Sunday afternoon was all smiles and champagne for the Birch Equipment Ski to Sea team, as they made history by taking home their fourth victory in a row in Whatcom County’s original multisport relay race.
Team captain and sea kayaker Jeff Hillburn charged up the hill at Marine Park and rang the finish line bell just after 1 p.m., stopping the clock in a winning time of 5:44:14. Birch Equipment finished just over four minutes faster than the Boomer’s Drive-In squad, who paddled in to take second in 5:48:28.
“It’s nice. [Four wins in a row] is always a little asterisk you have in your head as something you want to do,” Hilburn said.
At 55 years old, Hilburn has been competing in Ski to Sea for almost two decades. This year’s event was his last as a competitive athlete.
“It’s really bittersweet. It’s been such a big part of forcing myself to get out and exercise year-round,” Hilburn said, moments after crossing the finish line. “I’ll have to find something else.”
Erik Bjornsen, a two-time Olympian and the only new addition to the team, led off with a stellar cross country ski leg, putting the Birch Equipment team in the lead early. They would never relinquish their advantage, remaining in first place for the entirety of the race.
Team members Arthur Whitehead and Matt Bailey, on the downhill ski and road bike legs respectively, were also the fastest in the field for their individual events.
A number of Western students competed in this year’s Ski to Sea on various teams. Spencer Zeljak, a second-year student who also competes on Western’s varsity cross country and track teams, led Yeager’s Sporting Goods to first place in the recreational open division, 13th overall.
Competing in the notoriously brutal run leg, Zeljak took his team from 52nd to 16th, finishing with the third fastest time in the field.
“Going into it, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Zeljak said. “I really had no idea of how fast I would be able to run it. It was nice having people ahead to gauge where I was at.”
Down at the finish line, a variety of booths and vendors created a festive atmosphere that encapsulates what Ski to Sea is all about: the community.
Thousands of spectators flocked down the hill from Fairhaven, where the annual Fairhaven Festival was taking place. Food trucks, live music and more added to the afternoon’s celebratory mood.
Each year, Ski to Sea showcases exactly why it is so deeply entrenched in Bellingham’s culture. From the unique geography that the race traverses to the local hubbub it generates, it's no wonder why some racers have dubbed the event “the Bellingham Olympics.”
“It’s such a unique event,” said Race Director Aurielle Buermann. “Just the history of the event, how long it's been going on, and just there’s not that many places in the U.S. where you can do an event like this.”
Jonah Billings (he/him) is a sports and recreation reporter for The Front. He is a second-year Western student and is majoring in journalism and history. In addition, he is a member of Western’s varsity cross-country and track and field teams. He enjoys running, reading and spending time with friends. You can reach him at jonahbillings.thefront@gmail.com.
