Q&A for S2S First Timers

Anything new will include some unknowns. The S2S is no different. In the easy-to-read and informative interview below, meet Marcy, an S2S first timer in 2024. She shares the biggest unknowns for her and how she overcame them. What questions do you have? Or tips to share? Please submit them to info@sovereign2silverstar.com 

QUESTION: Marcy, what got you thinking about doing the S2S in the first place?

Marcy: A friend encouraged me to sign up and give it a try. My friend shared how much fun she had participating in her first Loppet, which happened to be the S2S the previous year. She was especially impressed with how the S2S welcomed and celebrated skiers of all ages and abilities.

QUESTION: What were some unknowns that nearly kept you from signing up?

Marcy: I had a few! Two were part of the registration process.

Time estimate: I had no idea what my estimated time would be. I had never paid close attention to how long it took to ski a specific distance. On top of that, during a typical 20K day, I would usually stop one or two times and smell the roses. The time estimates are used by S2S organizers to assign skiers to the different start waves. For those of us who sign up in the Finishing is Winning group, sorting by speed isn’t that important. We sort ourselves out on the trails! I knew a precise time wasn’t needed, but I was intrigued enough about the question that I downloaded an app called Ski Tracks. The app records your ski distance, elevation gain/loss and time. This was quite helpful for me. I was able to get an idea of how long it would take to ski 41K. However, I ended up switching to the 20K just a week or so before the event (more on that below!) and hadn’t used the app for that distance. In the end, I overestimated my time by roughly 35 minutes, but it didn’t matter at all. You can also update your time estimate prior to the close of registration.

21K or 41K: A niggling injury re-surfaced for me after I registered for the 41K distance. I knew to enjoy skiing and be safe, the 21K would be a smarter choice. S2S registration was very accommodating. Understandably, registration changes are not encouraged, but S2S made it possible and I appreciated it.

QUESTION: What about unknowns you had about the day of the event?

Marcy: Here are my top 5 questions, and how it all worked out!

How do I get to the event?  It was easy to drive over and get dropped off. Traffic flowed smoothly with no holdups. Buses organized by S2S were another excellent option from SilverStar and Vernon.

Will I get cold waiting for the event to start? Having never been to one of these events I didn’t know participants would be able to ski around the stadium area to warm up. The warm up ski and bag drop allowed me to stay nice and warm until the moment I lined up for my wave.

How will I know when my wave is going to line up? I didn’t own a watch and didn’t want to carry my phone. How would I know when to stop warming up and when to get in line? The event announcer did a great job of giving a count down at regular intervals. So, I didn’t need to worry about that.

How much water and other fuel will I need? This wasn’t an issue because I chose the 21K and didn’t even take any water with me. Also, aid stations are well-placed and have plenty of water, sport drinks, and snacks.

Will I be uncomfortable skiing in a crowd? Will it be uncomfortable to pass people if needed? This was perhaps my biggest worry as I like skiing at my own pace. I dislike having to change my pace to pass someone or feel like I’m getting in someone else’s way. It really only took a few kilometers before skiers began to spread out. Even when they weren’t spread out, there was lots of room on the trails, and a neat camaraderie between skiers. Everyone I came across was friendly, giving way when asked, and encouraging each other. Bottom line: I never felt uncomfortable or crowded by other skiers, and I was impressed with the trail etiquette and positive spirit out there.

What happens at the end of the race? Well, it’s a party! So, bring your friends! I didn’t realize there were awards given out for each 5-year age group. That’s something new I’ll attend this year. I think it’ll be neat to celebrate skiers of all ages.

Any tips you would add for first timers? Or any questions you would like answered? We’ll happily build on this resource and provide any other tools that can support a rewarding S2S experience for first timers, life timers, and anything in-between! 

Please send to info@sovereign2silverstar.com, with many thanks!