If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience
The 2025 Ski to Sea brought in athletes from around Washington, the Pacific Northwest, and the globe to experience the iconic multisport relay that spans 93 miles from the snowy slopes of Mt. Baker Ski Area to the waters of Bellingham Bay on May 25.
For the fourth consecutive year, Birch Equipment earned a first-place finish in dominant fashion, finishing each of the seven legs of the relay race in first place. The team finished with a time of 5:44.15.
Now in its 52nd year, the relay race follows a familiar yet daunting pattern of events: cross-country ski, downhill ski/snowboard, run, road bike, canoe, cyclocross bike, and finally sea kayak. This year’s sea kayak leg was shortened slightly due to high winds, according to race organizers.
Thousands gathered around the Marine Park finish line in Fairhaven for a day of celebration, coinciding with the Historic Fairhaven Festival just up the hill.
Carless Whisper was the fastest “Car-Free” division team, meaning each member of the team completed their portion of the race without the assistance of motorized transportation. All racers, support members, and their equipment (including canoes and kayaks) are transported without a car, usually by bike trailers. Carless Whisper finished with a time of 6:37.10, 12th overall.
Bellingham Flower Farm Pistils was the first women’s team to finish the relay with a time of 6:44.35, finishing 14th overall.
For the second consecutive year, Olympian paddle sport athlete Jonas Ecker competed in the sea kayak division, this time for the Nelson’s Market team, and finished with the fastest time in that leg at 21:45.5.
