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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 5, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anna Rankin
anna@skitosea.com
360-746-8861

2026 Ski to Sea Registration Open

Whatcom Events is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2026 Ski to Sea Race. Registration opened January 1st and we already have 186 signed up! This is more than double the number of teams we had on this day last year and puts us 35% to a sold out event in less than two days!  

The race reached capacity on February 14 last year and another sold out event is anticipated for 2026. Early registration is encouraged. 

The 2026 Ski to Sea Race will take place on Sunday, May 24 and teams that register by January 31 will receive a $50 discount on the team entry fee.

No changes have been made to registration or race rules for 2026. One update applies to division criteria: beginning in 2026, the cumulative age requirement for the Veterans Division will increase from 385+ to 410+. This change better distinguishes Veterans from the Masters Division and keeps all 2025 Veterans teams eligible under the updated criteria.

The Jr Ski to Sea Race for elementary, middle and high school racers is on Saturday, May 9 this year and registration will open February 1. For questions about the Jr Race, please contact the race director Kelcy HERE.  

50 State Challenge - Five States Remain 

In 2023, we launched a campaign to bring racers from all 50 states to celebrate 50 years of Ski to Sea. We came close that first year with athletes from nearly 40 states! Our quest continues and now as we look ahead to the race in May 2026, we are only missing racers from five states: Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi and Rhode Island.

Help us get the word out to the community that we are seeking a racer from these states to participate in Ski to Sea next year. 

This is how the campaign will work:

  • Teams with 100% of their racers from one of these five states will receive a free team entry.
  • Teams with fewer than 50% (1 – 4 racers) from one of these states will receive 50% off the entry fee.
  • PLEASE NOTE: we are not able to refund a team that is already paid so you must get a code from us before registering. In addition, the racer must actively reside in one of the five states, as opposed to being from that state and now living or going to school in WA.
  • Our goal is to find athletes from these five states to form one team together. We’ll use our message board to help fill any team positions as needed. While we understand that not all states offer easy access to every sport featured in our race, many of these disciplines are enjoyed by people across the country.
        We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253 - Check Hours
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone: 360-671-3990
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