by Linda Nathan

Kevin McFadden doesn’t always have a lot of fun in his job, but Ski to Sea is one event he does look forward to.

As Ski to Sea Traffic Coordinator for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department, Detective Sergeant McFadden says that when you deal with that many people, there’s always something, but adds, "All in all, it’s a really good group of people out to have fun, which makes it fun for us."

For all of its complexity, coordinating the law enforcement response to Ski to Sea isn’t that hard, McFadden says. In the 12 years he has been doing it, the process has become computerized, with regular meetings all year. There are 400 teams with seven racers each this year, and three legs at the top.

The process involves the Washington State Patrol, the police departments of Bellingham, Everson and Ferndale, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Transportation, Whatcom County Public Works, Whatcom County Search and Rescue, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Reserve and Explorer Unit.

"We set up road blocks on the Mt. Baker Highway to shut the road down at 8:30 a.m. at Canyon Creek Road, then at 9:00 a.m. at the Mt. Baker Lodge. Then we open it at 10:00 a.m. for westbound traffic. If you don’t get to Glacier by 8:30 a.m., you won’t make it to the top, McFadden says." The Race starts at 8:30.

In his 12 years of coordinating traffic, Sergeant McFadden said that nothing major has ever happened. "The biggest problem is the traffic hazard created by people chasing the teams, driving in the oncoming lane, yelling or trying to take pictures," he says. "At the start of the Big Race one year, a man was arrested for stealing a canoe. Another time, a Channel 12 cameraman got a busted leg jumping off a bridge in Ferndale avoiding a train. We also have guys on the river, one boat on the bay, and one search and rescue boat on the river. A couple of people have washed over, but they have a line of sight on the river now."

Alcohol and drugs haven’t really been a problem either. "The city comes out and helps us, and then we help the city. It’s kind of fun, especially come race day. Probably 75 percent of the people do it for fun."

From the point of view of Todd Olson, the Big Race is pure fun indeed. His clinic, Olson Family Chiropractic in Lynden, has been sponsoring a team in the Recreation Division for the past five years that represents both the clinic and Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Bellingham.

As the season approaches, Todd sends a humorous letter to team members that says they were chosen for their great athletic prowess after examining hours of videotapes, throws a little BBQ and supplies team tee shirts with Olson Family Chiropractic printed on them.

Their team motto last year was, "Pitter patter, let’s get atter."

"We don’t take ourselves too seriously," he chuckled. "Our goal is just to finish, but we have a lot of fun doing it." Their best time was just under eight hours last year, which is about three hours behind the experts who do it in around five. A church picnic at Hovander Park celebrates the arrival of their canoers and cheers on the mountain biker.

Todd is the downhill skiier. Other team members include Cliff Thies, Billy Olberg, Woody Bakke, Stuart McDonald, Chris Withers and Keith Atneosen. Their only mishaps were a flat tire one year and a tipped canoe another.

Todd says the number of teams has just about doubled in the time they’ve been racing from about 150 at the beginning to close to 300 last year, with some very serious contenders.

But it’s still fun.

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