Ski to Sea draws thousands of athletes to Whatcom County

A Ski to Sea kayaker rings the finish line bell on May 26.

Photo by Nolan Baker

Sea kayakers head toward the finish line at Marine Park in Fairhaven in the last portion of the seven-leg relay race from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay on May 26.

Photo by Nolan Baker

Posted Wednesday, May 29, 2024 4:40 pm

By Nolan Baker

Ski to Sea brought in athletes from around the Pacific Northwest to compete in the classic relay on Sunday, May 26.

Birch Equipment earned its third first-place finish in as many years, beating out another three-time champion Boomer’s Drive-In – and a few hundred other teams – with a time of 6:07:05.

2024 U.S. Olympic paddler Jonas Eckler, from Bellingham, earned the “Top Gun” award in the sea kayak leg, posting the race’s fastest time of 37:17.6 for Beavers Tree Service.

The seven-leg, ski, bike, canoe, paddle and footrace drew thousands of spectators across the county.