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> A Washington Olympiad

The state's great outdoors is
the perfect place for gold

THEY MAY NOT BE as widely publicized as the 2010 Olympic Winter Games just across the northern border in Vancouver, BC, but epic feats of athletic endeavor take place all year long at Washington’s vast array of indoor and outdoor recreational venues. Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts use the whole state to satisfy their quests for glory, whether it’s recording a personal best in cross-country skiing, racing a kayak across Puget Sound, or garnering perfect scores (from a judging panel of family and friends) on a new figure-skating pirouette.

And when you think about it, what better place to pursue amateur athletic achievement than in a state that boasts Olympic National Park and whose capital city is Olympia? Here’s a guide to some of the events that happen around the state throughout the year, participated in by thousands of athletes who proudly wield miniature Olympic torches in their own hearts and minds as they run, skate, slide, bike, sail, and ski across Washington’s marvelous, diverse natural landscape.

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Opening Ceremonies

WHEN ATHLETES from around the world pour into Washington State to begin their personal games—whether they happen to be professionals, top amateurs, or weekend warriors— they need to prepare for the myriad athletic challenges that lie ahead.

Start by fueling up. Massive carb-loading takes place at brewpubs throughout the state, at Seattle’s Old Spaghetti Factory (206-441- 7724; www.osf.com)—part of a chain that’s a family-friendly institution—and at the two Spokane locations of Frank’s Diner (509-747- 8798; www.franksdiners.com), the quintessential breakfast spot in a restored railroad car.

Next, gear up. Seattle’s Pike Place Market (206-682-7453; www.pikeplacemarket.org) may as well be an Olympic Village, with vendors who provide everything from portable meals to clothing for the quest that lies ahead. At REI (206-223-1944; www.rei.com), Seattle’s headquarters for outdoor supplies, athletes pick up camping gear and skis, kayaks, and snowshoes before heading to their respective sporting venues. Eddie Bauer (multiple Seattle locations; www.eddiebauer.com), the original Washington outdoorsman who invented the first down parka, provides more casual (not to mention stylish) clothing at his namesake stores. The flagship is at Seattle’s Pacific Place Mall (206- 622-2766; www.pacificplaceseattle.com).

And finally, every good athlete knows to warm up. A semi-vigorous hike through the miles of trails in the Issaquah Alps, a long bike ride through wine country, or a paddle on serene Lake Sammamish can get people’s blood pumping before they head out to record some personal bests. And in lieu of an Olympic torch lighting, head up the Space Needle (206-905-2100; www.spaceneedle.com) for panoramic views befitting an opening ceremony. Let the games begin!

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Downhill Skiing

PHIL AND STEVE MAHRE, brothers who are two of the most decorated Olympic athletes in U.S. history, first strapped on skis at Yakima’s White Pass Ski Area (509-672-3100; www.skiwhitepass.com), which their father, Dave, managed in the 1960s. For Mahre-like expert downhillers, stylish slalomers, and even those who just like to carve gentle, graceful runs, there are more than a dozen ski areas in the state, with terrain and features that can deliver thrills to both Olympic-caliber athletes and beginners aspiring to greatness. Within a few hours’ drive of Seattle, the Cascade Mountains offer several popular ski destinations. To the north, the Mt. Baker Ski Area (360-671-0211; www.mtbaker.us) boasts a 1,500-foot vertical drop, with a third of the terrain dedicated to expert runs. The mountain is known for receiving massive amounts of snowfall, including a world record of 1,140 inches during the 1998–99 season. Southeast of Seattle, Mount Rainier’s Crystal Mountain Ski Area (888-754-6199; www.skicrystal.com) is also a big favorite among families and experts alike, with 2,600 acres of skiable terrain that includes some of the top chutes and blackdiamond runs in the West. On Interstate 90, the Summit at Snoqualmie Ski Area (206-236-1600; www.summitatsnoqualmie.com) has gentler hills that are a great place to learn the sport; lessons are conducted by ski schools throughout the season. On the east side of the state, snow fiends make pilgrimages to Bluewood (206-236-1600; www.bluewood.com), located in the heart of the Umatilla National Forest at Dayton and boasting a vertical rise of 1,125 feet. One run, called Country Road, travels more than two miles. Outside Spokane, 49° North (509-935-6649; www.ski49n.com) is noted for its family-friendliness and 12 miles of cross-country trails to go with the downhill runs.

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Snowboarding

YOU DON’T HAVE to have an Olympicsize attitude or a nickname like the Flying Tomato to bring your A-level snowboarding game to Washington. The state’s ski areas provide wonderful opportunities for boarders who race, shred, and tackle gnarly pipes and terrain.

