The 51st running of the Boulder Mountain Tour, a point-to-point cross country ski race in Ketchum, Idaho, has always attracted a pilgrimage of Bozeman area Nordic enthusiasts.
BSF Adult Program Coordinator reports that the BSF was well represented across all categories, from the Pro team right on down to the youth divisions. Five of the BSF adult program skiers traveled down together, while several others traveled with family and friends.
In the women’s point-to-point 34km race, Former BSF Pro Team skier (now with Sun Valley) Mariah Bredal took the win in 1:20:21, with Annika Landis in 2nd. BSF Pro Team’s Sarah Goble was 3rd in 1:22:38, with teammate Erin Bianco in 4th, a second back. BSF’s Hannah Rudd was 6th, with BSF alum Erika Flowers in 7th.
In the men’s race, only 3 seconds separated the top five finishers, with three of them wearing Bridger Ski Foundation colors. Former U.S. Ski Team member Erik Bjronsen came out of retirement to sprint for the win in 1:13:31, with Sun Valley’s Peter Wolter in 2nd, and BSF Pro Team athlete Anders Weiss in third. BSF Pro Team Coach Andy Newell was 4th, trading his sideline coaching duties for a racing bib for the weekend. Pro Team athlete Simon Zink was 5th in 1:13:35. Willson Moore of the BSF Pro Team was 8th.
Coach Heidi reports lots of families racing: Sarah Stilwill and one of her boys, Andy and Mary Beddoe (whose twin boys did the half), and Jacy and Matt Rotheschiller went for Matt's first Boulder. Shoutout to BSF board member Eric Goldwarg, who raced the full while Emily and two of their kids raced the half. And kudos to BSF Board President Natalie Flowers who raced the full.
Coach Heidi Makoutz skied with a group of women from Bozeman, snagging 3rd in her age group. “We loved all of the positive BSF energy!,” says Heidi. Can't wait to keep rallying for more next year. The magic of a downhill course and so many people skiing from point to point was palpable!”
BSF Pro Athlete Hannah Rudd gave a detailed account of her race on the Nordic blog, and had a lot to say about the importance of community races like this. "Our team spends most of the winter racing Super Tours or World Cup races, so having the opportunity to hop into a community event is always such a fun change of pace at this point of the season! One of my favorite parts of citizen races is the amazing environment at the finish line. Whether you’re a professional skier or a beginner, an 80-year-old or a 14-year-old, everyone comes together as one ski community at the finish line. You hear people cheering on their friends, swapping race stories, and complaining about their bad wax together. You see multiple generations of a family waiting in line to get soup, amazing volunteers arranging cookie spreads, and lots of skiers enjoying 11am celebratory beers. No matter your age, ski ability, or background, the shared experience of a community race like the BMT bonds people together in such a unique way. These races always bring me back to the roots of why I love skiing and leave me remembering that the community is what it’s all about!"
Congrats to all our BSF athletes & families who raced!
