47TH ANNUAL FEBRUARY 1, 2020 (208) 726-4788 • www.sentinelfire.com Happy Trails to all the Boulder participants. After you lose yourself in the moment you deserve a home where you can find yourself Elkhorn Beauty with Baldy Views In-Town Luxury Penthouse 4BD I 3BA I $1,490,000 4BD I 4.5BA I $2,750,000 Hotel Living at its Finest Bigwood Contemporary 3BD I 3.5BA I $3,900,000 4BD I 3.5BA I $3,995,000 FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL SUE ENGELMANN 208-720-0680 Boulder Mountain Tour Board of Directors 2019-2020 Table of Contents OFFICERS BOARD MEMBERS Tom Bowman 2 Board of Directors/Volunteer Committee Heads President John Reuter Svea Grover 3 Welcome Vice-President Martha Pendl Paddy McIlvoy Andy Munter 6 Wonderful World, Beautiful People by Emily Williams Treasurer Sue Hamilton Ivana Radlova 10 Boulder Mountain Tour Course Map Bob Rosso Secretary Muffy Ritz John Seiller 11 Race for Your Life by Michael Sinnott 13 Belly Up to the Bar by Annie Pokorny Boulder Mountain Tour 14 Don-Gone Good Food by Don Shepler Committee Heads 18-19 Sun Valley Nordic Festival Calendar of Events 20-21 Boulder Mountain Tour Racer Checklist Ted Angle, Volunteers Jenny Busdon, Registration 22 Boulder Mountain Tour Basics Kirk Flannigan, SNRA 23 Transportation and Shuttles Julie Gallagher, Bib Bags Roberta Heinrich, Bib Bags 24 Happy Tails to You by Emily Williams Travis Jones, Announcer Rick Kapala, Chief of Start 27 Vistas, Views and V2 by Mary Rose Jim Keating, BCRD 33 We’re Everywhere by Matt Gelso Jamie Lieberman, Finish Area Bill Marshall, Communications 34 The Boulder by the Numbers Paddy McIlvoy, Course Ashley McQueen, Start & Sprints 35 NordicTown USA Sprints Andy Munter, Buses & Blue Rooms 40 Nordic Trail Map Bobby Noyes, Timing Eric Rector, Grooming 43 Sponsor Acknowledgement John Reuter, Finish Area Nils Ribi, Photography 44 In Closing by Jody Zarkos Susan Ribi, Banners Bob Rosso, Chief of Course Frank Rowland, Banners Don Shepler, Galena Lodge Pete Stephenson, Bag Transfer Tom Bowman, Aid Stations Bryce Turzian, Road Crossing Mike Wolter, Race Secretary & Course Assistant Dave Yasenek, Galena Parking Kelley Yeates, Start & Sprints Joe Yelda, Communications Jody Zarkos, Executive Director Erin Zell, Galena Lodge Jack Weekes of Type B Laboratories created the official poster for the 2020 Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour. It is the second consecutive year Jack Program design by Judy Stoltzfus of has created and donated his work to the BMT. 2020’s artwork depicts a racer Judy’s Design House on-course during the race, shadowed by the eponymous Boulder Mountains. “In my mind they are coming out of the trees somewhere around Baker Photography courtesy of Nils Ribi, Steve Butler, Emily Williams Creek and about to take a right turn toward Phantom Hill. The actual place Program edited by Jody Zarkos may not exist,” Weekes remarked. Maps courtesy of Evelyn Phillips A limited run of 50 posters is available for purchase online at www.typeblaboratories.com. Viewers may also take in Weekes large body of To advertise in the 2021 Boulder Mountain Tour program, or if work emphasizing the mountains and valley in which we work and play. you have a story idea, please contact [email protected] 2 | bouldermountaintour.com PHOTO: NILS RIBI Welcome to the 2020 Boulder Mountain Tour f you ask me about racing, be prepared to get an earful. I’m a pummeling myself, surrounded by others in their own personal pain- huge fan and I always will be. When I first started racing as a cave as we wind our way down the Harriman Trail. Despite the battle Iyoung kid, the incentive at the finish line was getting a lollipop. on the trail, my nemeses have become my comrades by the finish and Some thirty years later, the incentive is the post-race buzz. It’s that we all get to experience that post-race euphoria. The joy of the BMT blend of accomplishment, exhaustion, and pride you get after pushing lingers around town for a few days, and I’m sure I’m not the only one yourself above your limit. If you spend a little time at the Boulder who uncomfortably settles back into work on Monday thinking, “could Mountain Tour finish line you’ll see what I mean. There’s a palpable I go faster next year?” hum of happiness, in several different forms, arising for many different reasons. So I’m ecstatic that you’re here, for whatever reason gets you to the BMT start line. Together, we celebrate skiing, our community, and In adult life, the majority of time is dedicated to the required “to- share an elective challenge. Together, we’re a Nordic family. dos.” The best stuff in life, though, is elective. It takes a whole lot of grit to overcome the inertia of everyday life but it’s