At the top of the list is Stevens Pass Ski Area (206-634-1645; www.stevenspass.com), which lies on the crest of the Cascades between two national forests. Dotted with stands of Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock trees, the mountain has vast areas to explore, with 1,125 acres of skiable terrain. Night boarding is a delight here, with up to six lifts operating after dark for starlit sliding. Near Wenatchee, the Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort Area (509- 663-3200; www.missionridge.com) has one of the most extensive snow-making operations in the business, ensuring good snow early and late in the season. For boarders who love to jump and do tricks, the 49° North ski area has a dedicated terrain park with rails, jumps, and boxes for catching maximum air and edges. More hot action awaits at the Hammerhead Terrain Park at Yakima’s White Pass. Games and events throughout the season bring added fun to the snowboarding experience.

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Ice Skating

SKATERS CAN summon their inner Rosalynn Sumners or Apolo Anton Ohno— Olympic greats who grew up in Edmonds and Seattle, respectively, and first competed on area rinks—at any number of facilities around Washington. Rentals and lessons are available all over the state to take skating passions to the next level; landing that double toe loop may be just a few skating sessions away. Spokane’s Riverfront Park (800-336-7275; www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com) is home to the Ice Palace, an open-air venue that, winter weather permitting, stays frozen from October through March. Partially covered by an awning, the long, oval rink is a great place to revisit that long-lost salchow or (graceful) face-plant, as well as pick up a few new tricks. Rentals and lessons are offered on-site, and the Ice Palace is also available for private rentals and skating parties with advance reservations. West of the mountains, the staff at Seattle Center (206-684-7200; www.seattlecenter.com) floods and freezes an indoor rink at Fisher Pavilion during the Winterfest (Nov 28–Dec 31), and year-round rinks are popular attractions in Bremerton and Shoreline. Bellingham’s skaters head to the Sportsplex facility (360-676-1919; www.bellinghamsportsplex.com). When the weather warms up, avid skaters find ways to stay sharp by means of in-line skates. Seattle’s Green Lake Park (206- 684-4075; www.seattle.gov/parks) is a skating paradise, with a 2.8-mile paved path that encircles the lake. Distance athletes who are building up their stamina do their blading on paved trails made from former railroad beds, such as Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail (206-684-4075; www.seattle.gov/parks); the scenic Sammamish River Trail in Redmond (www.metrokc.gov/parks); and Spokane’s 37-mile-long Centennial Trail, which begins at the Idaho state line and ends at Nine Mile Falls (the downtown segment of the trail begins near Milepost 17; www.spokanecentennialtrail.org/ overview.htm).

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Biking and Cycling

JILL KINTNER, who competed in the Beijing Games in the rough-and-tumble sport of BMX bike racing, got her start on the streets and bike paths of Seattle and her native suburb of Burien. She is one of thousands of athletes who learned young that cycling is big in the state. Time-trial racers can compete at the Velodrome at Redmond’s Marymoor Park (206-957-4555; www.velodrome.org), which also hosts top cycling competitions, while street racers and recreational riders take to the hundreds of miles of paved paths throughout the state.

Among the most popular is the Burke- Gilman Trail, which begins in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, extends north all the way to Bothell and then connects to the Sammamish River Trail through Kirkland and Redmond. In Spokane, the Centennial Trail follows the Spokane River. The small, uncrowded San Juan Islands are also great places to explore via pedal power, with ferry routes from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan Islands.

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Kayaking and Sailing

ATHLETES WHO take to the water by boat will find an abundance of opportunities in Washington. Kayakers like Scott Shipley, who hails from the Kitsap Peninsula town of Poulsbo and competed in three Olympic Games between 1992 and 2000, have hundreds of miles to explore along Puget Sound. River runners head to the mighty Columbia, often in the stunning Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, or to the Snake River through the striking Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon) in southeast Washington.

A good place for beginning paddlers to learn the basics of kayaking is Lake Union, a calm, protected oval of water in the heart of Seattle. The Northwest Outdoor Center (206-281-9694; www.nwoc.com) on the west side of the lake gives lessons and provides rentals of single and tandem kayaks; canoeists can rent vintage crafts nearby at the Center for Wooden Boats (206-382-2628; www.cwb.org), which also rents sailboats and rowboats. To navigate the waters of Lake Washington, rowboats and canoes are available for rent at the Waterfront Activities Center at the University of Washington (206- 543-9433; http://depts.washington.edu/ima/ IMA_wac.php).

More experienced paddlers will find hundreds of miles of navigable waters, with protected put-out spots and campsites, along the Cascadia Marine Trail, a route developed on Puget Sound by the Washington Water Trails Association (206-545-9161; www.wwta.org).

