After a few years' absence the Yeti XC snowshoe race is returning to Whistler, or more specifically to the Callaghan Valley and Whistler Olympic Park, for Feb. 19.
The event will include two distances, a 5 km sport race and a 10 km enduro getting underway at 11 a.m., as well as a new duathlon category that is comprised of a 5 km snowshoe followed by a 10 km cross-country ski, followed by another 5 km snowshoe. You can race the duathlon solo or with a partner.
The Yeti has been running for 10 years, and once upon a time included a high-alpine run around Whistler Mountain before a decision was made to use singletrack trails on the lower part of the mountain - only to experience one of the lowest snowpacks in Whistler history that winter. The following year the organizers held a successful event at Lost Lake, but the following year the warm weather was an issue once again.
The series kept going and this year The Yeti has events at Mt. Washington (Jan. 29), Whistler (Feb. 19), Cypress (Mar. 12) and Grouse Mountain (Apr. 2).
For more information and registration for the Whistler race, visit www.theyeti.ca. Registration is $45 for solo racers in the snowshoe, $50 for solo races in the duathlon, $40 for members of pairs teams in the duathlon, and $40 each for members of Team of 5 categories in the snowshoe.
