2013 Langlauf Nordic Ski Race

Starting in brilliant sunshine and finishing in a shroud of fog, 244 racers in age groups spanning 80 years finished the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013. Brad Bauer of Seattle and his aunt, Deb Bauer of Spokane, stood on the familiar ground of the championship podium during the awards ceremony. Brad Bauer, 39, has won Langlauf 10 times since he began entering the event in 2000. Deb Bauer, 47, has won the women’s division 20 times. However, many participants, especially the youngsters, were equally thrilled with simply shaving minutes off their personal best. Langlauf also puts all skiers on equal ground with its tradition of giving thousands of dollars in prizes away in a lottery during the awards ceremony. Outdoors editor Rich Landers, one of the few skiers to have finished in all of the Langlauf events, skied the course with his camera to capture this gallery of images.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Feb. 10, 2013

Waxing technicians from Toko and Fitness Fanatics helped skiers get the right combo of binder and kick waxes for the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Musicians kept the atmosphere lively in the Selkirk Lodge before the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
The stable of course marshalls assemble before the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Skiers tend to every detail before the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
"We're in the fun group," this mom said as she snaped her child into her ski bindings at the back of the pack for the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Sam Schlieder heads to the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013. Schlieder is one of the few nordic skiers who's raced in every Langlauf. The race at Mount Spokane starts up a trail called Sam's Swoop in honor of his efforts in designing and building the early states of the park's cross-country trail system.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Evan Sunderman, a member of the Spokane Nordic Junior Ski Team, gets his focus before the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Tim Ray, race director and one of the event founders, calls the field of 244 racers to attention at the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Racers claim their spots in the starting lanes before the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Jim Bauer, front in yellow, a perennial age-group winner from Spokane, finds his spot near the front of the pack for the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Brad Bauer of Seattle, middle, bides his time behind James Rucker of Whitefish in the first few minutes of the 35th annnual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park. Bauer, 39, soon broke away to win the 10-kilometer classic event in 26:19, four minutes ahead of second-place Rucker and the field of 244 racers. Deb Bauer of Spokane led the women in 32:20, beating runner-up Grace Judd of Spokane.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Ian McCarthy, a member of Spokane Nordic Junior Ski Team, leads a group of skiers up Sam's Swoop about three minutes after the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Deb Bauer, 47, of Spokane strides out toward winning the women's division of the 35th Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park. Bauer is the winningest skier in the annual race, topping the women's field 20 times. Brad Bauer, 39, of Seattle broke away to win the 10-kilometer classic event in 26:19, four minutes ahead of second-place James Rucker of Whitefish and the field of 244 racers.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Grace Ford, a member of the Spokane Nordic Junior Ski Team, tops the first hill after the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013. Judd went on to place second overall in the women's division with a time of 34:32.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
George Momany tops the first hill after the start of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Art Bookstrom of Spokane finished in the top five of the highly competitive Men's 66 and older age group at the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
"I feel freer," said this skier, who chose to wear shorts in 25-degree weather as she raced in the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Skiers spaning 80 years of age raced in the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
"I think this is the last year I'll be able to keep up with him," said Ted Barnwell (red) of his son, Zane, as the head into the last half of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013. Zane Barnwell placed second in the Men's 1-10 age group behind an impressive win by Sameer Powers of Spokane.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Robin Redman, left, cheers on Woodies Division participants in the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Racers charge to the finish line of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Racers charge over the finish line of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Suzie Strickler of Spokane looked good in her Woolies Division outfit for the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Karl Eastlund high-fives his son, Sean, at the finish of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Robin DeRuwe, owner of Fitness Fanatics in Spokane Valley, is a long-time major sponsor of the annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park. She also finished third in the women's 45-49 age group in the 35th annual event on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
The Woodies and Woollies division participants get their awards at the start of the award ceremony and prize giveaway at the conclusion of the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Brad Bauer of Seattle and his aunt, Deb Bauer of Spokane, stand on the familiar ground of the championship podium during the awards ceremony for the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013. Brad Bauer, 39, has won Langlauf 10 times since he began entering the event in 2000. Deb Bauer, 47, has won the women’s division 20 times since she began entering the race in 1988 – a period that includes four second-place women’s finishes and two events she did not enter.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Two young girls soak in the action at the awards ceremony for the 35th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race at Mount Spokane State Park on Feb. 10, 2013.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review