Avid sailors grab the wind on Lake Washington at the Carillon Point Marina (425-822- 1700; www.carillon-point.com/marina.html) in Kirkland and at Seattle’s Elliott Bay Marina (206-285-4817; www.elliottbaymarina.net). The San Juan Island town of Friday Harbor and Whidbey Island’s Oak Harbor are also meccas for recreational sailors, with boat rentals and lessons available and dozens of nearby islands to explore.

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Bobsled

SLIDING DOWN a snowy hill has got to be the most fun of all the Olympic events. In this case, the event involves wooden sleds, plastic discs, toboggans, or rubber inner tubes instead of sleek, aerodynamic bobsleds or luges, and the hills are gentle slopes instead of icy chutes.

Sledding is big at Hurricane Ridge (360-565- 3131; www.hurricaneridge.net) at Olympic National Park, where two dedicated sledding hills at the Sunrise Family Snowplay Area are a hit with families during the winter months. One hill is reserved for youngsters under eight years old, and the other is open to all ages. Bring your own sleds and inner tubes for long, swooping runs down safe hills. Dedicated sledding areas are also available on Mount Rainier (360-569-2211; www.nps.gov/mora). At Snoqualmie Pass, a Tubing Center (425- 434-6791; www.summitatsnoqualmie.com) has inner tubes to rent, and rope tows make it easy to get up and down the hill.

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Swimming

WASHINGTON’S POOLS, lakes, and waterways are ready to accommodate the next generation of Michael Phelps–inspired swimmers— or those just trying to stay in shape and top their own personal records. Emily Silver, a 2008 Olympian who earned a silver medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle competition for the United States, got her start at the Bainbridge Island Aquatics Center (206-842-2302; www.biparks.org/pool/pool_facility.htm), where a lap pool is available for workouts next to a family pool with a kids’ area, a waterslide, a river current, and diving boards. The state’s top complex is in Federal Way, where the King County Aquatic Center (206- 296-4444; www.metrokc.gov/Parks/KCAC/), sponsored by Weyerhaeuser, was erected for the 1990 Goodwill Games and has hosted Olympic Time Trials and many competitive events since then. It is now open for public use, and swimming lessons are offered. On sunny summer days, swimmers take to the waters of Puget Sound at Golden Gardens Park (206- 684-4075; www.seattle.gov/parks) in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, and plunge into Lake Washington at Matthews Beach Park (206-684- 4075; www.seattle.gov/parks/).

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Cross-Country Skiing

CROSS-COUNTRY skiing arguably reaches its zenith in the Methow Valley (www.mvsta.com/winter/ski.html) of northcentral Washington, where 124 miles of trails combine with crisp, cold winter weather and plenty of snow. Skiers first head to Leavenworth, the Bavarian-influenced village on the eastern slopes of the Cascades, where more than 16 miles of groomed trails await. Families and recreational skiers enjoy the flatter Icicle River trail system, while the Golf Course and Ski Hill Trails offer sterner workouts that culminate in sweeping territorial views. To the east, near the Methow Valley communities of Winthrop and Mazama, the secondlargest complex of groomed trails in North America culminates in more than 120 miles of interconnected trails. In many areas, skiers can glide for hours without encountering another soul. The Methow Community Trail connects the whole system, and lodging and dining opportunities dot the region. At Snoqualmie Pass east of Seattle, the Summit at Snoqualmie’s Nordic Center (www.summitatsnoqualmie.com) offers lessons and rentals during winter. A chairlift takes skiers from the base to the staging area, where nearly 40 miles of backcountry trails await.

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Hockey

OF COURSE, what Winter Games would be complete without some nifty stickhandling, bone-crushing checks, and adroit goal-scoring? For avid hockey fans who prefer cheering and jeering to skating and hitting, the Western Hockey League (www.whl.ca/hm) is a regional professional organization that develops young stars who are on their way to the National Hockey League. Washington boasts franchises in Seattle, Spokane, the Tri- Cities, and Everett; they play a September– April schedule against opponents from several Canadian cities and Portland, Oregon. The players are highly skilled and hungry to be discovered, and the action is first-rate.

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Closing Ceremonies

THE GAMES are over, and it’s time to celebrate. What better place to regale others with your exploits than at a sports bar? Chef John Howie’s Sport Restaurant & Bar (206-404- 7767; www.sportrestaurant.com) near Seattle Center is a great place to watch games on dozens of TV monitors and refuel over large burgers, steaks, and wings. But if you can’t make it off the mountain, the Paradise Inn (360-569- 2275) high up on the slopes of Mount Rainier, is outfitted with wooden furniture and beams, as well as a fine-dining restaurant. Enjoy the respite—training for the next round of trials begins immediately. When it comes to athletic pursuits, Washington always has another hill to climb, lake to paddle, or trail to explore.

 

 

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