always worth Warm regards, it. Ask me what I did on any given day, and there’s a rare chance I’ll John Reuter have any memory. But ask me about the first Saturday of February, President, Boulder Mountain Tour Board of Directors and I’ll just ask, “which year?” I get an undeniable thrill from Fellow Ski Racer Rossignol Salomon START Leki SWIX Winter Gear RENTALS bouldermountaintour.com | 3 FIND YOUR BALANCE BEST OF LUCK TO ALL BOULDER MOUNTAIN TOUR COMPETITORS! Pursue your cross country ambitions at our exceptional ski academy for day and boarding student-athletes while preparing for college and beyond. Please contact Jonna Mendes, Program Director, at 208.720.0512 or [email protected] | www.sunvalleyskiacademy.org The Valley’s Great Outdoor Store Since 1976 OPEN DAILY 9-6 Boulder Mountain Tour Race Specialists LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF KETCHUM “We Specialize in FAST Corner of East Avenue and Sun Valley Road — Come wax with us!” 208.726.3497 • www.elephantsperch.com FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR THREE GENERATIONS KETCHUM Giacobbi Square 726.5668 HAILEY Alturas Plaza 788.2294 BELLEVUE Main Street 788.7788 www.atkinsons.com bouldermountaintour.com | 5 Wonderful World, Beautiful People By Emily Williams very year, on the first weekend in February, Bib Bags hundreds of enthusiastic skiers line up at Galena GAY RILEY ELodge to race the 34 kilometers to the finish line of the Boulder Mountain Tour. For the racers, their Years volunteering: 22 journey is just beginning. But for the race organizers Hometown: Nevada. Wood River Valley and volunteers the sound of the starting gun represents resident for 45 years Skiing start: I cross-country ski and the conclusion of months of careful preparation, and snowshoe in the winter – anything to sets in motion the final, masterfully planned, process of play outside. executing a world-class race. History with the BMT: In 1998 the Ketchum Chamber of Commerce, under whose umbrella the BMT had Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Boulder Mountain previously been managed, hired Roberta Heinrich and myself to move the Tour. From coordinating bib bags to managing aid race forward as its own entity. We oversaw the race with the BMT board stations to timing, our tight-knit community makes this of directors from 1999 through 2002. We have stayed on the committee since then organizing our beloved bib bag volunteers! race happen again and again. Most have been involved Favorite part about the BMT? The people we work with. Those devoted, with the BMT for more than two decades and remain tireless members of the BMT committee as well as the ever-changing dedicated supporters of this iconic event. roster of engaged volunteers. This list is by no means exhaustive, and we thank everyone for their unflagging enthusiasm and expertise! Bib Bags ROBERTA HEINRICH Head of Volunteers Years volunteering: 22 Hometown: Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota TED ANGLE Skiing start: I began cross-country skiing in 1971 and have been an Years volunteering: 34 on-again, off-again skier ever since. I Hometown: Seattle, Washington appreciate the physical benefits of the Skiing start: I started skiing on the sport and the incredible system of trails that are available here in one of West Seattle golf course in grade school. the most beautiful areas in the country Skiing in one form or another and playing History with the BMT: I began racing in the BMT in the mid 1980s. Since in the snow has always been a part of that time, I have been aware of the importance and potential of the race my life. on a community level as well as its national significance in the Nordic History with the BMT: I like to support and get involved in the things I world. From 1999 to 2002, my business partner and I were co-directors have a strong interest in and passion for. I started out as a racer in the of the BMT. We grew the race to 1,000 racers, 350 volunteers and 33 Tour, and evolved into a volunteer. I have held many volunteer positions committee members. over the years: aid station set-up, trail maintenance, timer, communica- What keeps you involved with the BMT? There is a true sense of tions relay, parking assistance, and now the head of volunteers. I enjoy community, purpose and pride in putting together a world-class race. I working with like-minded folks who want to help. continue to participate because I believe it is truly a great event for our What keeps you involved with the BMT? I get the satisfaction that I’m community and because of the people I have come to know and work with helping to support and perpetuate a sport and lifestyle that has so many over the last 20 years.