It’s that time of the year again when weekend warriors meet high level athletes in one of the longest running and most unique races of the season in Kelowna and across the province.
The 33rd annual RE/MAX Ski2Sea race takes place on Sunday morning, beginning at Big White and ending at City Park as teams of up to seven people compete in the unique race that features several different legs that span 95 kilometres.
Teams begin with alpine skiing and nordic skiing before a mountain bike section is followed by road cycling and running and ending with canoeing or kayaking to the finish line.
“What’s great about the Ski2Sea is you can be anywhere from an elite athlete to a weekend warrior and you are competing against yourself and the clock,” said co-organizer Kelly Blair. “It’s you and your teammates doing against the clock and trying to get the best time you can.”
As of earlier this week close to 60 teams had entered the race and more were expected leading up to the Sunday start time.
Blair urged any teams that are still thinking about it to register prior to Sunday with late registration still open through www.ski2sea.ca, at Fresh Air Experience or at Blair Sports Wear.
“The most teams we’ve ever had was 101 and this year is shaping up to be about average,” said Blair of the number of teams expected to compete. “It’s not too late. If someone wants to throw a team together they can go online and register.”
After putting on the race the past two years without a title sponsor, the Ski2Sea received a five year commitment from RE/MAX this year to be the title sponsor.
The addition of RE/MAX kept the race alive and will also allow organizers to donate money to several community groups such as People in Motion and search and rescue, depending on the amount leftover after the race.
“We’re very pleased RE/MAX stepped up and we will push forward to make it bigger and better in the next several years,” said Blair. “We try to give away $2,000 to $4,000 every year and we’re in a better position to be more generous in that regard.”
