Janicki fielded two teams for this year’s Ski to Sea race, a multi-sport relay stretching from Mount Baker to Bellingham Bay over Memorial Day weekend. The race includes seven grueling legs: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, running, road biking, cyclocross, canoeing and kayaking.
Team Pulling Left put on an electrifying performance, securing a seventh-place finish in the corporate division and 77th overall. Will Whiton (retired Janicki employee) opened with the cross-country ski leg, followed by Ryan Barna in the downhill ski, Aidan Swenson on the run, Cesar Daou on road bike, and Ian Laursen and Fletcher Kurita in the canoe. Team captain Paul Goins rode the cyclocross leg, with Travis Freeman finishing in the kayak. Over half the team placed in the top 100 in their leg. Ryan Barna notably finished eighth overall in the downhill ski leg!
Team of Theseus placed 19th in the corporate division, overcoming last-minute substitutions and welcoming several newcomers to Ski to Sea. The team pulled together and did a great job. Captain Josh Carter led with cross-country skiing, followed by Ransom Cutshall on the downhill ski, Wyatt Brinkley on the run, Justin Plant on road bike, and canoe partners Noah Haworth and Jakob Mathisen. Casey Bloomer crushed the cyclocross leg, finishing 21st overall. Nic Sakuma closed the race, leaping from his kayak to ring the finish bell.
Employees celebrated afterward at the Fairhaven after-party with music, food trucks and vendors. Congratulations to all our competitors for their hard work and strong results among 503 teams. We already look forward to next year’s race.