PEMCO in the Northwest > Blog > Ski to Sea: A Scenic Showcase of the Northwest

JOIN US ON A ROADTRIP THAT'S SURE TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

This year, PEMCO Insurance is sending teams of genuine Northwest-loving people to community events and activities across the state. Some are in support of a good cause, some just sound like a good time - but either way, we hope you'll stop by and say hi. Look for us wherever you see the big green PEMCO van. And if we miss each other, drop us a note here and tell us what's on your mind.

Remember, there's no place quite like home, especially this time of year. So get out there and enjoy!

Ski to Sea: A Scenic Showcase of the Northwest

June 1, 2010 1:28pm

posted by Steven Goodell in Washington

It requires mental fortitude, physical stamina, group cohesion, and most importantly a clever team name.

For over 40 years the Ski to Sea relay has been sending "NW Male and Female Action Figures" scrambling 90 miles from the slopes of Mt. Baker to the Puget Sound. Through mud, snow, rivers and winding mountain roads, the scenic route showcases the diverse assembly of recreational activities in the Northwest. This past Sunday, Peter, Danielle and I drove the WALLY1 van to the village of Fairhaven on the edge of Bellingham Bay to celebrate the finish of the epic race at Marine Park

Throughout the afternoon, neoprene racers, doing their best to represent the accumulated exhaustion of their teammates, beached their kayaks and sprinted up the shore to ring the finish bell. We had a chance to meet a few of the ruddy-cheeked adventurers, like Anna and Brad, who stopped for a photo at our Northwest Profiles Photo Program. Anna roped Brad into paddling the kayak section for their team, The Hustle, just two days prior. "He was the only one with kayaking experience," Anna said. "Yeah, but I've only kayaked twice," Brad quipped.

With team names like Nooksackulous, Grub's Pain Brigade, and Solar Powered Chainsaw, the distinctive flair of the Northwest was on full display at Ski to Sea.

See for yourself in our favorite photos from the event:

Ski to Sea 1
Craig, from Tri-Cities, wants to start the Ski to Sea's first recumbent bike leg.

Ski to Sea 5
"There's just enough mud on the course to make you look good. It only takes a little," says Rob from team Nitro Paced.

Ski to Sea 6
Tom, Captain of team Grub's Pain Brigade, had this to say about group cohesion: "Just make sure you're not in the bathroom when the other guy shows up."

Ski to Sea 2
Anna, posing with Brad, braved a pack of 464 cross-country skiers in the crowded race start. Yikes, that's 928 ski poles!

Ski to Sea 4
Relentless recyclers lent their artistic vision to one-of-a-kind trophies made from recycled sports equipment. The trophies were given to the top finishers in each leg of the race.