Sports photographer for the weekend

Presidents Day weekend is a big weekend for the Methow Valley. While it's a three-day weekend for us, many Seattle area schools have the whole week off, so hotels and cabins are full, and several fun sports events keep things interesting.

 I ran around the valley photographing the snow sports (not normally my beat) because the sports editor was over in Tacoma covering the state wrestling championships.

I shot folks getting on the bus for the Tour of the Methow:

Loading up the school bus before a day of skiing.

The Tour of the Methow is a Nordic Club event that celebrates some of the best ski trails in the valley. These folks were taking the bus up to Cub Creek to start a minimum 30-kilometer ski. I met some of them on the trail heading for Winthrop later that afternoon - (when the weather had changed from snowy to warm and sunny) - on the tail end of a 60-K leg. They had been moving, with some rest stops, I'm sure, for around six hours by that time.

Just for the record, I am NOT one of those skiers.

Next, I shot photos of the Snowshoe Softball tournament.

Making a dive for third base.

Snowshoe softball is ALL about the running, diving and fielding.

These teams come back for the tournament every year. Most are from the west side of the mountains, so they are delighted to be getting all snowy.

Second base action

Rad first base woman

The third - and final - fun photo assignment was on Sunday morning at the Doggie Dash. You pretty much can't take a bad photo there. Here are some fun ones:

Some of the costume finalists (after the heats were skied, so I'm going backwards here).

Kristen Smith in roller derby garb with Kurt Meachum as referee.

Kelly Schuh, young winner of Best in Show award. She gets to keep the Golden Poodle statue for the year.

Kelly becomes painfully aware of the hazards of having dogs on the sidelines during her heat.

I love that the dogs get into it as much as the people.

Nordic team snowball fight

Mazama Corral trailhead

Thirty-seven kids ages 6 to 11 participated in last week's three-day Nordic camp in Mazama. I observed their comings and goings from my post at the Corral parking lot, working as a trail ambassador that day.

After three hours of skiing, the kids and coaches came in for lunch at the Community Hall and parked their gear alongside the trailhead.

I was in the right place at the right time after lunch in order to photograph an impromptu snowball fight outside the Mazama Community Hall. Here is what transpired.

Don't shoot the photographer!

MVSTA thanks its workforce

As with all Methow Valley potlucks, the spread was plentiful and delicious.

Methow Valley Sport Trails Association held a volunteer appreciation barbecue at the Mazama Community Center on Sunday afternoon (June 5). Around 75 volunteers were fêted at the celebration, along with board members, ski trail grooming staff, and ski patrol. MVSTA Events Director, Mike Pruett, said the barbecue was a way for the organization to “reach out and show our appreciation to various members and ambassadors. It’s also a chance for them to meet each other.”

Mike Pruett serves up brats.

Pruett took a break from his barbecue grill duties to recognize the MVSTA workforce. He stressed the importance of member/ambassadors who interact with visitors at events and on the trails and “share their passion for living in the Methow.”

According to Pruett, around 175 members are involved in the currently-at-capacity trail pass program, which awards an annual trail pass to enrolled volunteers who work 20 hours over the course of the year. Bridge building, trail maintenance, racecourse marshal, and trailhead ambassador are among the various duties performed by volunteer workers who also support eight to ten events per year, from running and ski races to the annual Sports Swap.

Don Portman, MVSTA board president, awarded  Michael Prichard a lifetime trail pass for his years of dedication to the organization and for starting the ski patrol program.

Associate director, Danica Kaufman, reported that MVSTA is now the largest cross-country ski area in the nation, with 190 kilometers of groomed ski trails. She lauded the past year as having the second-best trail pass sales as well as the best lifetime pass sales ever, despite the continued economic downturn.

Midge Cross, Kristen Smith and Mike Real

John Owen, Sam Owen and Michael Caldwell

2011 Doggie Dash

A little starting line showdown.

The Methow Valley Nordic Club's Doggie Dash is a zany, off-the-wall event which delights spectators and participants, locals and out-of-towners.  Held at the Winthrop Town Trailhead on Sunday of President's Day weekend, this year's celebration of nordic skiing and dogs boasted excellent snow conditions and brilliant, sunny weather.

Participants on skis ranged from Emmet Bondi at age 3-ish, to full-fledged senior citizens reacquainting themselves with their inner child.

Karla Segale as entomologist, left, Susan Pritchard in striped leggings, right.

Four-legged racers included Karla Segale's petit black and white Pappilon (weighing no more than 8 pounds in butterfly wings), and a couple of monstrous Bernese mountain dogs.  Thanks to far-sighted planning, the tots only compete against other children, and the tiny dogs are not asked to run with the Titans.

Separate prizes are given for costumes and speed; one need not be a champion skier to compete.

The rules, written by the Nordic Club, are as follows:  Dogs must be on a leash.  You must start and finish with the same dog.  Imaginative costumes suggested for both you and your dog. 

The only costume-related liability I observed was Dave Ford's dog becoming hobbled by its Spandex cape.  Other mishaps included crossed leashes leading to trips and falls, and a number of dogs and owners crossing the finish line as separate, disconnected entities.  I observed no tears, but lots of smiles and good-natured ribbing.  

Danbert Nobacon, left, John Spaude, right, Teri Pieper with camera in the background.

The photo opportunities were boundless; however, my little camera had some trouble keeping up with the speed of events, and suffered a bit from the low temperatures.  To view a professional slideshow of this year's event, check out Teri Pieper's blog.