First run in 1973, Ski to Sea is a seven-leg, 93-mile multisport relay from Mount Baker Ski Area to Bellingham Bay held over Memorial Day weekend in Bellingham, Washington. Teams pass a baton through cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, road biking, canoeing, cyclocross biking and kayaking, capping the race with a finish-line splash in Bellingham Bay.
Ski to Sea grew out of a simple piece of local wordplay.
Few American relay races span such extreme terrain in a single day: competitors move from alpine snowfields at Mount Baker to sea-level saltwater in Bellingham Bay, crossing forest roads, rivers and city streets along the way
The race's seven legs evolved gradually since the first 1973 edition, cross-country skiing was added in 1979, cyclocross in 1990, and kayaking became the dedicated final leg in 1992, reflecting decades of community tinkering rather than a race designed all at once
The event's origin traces to a 1966 letter from local booster Fred Elsethagen riffing on Bellingham's old civic slogan about getting from sea to ski in sixty minutes, giving the modern race a documented link to local boosterism nearly six decades old
The seven-leg relay format spanning alpine skiing to sea kayaking
team costumes and transition-zone spectating
a downtown Bellingham finish-line celebration
and the race's pairing with Bellingham's long-running Memorial Day parade
Dates TBA · Usually May
For Ski to Sea, plan transport around the exact Bellingham venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Athletic gear suited to each leg being raced, ski wear at the mountain start, running and cycling kit downhill, and a wetsuit or paddling gear for the bay finish. Spectators dress in layers...
Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.
For Ski to Sea, stay near the part of Bellingham you will actually use, with reliable return transport.
Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.
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Ski to Sea is listed for Past edition: 24 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Bellingham, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Bellingham, WA
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