Resort schedules pentathlon race

Get ready to ski, run, paddle and bike

your way around the valley. The Whitefish Mountain Resort’s events

department announced recently they have added an original

pentathlon race to the upcoming winter schedule to complement their

growing list of “proud and true” race favorites.

The multi-sport relay will take place

in April and includes five separate disciplines. Individuals or

teams of 2-5 are challenged to alpine ski 1.8 miles from Big

Mountain’s summit down the North Bowl to the Base Lodge. From

there, racers Nordic ski 6.4 miles down the Gopher Trail to Haskill

Basin Road, at the valley floor.

A 6-mile running route takes racers

from the Nordic transition to The Lodge on Whitefish Lake, where

they start a 2.5-mile paddle to Les Mason State Park. In the final

leg, racers bike 4.5 miles from the park up Big Mountain Road and

finish at the Base Lodge.

All told, the race is nearly 22 miles

long. Events manager Josh Knight says the route is still tentative

and they’re working through some details. The pentathlon is slated

for April 2.

Most of the regular races and

competitions are back on the schedule, including the New Year’s Eve

Rail Jam, the Whitefish Whiteout randonee race, the Montana Special

Olympics, the Dummy Derby and the Nate Chute Hawaiian Classic

snowboard event, among many others.

After last year’s successful run at

hosting the U.S. Telemark National Championships, the resort plans

to host a U.S. Telemark Ski Association sprint classic race on Feb.

26. A sprint classic is on a giant slalom course with a jump, a

360-degree skiing turn and a short section of Nordic-style

skiing.

“We’ve always been supportive of the

local Telemark community,” Knight said. “Last year was a great

event, and we hope to hold the race in Ptarmigan Bowl again.”

Not a race but also new is a Mardi Gras

festival on March 5 called Fat Saturday. This all-day event

features live music from three bands, classical southern food, bead

tossing, face painting, tie-dyeing and other family-friendly

activities.

Knight noted that because the ski

season is extended this year to the second weekend in April, the

pond skimming competition will be held on April 9. Visit online at

www.skiwhitefish.com to see a complete list of events.