The Seeley Lake Nordic Club's Junior Prep Team heads off on a 3K course. They are the youngest participants in the Club between fourth and sixth grade.
Seeley Lake residents Darren Zellman and Stephen Humpal head out on the course for the 39th annual OSCR.
Seeley Lake Nordic Club team member Will Batchelder finishing the 22k OSCR Saturday, Jan. 30.
Seeley Lake resident Kim Grover sets out on a single loop of the 22k OSCR course.
Orion Berryman, who has won the 50K OSCR numerous years, sets out on the course. This year's iteration could not be formally organized due to COVID restrictions so racers had to time themselves. As of press time, the winners were not announced.
Seeley Lake Nordic Teammates Owen Hoag and Eric Lorentz head off for the annual OSCR cross country race which was unsupported for the most part to avoid causing a super-spreader event.
SEELEY LAKE - Skiers were given free reign to run the 39th annual OSCR cross country ski race whenever they wanted last weekend.
Participants were recommended to begin the self-supported 10-, 22- or 44-kilometer course from 8 - 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 or Sunday Jan. 31. Due to the lack of snow, the 25k loop was shortened to a 22k, making the longest distance 44k.
According to Lynn Carey, Seeley Lake Nordic Club vice-president and race director, the club could not formally organize the event because they were unable to get insurance and subsequently a service permit because it would be difficult to abide by all of the COVID-19 guidelines with a large group. The last time the event was canceled was in 2005 due to lack of snow.
To adapt, they groomed and outlined the course, provided a clock and had individual skiers time themselves by providing start and end times on a notebook. Racers were encouraged to wear a mask when they were not skiing. There was no registration or fee to participate but donations were encouraged for grooming.
Carey estimates that over 85 people participated in the race on both days. He said he was happy with how everything played out despite the restrictions.
Bridget Laird, Seeley Lake Nordic Team head coach, said her skiers were enthusiastic about being able to participate in OSCR given that many other cross country races have been canceled, including the Club's other two races Skiesta and the Seeley Lake Biathlon.
"With [OSCR], we just felt like it was an opportunity for some of our kids ... to put on their little race suits and feel like a team and participate in this," she said. "Some of them have never done a race before. I wasn't expecting so many people and I wasn't expecting it to feel quite like an event. I made an effort to make sure that this didn't turn into a spectator event for our families."
Missoula residents Karen Knudsen and Tim Vechtold skied the 44k course. This was Knudsen's second time and Vechtold's fourth time participating in the race. They said while the camaraderie aspect was "significantly diminished," the course was still enjoyable.
"As far as the course is concerned, it's mostly pretty good," Knudsen said. "I mean it's a lot better than it was two years ago when I first did it. It was warm, it had just snowed. The snow was thick like mashed potatoes."
Resident Kim Grover skied the 22k course and has participated in OSCR for almost 10 years. She said she appreciates those who helped groom the course and made the conditions optimal.
"It was [groomed] a lot firmer than last year," she said. "Last year was really soft. Thanks to the groomers for all their hard work."
As of the press deadline, results and placements were not available. They will be posted on https://www.seeleylakenordic.org later this week.
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