Let the Games Begin!

It's January, and the Gunnar Hagen classic ski race, the first Cabin Creek Nordic ski race of the season, is on the calendar! Sponsored and managed by Kongsberger Ski Club and open and welcoming to all skiers, as always, the race will be on Sunday, January 12.

If you're a racer, here is what you need to know:

*   classic technique only; race distances 30k, 10k (for para nordic), and 7.5k
*   registration through Webscorer is open now, on the KSC website (www.kongsbergers.org); early registration closes at 11:59 pm Pacific on January 9; late registration, with an extra $30 fee, closes at 11:59 pm Pacific on January 10; absolutely no day-of registration, nada, zero, zilch, so don't come crying to the race timers that the dog ate your registration

*   all the other details you need to know are on the KSC website

If you're not a racer, here is what you need to know:

*   the upper and lower parking lots will be jammed pack full from early on race morning to probably early to mid-afternoon, so that might be a fun day to check out other snow-parks

*   if you really really want to ski at Cabin Creek on that day, Amabilis will be available (not part of the race course), but you can expect a very full and busy stadium area, where you would have to weave your way around racers in progress to get there -- be careful!