Steamboat Pilot & Today

Time is running out for endurance athletes to save money on entry fees for this year's Steamboat Pentathlon.

The cost to enter the event, either as a team member or an individual, is $27 until 5 p.m. Feb. 23. After that, the cost will increase to $42 per athlete.

"It's a good opportunity for locals to save some money," said Christina Freeman, of the Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreational Services Department.

Freeman said more than 20 people already have taken advantage of the reduced rate to register for this year's pentathlon, which is slated to take place March 6 at Howelsen Hill.

The pentathlon combines downhill skiing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, mountain biking and running into a single competition.

Athletes can register as individuals and complete all five events by themselves or form teams of two to five people and share the tasks with teammates.

Again this year, individuals can choose between the standard course or the short course, and for the first time in the event's history, teams also will have that option.

"This is the first time that teams have been allowed to enter the short course," Freeman said. "They will have to compete in an open division, but it's a change from the way we've done it in the past."

The standard course includes 400 feet of downhill skiing, a 2.5-mile snowshoe, a 4.5-mile cross country ski, a 12-mile mountain bike and 5-mile run.

Individuals can compete in one of five age divisions ranging from 19-and-under to the 50-plus divisions. Team divisions for the standard course are male, female, coed, youth and "dynamic duo" for teams of two athletes.

The short course is comprised of the 400-foot vertical ski, a 1.5-mile snowshoe, a 2.25-mile cross country ski, a 7.4-mile mountain bike and a 2-mile run.

Short-course athletes can compete in the same individual categories as the standard course. However, teams will be limited to an open division.

Last year, more than 200 people took part in the multi-sport endurance event based at Howelsen Hill. Freeman said that number has been pretty consistent for several years.

--To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209

or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com