STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
At least nine ski areas from the East Coast to the West are partnering with Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour for its upcoming virtual tour.
The course partners have established 15- and 30-km courses that skiers in their area can ski as part of the event, which runs from Monday, Feb. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 7.
Skiers outside of those areas are welcome to create their own course. They can also take on the challenge in other creative ways—say, skiing 10k at three different venues.
"We appreciate everyone rallying to make the Boulder happen. The response has been amazing,” said Jody Zarkos, executive director of the Boulder Mountain Tour. “We want to emphasize you can ski anywhere. It doesn't have to be an official course. It is whatever and wherever makes you happy.”
The Boulder Mountain Tour is typically held the first Saturday of February in Sun Valley, attracting hundreds of elite and amateur skiers from all over the world. Organizers decided it was unsafe to bring so many people together during the pandemic. But they wanted to give people an incentive to get out and ski, while maintaining enthusiasm for the event. So, they came up with a format that allows skiers to pick any day between Feb. 1 and Feb. 7 to ski their own personal Boulder.
Prizes will be awarded via raffle throughout the week via livestream at vimeo.com/2021BMT. Such prizes as Salomon and Madhaus skis, a pour-over coffee bar from Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee, boots and other cross-country gear will also be given for Oldest/Youngest Racers, Best Costume and Team Spirit based on posted photos and Pacesetters.
And the BMT will donate $5,000 to nonprofits voted on by registrants across the country as part of the BMT’s Ski It Forward award.
Local partner are the Blaine County Recreation District and Sun Valley Nordic Center. Participating ski areas and organizations outside the Sun Valley area are Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Utah; Tahoe XC in California; Mount Bachelor, Ore.; Meissner Nordic Community in Bend, Ore.; Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Vermont; Washburn Ski Trails in Rhinelander, Wis., and Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone, Mont.
Registration runs through Jan. 31 on SkiReg.com. The cost of “Rock the Boulder” is $39 for adults, $25 for those 18 and under and $125 for teams of four. The entry fee includes an official 2021 BMT race hat by SWIX, raffle entry, sponsored items, BMT collateral and a general training plan geared to novice, intermediate and advanced skiers on the BMT website.
The Tour is sponsored by Zions Bank with support from the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Sue Engelmann of Berkshire Hathaway, Sentinel Security and Blaine County Title.
Event sponsors include Atkinsons’ Market, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Clear Creek Disposal, Davis Embroidery, Elephant's Perch, Engel & Völkers Jones Grover Team, EnjoyWinter, Fischer, Hammer Nutrition, Lizzy's Fresh Coffee, Power Engineers, Rex Wax, Rossignol, Sturtevants, Sun Valley Associates, Salomon, Swix, TOKO and Zenergy, with support from Blaine County Recreation District, Bluebird Solar, Boulder Nordic Sport, Cellar Pub, Conrad Brothers Construction, Dons, Galena Lodge, Lefty's Bar & Grill, Morgan's Fine Finishes, Mountain Rides, Nourish Me, Perry's, Rickshaw, Sawtooth Avalanche Center, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Sun Valley Community School, Sun Valley Company, Sushi on Second, VAMPS, Wrapcity and Wood River YMCA.
Questions? Contact Race Director Jody Zarkos at bouldermountaintour@gmail.com or visit www.bouldermountaintour.com.