Ski to Sea ESB

This year, the Ski to Sea Race is celebrating 100 years of racing in this community and they’ve asked us to brew a special Boundary Bay Brewery beer to commemorate this exciting anniversary.  We were thrilled to take on the challenge and created a dry hopped ESB that we’re calling the Ski to Sea ESB.  It is an English style pale ale, copper in color, emphasizing the subtle blend of imported and domestic malts. The addition of dry hops adds a delightful hoppy aroma and a slight floral, grassy flavor.

the label & tshirt design

What is the history of the Ski to Sea race? In 1911, a few crazy Bellingham and Whatcom County locals ran to the summit of Mt. Baker and back down to see who was the fastest in the first Mt. Baker Marathon, America’s original adventure race.  Today, that spirit lives on in the Ski to Sea Race, a 7 sport relay over 100 mile course. You can read more about the rich history of this race here.

We’ll be bottling the beer here at the brewery on May 4th or May 5th and it will be available to the public in 22 oz. bottles and on tap at Boundary Bay Brewery by May 6th.  We’ll also have t-shirts and posters with the Ski to Sea ESB label design for sale here at the brewery – coming soon!

Our Ski to Sea Beginnings

written by Janet Lightner, General Manager of Boundary Bay Brewery

2010 Boundary Bay Brewery Ski to Sea Team pictured with Ed and Janet (on right)

We started the competitive womens team on a suggestion from Brian Boatman of Beavers Tree Service.  He thought it would be interesting to put together a top notch women’s Ski to Sea team.  Brian had a core group of women in mind including Debbie Chadwick a paddler from Prince George who continues to race for us!  With 6 of the  8 positions filled I just needed to find the 2 and we would have our first competive women’s team.  Easy enough eh?

The search began for a cross country skier and a kayaker. Many hours were logged comparing times, figuring out the style of boat and the type of skier we needed.  What was a surf ski anyway?  I had a lot of learning to do. I figured to go big and locate athletes training in Olympic training centers. What did I have to lose?  oh yea the race…

It took many weeks and the race day was closing in.  I found Barb Jones a member of the US XC Ski Team training in Bend and she agreed to do the race, but I still needed a kayaker to bring us home!  My search continued with dozens of phone calls to racing centers up and down the West Coast, and then I found Leanne Wood.  She had been traing at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista California and just happened to be visiting her family in Seattle for Memorial Weekend.  She would do the race!  Now I just had to find her a racing surfski as her kayak was in CA. and this was Friday night and the race was on Sunday.  I used the terrific network of Boundary Bay fans and was able to secure a boat for Leanne. whew! It seemed like I was all ready in a race!

Back in 2000 I was still really hands on in the kitchens at Boundary. I remember meeting the althetes as they arrived with an apron on and flour on my hands and face.  I warmly welcomed each and we instantly connected.  I had been communicating with all 8 of them on the phone and through email, but it was so exciting to have them gather together and introduce them to each other.  The first Boundary Bay Womens Team was born of determination, networking, and a little luck.

It has been such a thrill for me to meet these talented hard working women. Their dedication to their health, fitness and their individual sports is an inspiration for me.  Their energy is contagious and we feed off of one another over the weekend.  It is an honor to have them be a part of Boundary Bay even if it is just for a couple of days.  They feel like my family and I have a special connection with them.

On the Eve of Ski to Sea

Ski to Sea has always been an important part of the Boundary Bay Brewery history.  Not just the jam-packed weekend full of events that has grown to be the official kick off of summer around here.  But also, the race itself.

Our first womens Ski to Sea team was put together by a group of employees in 1999, but 2000 was the first year for a competitive team.  That year, the Boundary Bay Brewery team came in 13th overall, which made them the fastest women’s team in the history of the race.  With the 2009 win for our Women’s Competitive Team, the Boundary Bay Brewery team is now the ONLY team in Ski to Sea history to win their division 10 years in a row!

This year, we are hoping to begin a new tradition that will become a part of our annual Ski to Sea celebrations!  Join us in the Beer Garden on Saturday, May 29th for a big old fashinoned pasta feed on the night before the big race.  From 4-8pm on Ski to Sea Eve (May 29th!) we’ll be serving up spaghetti with meat sauce, our infamous mac and cheese, pesto linguine, vegetable lasagna, meat lasagna, pasta primaver and fettucini alfredo…all with caeser salad and garlic bread!

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 6-12 years old and free for kids 5 years old and under.  You can purchase your tickets at the bar here at Boundary or online.  This event may sell out though, so get your tickets early…especially if you’re hoping to make this a tradition with YOUR Ski to Sea Team!  Cheers!