Race Info

The race starts and finishes at Tahoe Cross Country, located at 925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City, CA.

Logistics

Please check Caltrans for highway status and plan for potential traffic delays, especially if you are coming from Truckee (due to ski traffic at Palisades and Alpine).

Parking

Parking is limited; please carpool if possible, or consider using TART Connect (a free on-demand service you can use by downloading their app). Parking will be strictly enforced; you will be towed if you park outside the designated areas. Designated parking will be available on the North side of Polaris and Cedarwood; on the East side of Village; on the West side of Country Club; and on the South side of Highland.

Another option is to park at the North Tahoe High School at the end of Polaris; a groomed track will be available to skate to the start at the Nordic Center, a distance of less than .5 miles. Shuttle vans will be available before and after the race, traversing the neighborhood and picking up people on the street and from the high school to take you to and from the Nordic Center.

Bib Pickup

Bib pickup is available on Friday (12:00 – 5:00), Saturday (9:00 – 5:00), or Sunday morning until 8:30am at the Tahoe Cross Country center.

Gear

A bag tent is available at the Tahoe Cross Country Center for personal gear. Please mark your bags with your name and bib number. While we do our best to protect your belongings, the race is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Both the 26km and 10km courses are machine-groomed with skating lanes and double tracks.

26km Course

The 26km course is a 16.2-mile race that begins at the Tahoe Cross Country Center. It winds through rugged trails and fire roads, goes over Starratt Pass, heads east on the 74 road to Four Corners, and returns to the center. It features an elevation gain of 1,636 feet and offers magnificent terrain with spectacular views.

There will be one “Soup Station” on the 26km course at about 12.4 kilometers, which provides snacks and drinks. This station closes at 12:30 PM, after which the course will be swept by Nordic Ski Patrol.

10km Course

The 10km course is a 6.2-mile race that takes place entirely within the Tahoe Cross Country Center. It follows the upper green, upper orange, lower orange, and lower green trails and has an elevation gain of 450 feet.

Course Reminders

Snowmobiles may be on the 26km multi-use trails during the race; please treat the snowmobile tour concessionaires with respect.

Wave Starts

The starting field is divided into waves. The 26km course starts at 9:00 AM for Wave 1, and the 10km course starts at 9:25 AM for Wave 1. Subsequent waves start at 3-minute intervals. You will be asked to specify your preferred starting wave during registration. Starting in the wrong wave will result in disqualification.

Categories & Prizes

Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age category.

• 26km Race: Categories are divided by gender (M/F) and 10-year age increments. The age groups are 9 and under, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, and 20-29 and up by tens.
• 10km Race: Categories are divided by gender, with awards for the top three finishers.

The awards ceremony will be held around 12:00 PM.

Fluorocarbons

The Great Ski Race is a fluorocarbon wax-free race. Please do not wax your skis with anything containing fluorocarbons to help protect public and environmental health.

Visible Bib Numbers

Bib numbers must be visible at all times during the race.

Ski Poles

First aid is available at the finish line for any issues, including broken ski poles. Lost and found items will be taken to the Tahoe Cross Country center after the race.