ZIONS BANK BOULDER MOUNTAIN TOUR COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU
Your trail. Your choice. Your Boulder.
While many of the hallmarks of the 48th annual Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour remain in place, there are a few key changes this year in response to the Covid pandemic and desire to keep racers and the community-at-large as healthy as possible.
The first is the date. Instead of one day, participants can ski any day and any style between Monday, February 1 and Sunday, February 7.
The second is the place. BMT organizers are encouraging racers to use their imagination to create and complete self-supported 15 or 30-kilometer races. To this end, many ski areas and organizations have established courses in conjunction with the BMT. Course partners are located throughout the United States. They include Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Utah, Tahoe XC, Calif., Mount Bachelor, Ore., Meissner Nordic Community, Bend, Ore., Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Vermont, Washburn Ski Trails, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Rendezvous Ski Trails, West Yellowstone, Mt., Sun Valley Nordic Center, and the Blaine County Recreation District.
“We appreciate everyone rallying to make the Boulder happen. The response has been amazing. We want to emphasize you can ski anywhere. It doesn’t have to be an official course. It is whatever and wherever makes you happy. If you want to ski 10k at three different venues that is awesome,” BMT executive director Jody Zarkos remarked.
Registration runs through January 31 on SkiReg.com. The cost to “Rock the Boulder” is $39 for adults, $25 for 18-under, and $125 for teams of four. The entry fee includes an official 2021 BMT race hat by SWIX, raffle entry, sponsored items, BMT collateral, and a general training plan geared to novice, intermediate and advanced skiers.
The Boulder Mountain Tour, sponsored by Zions Bank with substantial support from the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Sue Engelmann of Berkshire Hathaway, Sentinel Security, and Blaine County Title, believes in the power and passion of nonprofit organizations performing vital work during these difficult days. To this end, the BMT will expand its “Ski It Forward” award, in recognition of the vital work these organizations perform. This year, the BMT will donate $5,000 to nonprofits throughout the United States. Registrants vote on the charity of their choice, and organizations receiving the most votes will receive donations at the BMT’s culmination.
Prizes will be awarded via raffle on an almost daily basis throughout the week via livestream at vimeo.com/2021BMT. Prize categories are Oldest/Youngest Racers, Best Costume (based on photos), Team Spirit (based on photos), and Pacesetters. Some of the great prizes up for grabs include skis from Salomon and Madshus, a pour-over coffee bar from Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee, boots, and outstanding cross-country gear from industry standouts.
Event sponsors also include Atkinsons’ Market, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Clear Creek Disposal, Davis Embroidery, Elephant’s Perch, Engel & Völkers Jones Grover Team, EnjoyWinter, Fischer, Hammer Nutrition, Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee, Power Engineers, Rex Wax, Rossignol, Sturtevants, Sun Valley Associates, Salomon, Swix, TOKO, Zenergy, with support from Blaine County Recreation District, Bluebird Solar, Boulder Nordic Sport, Cellar Pub, Conrad Brothers Construction, Dons, Galena Lodge, Lefty’s Bar & Grill, Morgan’s Fine Finishes, Mountain Rides, Nourish Me, Perry’s, Rickshaw, Sawtooth Avalanche Center, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Sun Valley Community School, Sun Valley Company, Sushi on Second, VAMPS, Wrapcity and Wood River YMCA.
Details? Please contact race director Jody Zarkos at bouldermountaintour@gmail.com or visit the BMT website at www.bouldermountaintour.com.
