Throughout all 2020 and mostly into 2021, events of all types and sizes have been canceled to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In October of last year and updated just last week, Governor Inslee put out guidance allowing small, socially distanced outdoor events to return. SnowGoat has been working closely with our hosting resorts to adhere to those guidelines and provide safe but fun events. At this time, all parties are feeling confident we can to hold the Vertfest and Crystal races. But if transmissions are on the rise or the pandemic situation is out of hand, we are still prepared to cancel.
We are offering a risk free signup though: if the race is canceled or you need to pull out due to a sickness in your family, you can get a full refund, a free entry into a future race, or choose to donate the entry fee to operational costs. For those who were registered for Vertfest last year and rolled over your transfer, I will get an email out to you next week with a code to use during registration for either Vertfest or Crystal.
Our full list of our mitigations are listed on our Covid-19 page, but here are some of the larger impacts:
At this time, only Washingtonians will be allowed to enter the race to limit out of state travel.
No packet pickup, mass wave start, afterparty, beer garden, or awards ceremony. This obviously takes away a lot of the fun aspects, but you know obviously why this can’t happen. But at least we get to race!
We will still have day of registration, but it will be via your mobile device. The same registration website will be open until the race start. Bib numbers will be written on your helmet with athletic tape and a sharpie.
Tshirts and schwag will be awarded once you cross the finish line. Category awards will be tabulated and mailed out after the race.
Crystal Skimo Race: March 21st, 2021
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Crystal Skimo Race is back! This was the last event a lot of us attended in 2020 before all the local and national shutdowns. Crystal is super excited to host us again for the third year of the SnowGoat Crystal Skimo Race on March 21st of 2021. A big change in 2021 is no mass start for each distance. Racers will be starting in waves of 10 or fewer races 5 minutes apart. Racer waves will be based off expected finish within the pack, which is collected as part of registration. Racer waves will be sent out Friday morning, 3/19/21. Registration via the Webscorer link will stay open until the race start Sunday morning, but any registrations after Friday morning will be slotted into the last wave.
Vertfest: March 6th, 2021
Covid times have been a great time for trying new things and thinking outside the box. We will be applying that mindset to trying something new for Vertfest 2021. The race format is still being finalized with the Summit of Snoqualmie, but just know to reserve March 6th on your calendars! We aim to have everything proofed and registration open on February 1st.
Loup Loup Rando Race:
After much deliberation in the early season, Alison and I decided to cancel the Loup Loup Rando Race for 2021. With such uncertainly surrounding Covid-19 and our acute awareness of protecting not only our small community here in the Methow but also all of our racers and their families, it seemed the most responsible move to make. We so appreciate all of you who have helped us build this race into a great event over the last four years, and please know that we fully intend on returning to it with a full head of steam in 2022! Until then, train well and be healthy.
-Sam and Alison Naney of Cascade Endurance, Race Directors of Loup Loup Rando Race
We Still Need Volunteers!
With all the changes this year, we are still formalizing the new routes and what volunteers we will need, but one thing is still for certain: We will need you! Please fill out the Google Form at the link below to let us know you can volunteer and in what capacity. I know you are happy to volunteer from the kindness of your heart, but you’ll still earn a free entry to a future race plus some sweet SnowGoat gear. This year we are appropriately making SnowGoat Skimo branded masks from Outdoor Research!
