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Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
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Copyright © 2003 Express Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 


Friday — February 6, 2004

Sports

Boulder skiers
ready for big race

Biggest field, 1,047, poles off Saturday


By JEFF CORDES
Express Sports Editor

Twenty states and five foreign countries are represented in the 2004 Wells Fargo Boulder Mountain Ski Tour set for Saturday, Feb. 7 starting from Galena Lodge north of Ketchum.

Brooke Baughman. Express photo by Willy Cook

Race director Kevin Swigert said that an all-time record 1,047 cross-country skiers have registered for tomorrow’s race from Senate Creek near Galena Lodge to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters eight miles north of Ketchum.

"That’s the most we’ve ever had," said Swigert. Last year there were 1,016 starters and 925 finishers in the American Ski Marathon Series race.

Racing conditions are always a big question with the Boulder, and this week’s intermittent snow showers are on everybody’s minds. It’s unlikely that the course will be as lightning fast as last February, when many records were set.

Swigert said, "Last year was extraordinary. It was as fast as it gets. With a little new snow each day this week, it could very well become a wax race, with varying conditions from start to finish."

The 29th annual 32-kilometer (19.8-mile) distance race is set to start at 10 a.m. Saturday. Leading the way are Elite classes featuring 62 men and 58 women. Skiers are grouped according to waves. There are eight waves with about 150 skiers in each wave.

Fastest skiers will arrive at the SNRA finish line about 11:15 a.m. Saturday. And there are some fast skiers. "We could see a group of 10 to 12 men at the finish," said Swigert.

Atomic’s Justin Wadsworth, the 2001-02 Boulder Tour king, will return along with 2003 Boulder Tour champion Eric Meyer, 25, of the Subaru Team. Two other Subaru contenders, Scott Loomis and Nathan Schultz, are also entered. So are speedy Ketchum locals Jon Engen and Peter Webb.

Minnesota racer Meyer (1.06:27), second-place Loomis, third-place Schultz along with Webb and Engen, in fifth and sixth places, were all in the seven-racer lead group last February on the quick track.

Returning to defend her Boulder Tour women’s title is Rossignol Factory Team racer Brooke Baughman, 31, of Ketchum. Other top women are Suzanne King (Atomic), reigning national champion Rebecca Dussault (Subaru) and Katrin Smigun (Subaru).

"It’s an incredibly strong women’s field," said Swigert.

Baughman (1.12:36) and King were stride for stride at thee women’s finish last year.

Helping out with the Boulder Tour is a committed group of 300 volunteers, Swigert said. Interestingly, about 300 of the 1,047 entries have never skied a race of this length before, he added. And about 400 skiers are from south central Idaho.

In all, the 2004 Boulder Tour events will cover three days. Here is the schedule:


Friday, Feb. 6:

The Wells Fargo Festival Tent will be set up in the parking lot across from Ketchum’s Giacobbi Square from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

There, racers will pick up their bibs and BMT duffel bags. Fifteen vendors will operate in the tent. Waxing tips will be offered throughout the day.


Saturday, Feb. 7:

Shuttle buses to Galena Lodge from the Ketchum Park & Ride will run from 7 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Skiers in the first four waves should take the earlier buses. Spectators can ride some of the later buses if they wish.

Traffic headed north to Stanley can still get through, but no private cars will be allowed at Galena Lodge, Swigert added.

After the race, buses back to Ketchum will leave the SNRA starting about 12 noon.

The post-race awards party will be held at River Run Lodge from 6-7:15 p.m. There will be complimentary snacks and a no-host bar available to all Boulder Tour entrants. Master of ceremonies will be Bob Rosso. Muffy Ritz will help give out the raffle prizes.

"Emphasis will be on the quality and quantity of the prizes," said Swigert.

Highlight of the ceremony will be the presentation of a large number of raffle prizes. Dress warmly, because the ceremony will be held outside in the River Run commons.

Because of increased costs and the lack of a suitable venue, organizers will no longer offer a banquet dinner.

Results will be posted on the event’s Web site, bouldermountaintour.com, shortly after the end of Saturday’s race.


Sunday, Feb. 8:

As part of today’s Wells Fargo Ski Festival at Galena Lodge, free cross-country ski demos and free clinics will be available starting at 10 a.m. Bring kids 12-and-under to the children’s cross-country adventure course. It opens at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

The festival ends at 2 p.m. with prize drawings for ski equipment and souvenirs. You must be present to win.

New this year is a special Sunday run of the free North Valley/Galena Express from two stops—Warm Springs Park & Ride in Ketchum at 10:15 a.m. and the SNRA headquarters at 10:25 a.m. The return trip begins at 2:30 p.m. from Galena.

 

 


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The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.