain champion herself. So, in fact, she is still lending her special talents to the race,” said Zarkos.

The BMT, first run in 1973, kicks off at 10 a.m. at Senate Meadows near Galena Lodge. The 15K Half-Boulder starts at noon at Baker Creek.

It could snow between two and six inches by Saturday morning. But Zarkos said the awards celebration Saturday night will be warm and dry inside The Argyros. Celebrants will be able to watch a video of the race and participate in a raffle for skis and gift certificates donated by local businesses.

Sawtooth Brewery will debut its new sausage cart and celebrants will also be able to purchase beer and wine from The Argyros.

Zarkos said close to 300 volunteers help put on the event:

“We have so many amazing volunteers who have helped for year and years and years, from Pete Stephenson who runs the bag shuttle, to Jenny Busdon with registration to Jim Keller with banners to Ted Angle, who coordinates the volunteers, to Bobby Noyes who sets up timing. The list is extensive and deep I just can’t convey how humbled I am to work with people who have such a strong community ethos.”

Sadly, this year’s race will be absent the services of its longtime medical advisor Dr. Terry O’Connor, who passed away in an avalanche high on a peak in the Lost River Range last spring.

“This race is safer and more fun because Terry O’Connor touched it,” said Paddy McIlvoy, the Boulder Mountain Tour board president. “(He was) a relentless advocate for his community and the people in it.”

THE SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, Jan. 30—NORDICTOWN USA SPRINTS

This x-c celebration pits teams of two in a head-to-head freestyle relay format around a 400-meter oval across from the Ketchum Post office at Second Avenue and fourth Street. Top teams will win cash prizes. Day of race signup. Hot drinks and cookies will be provided by the Sun Valley Community School.

It kicks off with the Devo Team at 4:15 p.m., followed by Family Relay at 4:30 p.m. The Para Class starts at 4:45 p.m. and the Elite Class at 5:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31—BMT BIB PICKUP AND EXPO

This will be held from 10 am. To 7 p.m. at The Argyros in Ketchum.

SATURDAY, Feb. 1—52nd ANNUAL ZIONS BANK BOULDER MOUNTAIN TOUR

The full Boulder starts at 10 a.m. at Galena Lodge; the 15K Charley Course Half Boulder starts at noon at Baker Creek.

Those wanting to watch the race start at Galena may board the buses between 9 and 9:30 a.m. at Hemingway Elementary STEAM School at 111 8th St. East in Ketchum. Two buses will return spectators from Galena to the finish area at 10:30 and 11 a.m.

Parking also is available on Barlow Road, a quarter-mile south of the finish area. A free shuttle bus will run continuously from Barlow Road between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Parking will be off-limits to skiers wanting to ski at Galena Lodge until all the racers have crossed the highway at approximately 10:30 a.m. Parking is also highly discouraged at SNRA headquarters during the event.

BMT AWARDS CELEBRATION

This will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at The Argyros. Food and beverages will be available for purchase; there’ll be party tunes and a massive raffle with great prizes, including new skis.

SUNDAY, Feb. 2--DEMO DAY AT SUN VALLEY NORDIC CENTER

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. industry representatives will be on hand to help skiers demo the latest gear. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and participants will receive free trail passes.