25th Annual Alley Loop Brings Out Serious & Silly Sides of Nordic Ski Racing

1.5K to 42K courses appeal to all levels of racers ... costumes welcome

The 25th annual Alley Loop Nordic Marathon on Feb. 5 not only is the highest-altitude Nordic marathon in the United States, it reflects the athletic and free-spirited nature of Crested Butte, Colo.  This American Birkebeiner qualifying race starts and finishes in the heart of Crested Butte on Elk Avenue (a National Historic District since 1974) and winds its way through streets, alleyways and Nordic trail system located on the outskirts of this historic mining town. 

The Alley Loop, also a Colorado Cup Series Race, embraces all abilities and ages competing on skate or classic skis. Course lengths of 1.5K, 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K and 42K are offered, with the 1.5K and 3K races beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the rest starting at intervals beginning at 10 a.m.  New for this year is a 42K classic division that begins at 9 a.m.

While the Alley Loop has a serious side as a qualifier for the American Birkebeiner, North America's largest cross-country ski marathon, locals host parties on their decks to watch racers from across the country and survey the attire of less-serious competitors.  Be on the lookout for pirates, ladybugs, Vikings, lizards, fairies, alley cats, disco kings and queens.  In honor of the Alley Loop's 25th anniversary, organizers are asking competitors to consider wearing silver. 

Best costume winners will have to be dressed in lots of silver in fact. 

New Belgium Brewing's Taste of the Alley Beer Garden on the deck of the Brick Oven also offers a great spot to watch the action and socialize from noon to 4 p.m.  An awards ceremony will be held at Maxwells across the street at 4 p.m.

Prizes are awarded at a post-race ceremony to the overall winners and to the "The Croatian" (the lucky racer who finishes with the exact median race time), and there's an abundance of raffle prizes for racers and volunteers. Visit http://www.cbnordic.org/ for race information and online registration instructions or call (970) 349-1707. 

Crested Butte Nordic Center Facts
The Crested Butte Nordic Center is a full-service cross-country ski center providing lessons and complete rental packages for skate and classical skiing as well as guided backcountry, moonlight, and lunch tours, ice skating, snowshoeing, and sledding.  The Nordic Center maintains more than 50 kilometers of groomed trails that meander through and around Crested Butte, including the new 5K North Village Loop on Snodgrass Mountain in partnership with Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the new Mike's Mile that follows the old railroad grade in the Slate River Valley and connects the Lower Loop to the Gunsight Pass Bridge

Located in the heart of town at Second Street and Whiterock, the Nordic Center will be open for the season from Nov. 20, 2010 - April 3, 2011 and is connected to Crested Butte Mountain Resort and various stops in Crested Butte by a free shuttle bus.  For more information about the Crested Butte Nordic Center and its winter 2010/2011 calendar of events, visit http://www.cbnordic.org/.

Gunnison County is home to a plethora of Nordic talent such as 2006 Olympian Rebecca Dussault; Ingrid Butts, former Olympian and 1991 American Birkebeiner champion; Kendall Butts, former Olympic coach and Ross Matlock, PSIA examiner and demo team member.