Methow Trails again partners with local businesses to sponsor Backyard Ski Day on Jan. 25, offering free skiing on the local trail system, free ski rentals and free beginner ski lessons.
All Methow Trails will be open for free cross-country skiing, fat bike access on the fat bike trails, snowshoeing on the snowshoe trails and dog access on dog-friendly trails.
Free ski rentals will be available at Winthrop Mountain Sports, Methow Cycle & Sport, the Methow Valley Ski School (Mazama shop only), and Cascades Outdoor Store. Reservations are recommended.
Free beginner classic or skate ski lessons start at the Winthrop Town Trailhead at 11 a.m., courtesy of the Methow Valley Ski School and Sun Mountain Lodge.
In addition to the free skiing, there will be a free fat bike demonstration at the Winthrop Town Trailhead from 10 a.m.– noon sponsored by Methow Cycle & Sport. Methow Trails will offer free grooming machine rides at the Winthrop Town Trailhead from noon-2 p.m. Rocking Horse bakery will provide free baked goods and hot drinks at the trailhead.
Ski to the Sun
Also being staged that weekend is the inaugural Ski to the Sun Marathon and Relay, a competitive event that starts in Mazama and ends at Sun Mountain, on Jan. 26. Entrants can ski the marathon as an individual or as part of a relay team with up to five other friends or family members. The course will be divided into six sections with two to six skiers per team.
The race is freestyle technique — competitors can skate or classic ski and results will be determined by overall time in individual and relay divisions. The total distance is 40.6 kilometers.
There will be five exchange stations with water, sports drinks, gel, food, fire pits and music. Shuttles will transport racers from the finish line at Sun Mountain back to the Corral Trailhead in Mazama.
The racing will begin at 8:30 a.m. There will be a lunch and awards ceremony at Sun Mountain at 1 p.m. No dogs will be allowed on the course or at the finish line.
Cost is $85 for marathon skiers and $60 for each relay team member. Kids under 17 are free but must register.
The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Education Foundation will host a dinner and social gathering at the Twisp Valley Grange that evening. Tickets are included with registration and are also available for purchase.
For complete information and to register, visit www.methowtrails.org/events.
