SKI TO SEA BRINGS ANNUAL EXCITEMENT TO FAIRHAVEN

BELLINGHAM—The annual Ski to Sea race is set to bring business activity and excitement to the Fairhaven community this Memorial Day weekend.

The finish line of the event is positioned on the beach of Marine Park, where kayakers bring in the last leg of the seven-leg race and ring the finish line bell. The beach, which is the traditional finish line for the team event, is never short of activity when the event comes to Fairhaven.

A section of Fairhaven is to be closed on Memorial Day

The Fairhaven Festival, featuring a variety of community organizations, is working in accordance with Ski to Sea organizers to close down 10^th and 11^th streets from Mill Avenue to Harris St. in downtown Fairhaven. The area will be used to set up booths ranging from arts and crafts to food and live music.

Jeff Hegedus, a Fairhaven resident whose team placed 18^th last year, thinks of the Ski to Sea relay as the epitome of community sports events.

“Everyone from Olympic caliber to recreational [level] participates in the race,” Hegedus said. “It’s good for everyone; good for sport, good for health.”

Gory Freeman, a Bellingham Technical College student, and participant in the kayak leg this year, likes how this event brings ordinary citizens together.

“Ski to Sea seems to make everyone say hi a little more in a world where people don’t say hi much,” Freeman said. “This event gives the average, ordinary guy something to do.”

Expect a busy business district

With the after party/celebration of Ski to Sea centered in Fairhaven, the amount of economic capital for local business is expected to increase on Sunday.

Chad Mullavey, a former participant in the downhill running leg and employee of Fairhaven Runners, acknowledges the beneficial economic feature this event offers Fairhaven.

“[Ski to Sea] reflects on the local area; it helps out with sales, bringing people from different states and helping out with local awareness,” Mullavey said. “[Ski to Sea encourages] potentially great future sales for local businesses.”

Jené Pascu, employee of Pacific Chef, has volunteered in Ski to Sea events in the past and recognizes what this event can do for the local community.

“It showcases Fairhaven,” Pascu said. “[Ski to Sea] entices [visitors] to come back another time.”

What Ski to Sea is

The Ski to Sea Festival consists of eight racers for seven different race legs. The relay starts at Mt. Baker’s White Salmon Lodge where cross-country skiers take off in the beginning of their team’s 90-mile journey to Marine Park. The cross-country skiers hand off their baton to the downhill skier/snowboarders, who pass it to the downhill run. From there, it goes to the road bike section, the canoe section (featuring 2 team members), the mountain bike course, and lastly the kayak leg.

The Fairhaven Festival will consist of 26 different food booths serving everything from ethnic foods, to brats, pizza, and barbecue. The festival will also showcase over 60 arts and crafts booths, along with live music and a beer garden, according to the Fairhaven Festival website.

Ski to Sea official website: http://www.skitosea.com/

Fairhaven Festival website: http://fairhaven.com/content/fairhaven_festival