Westy’s Wildside WESTern Series

Friday, January 19th
Friday, February 2nd
Friday, February 16th

Finally, a skimo race that is a bit more beginner friendly but still super fun and interesting! While some of the other races in SnowGoat’s lineup are pretty tough (even the Recreation Loop at Vertfest is pretty stout!), this race is designed to offer a good introduction into skimo racing. However, the race will still have a little bit of everything with some non technical skinning, multiple transitions, a bootpack, and finish with some skate skiing to the finish. The hardest skiing is a short section of the black diamond Thunderbolt run before it levels out. But even if you’ve been skimo racing for decades, don’t ignore the race! It is still exciting enough and will be a great early season race to give you a benchmark for your training for the bigger races and test out any new gear you’ve gotten this season.

And to keep the fun going, the Summit of Snoqualmie is hosting live music at the Timberwolf Lodge after the race! Hang out, enjoy some beverages, and get your dance on if your legs can still take it.

course

This race is held on the traditional homelands of the sdukʷalbixʷ (Snoqualmie), Stó:lō (Coast Salish) and Tulalip tribes. We encourage you to learn more about these tribes, their land, and their history, and pay proper respect as we travel through the snow and trees.

Course alteration for 2024! Westy has refined the course this year to have a better fall line ski traverse and eliminated some of the funky crossover work to get over to Central, all while keeping the same overall elevation gain. The Start will still be over by Julie’s but the Finish will be skier’s right of the base area. Click here for a more exact detailed map on caltopo. 1,800’ of gain.

Schedule

1730 | Check In opens (Rosita’s - look for Waffles & Hot Chocolate!)
1815 | Race Briefing
1830 | Race Start!
2030 | Race Cutoff
Live Music at the Timberwolf Lodge after the race!

Required Gear

-Headlamp
-Helmet must be worn the entire race (skimo, skiing, climbing, or bike helmets allowed)
-Eye protection
-Skis or snowboard with metal edges and retention system, minimum length 160cm for men, 150cm for women for skis.
-Climbing skins
-Pack that can carry skis
-Windproof upper body layer
-Water bladder or bottle

Register

Click here to register

Registration Fee: $ 40
50% discount for Youth <18 (use code “Youth” at checkout)
Register for x2 races: 10% discount
Reigster for x3 races: 25% discount
Price increases $10 two weeks prior to event
Prices increase $20 for registration day of the event. No in person registration; register via mobile phone at the Webscorer.com link up until race start. If the race fees are unaffordable for you, please see our Financial Hardship policy. No Summit Uphill Pass is required to participate in the series.

Category Breakdown

Full Distance: Open, Heavy Mettle, Splitmo, Youth

The Heavy Mettle category we are adjusting the criteria for to open it up to more “general ski tourers”. The Heavy Mettle will consist of splitboarder, tele, and AT Skiers with skis 86mm and wider underfoot.

Awards

Awards will be given to the full podium Women/Men/Non Binary for the Open, and to the 1st Place Women/Men/Non Binary in the Heavy Mettle, Splitmo, and Youth. To decrease waste, categories with no entrants two weeks prior to the race will not have an award be created.

Volunteer

Please see our Volunteer page to sign up or learn about all the perks of volunteering!

general rules

The race staff reserves the right to delay, alter, or cancel the start based on snow, weather, and safety conditions.

Race takes place at an operational ski resort. All racers will yield to resort guests and adhere to the skier Responsibility Code. Racers will comply with any directions issued by the ski area staff or race officials.

Racers are required to stay within 5' of the established skin track on the uphill portions. During downhill portions, racers will stay with 30' of course markings.

Transitions must occur within the marked off transition area.

Racers agree to equipment checks before, during, and after the event.

If opt to not finish the race, you MUST check in with the timing staff to know you've left the course. Otherwise we will begin calling your emergency contacts and worrying them!

Any transgression of a rule will result in a time penalty or DQ at the discretion of the race staff.

Racers should be prepared for variable weather including but not limited to snow, high winds and cold temperatures as well as rain and above freezing temperatures. A second pair of backup skins is not a bad idea if they wet out.