Glacier Glide Nordic Race

The Glacier Glide is Saturday January 4, 2025. It will look a bit different this year as we do not have snow at the Whitefish Golf Course, but we still want to host an event! Instead of a mass start, it will be an individual start.

Venue 2025: Big Mountain Nordic Trails at 3315 Big Mountain Road, Whitefish

Time: Between 9:30am -12:30pm 

We are working with the City and Legacy Partners to host this at the Big Mountain Nordic Trails this year! 

Details: Come when you can between 9:30am-12:30pm on Jan 4th to race! Individual start. Start/Finish on other side of bridge. Can do classic or skate, but the Viking Challenge results are only skate. We will separate skate and classic results for other races. Will have official timing by Competitive Timing and will post results at the end of the day, and be there with cheer, snacks, and race energy!

Please come between 9:30-11am if you are racing 10km or more. If you are able, come between 10:30-12pm if you are racing 4.1km.

Race options:

1x 4.1km loop (upper badger/east pika/lower badger) 
1x 4.8km loop (rollercoaster/easy pika/lower badger)
2x 4.8km loop (9.6km)
4x 4.8km loop (19.2 km) (Viking Challenge - First M & F Winner gets a free entry to the 2026 American Birkiebeiner!)
 
PLEASE CARPOOL. DO NOT PARK ON HIGHWAY. Overflow parking across the road at Holbrook Trailhead (first left turn after you pass the Big Mtn Trailhead).  We will run a shuttle van - look for the Ski Team Van. 

First male and female winner of the Viking Challenge gets a FREE ENTRY INTO THE 2026 AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER 50km!

There is no warming hut, so please dress accordingly. 

This race is a fluoro-free event. Read more about our Fluorocarbon Wax Policy.

This race is part of the new Montana Nordic Cup series.  Receive points for both races. 

No registration refunds for race cancellation due to lack of snow or weather.  

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2024 Info below, please disregard for 2025 race. 

The Glide has been held in Whitefish at the Glacier Nordic Center at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course since 1983. It is brought to you by the Glacier Nordic Club, a local non-profit. There will be both classic and skate races! The distance options for skate are 3.5km, and 10km, and the distance options for classic are 3.5km and 10km. We also have 1km cookie loop race for young kids.

If you race in BOTH 10kms (the Pursuit Viking Challenge) or BOTH 3.5km (Junior Pursuit Viking Challenge), then you can compete for top 3 prizes! Awards are based off of combined times of both events. Must be both 10kms for Viking Pursuit or both 3.5kms for Jr Pursuit. There will be age group awards for the individual races. 

First male and female winner of the Viking Pursuit Challenge gets a FREE ENTRY INTO THE 2026 AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER 50km!

There will also be a 1k freestyle option and a kids cookie race. Please see our website for detailed start times. The times for the 1k and cookie race are approximate. The cost is $5 for the 1k race, $15 for the 3.5k races, $25 for the 10k races, $25 for the Junior Pursuit Viking Challenge and $45 for the Pursuit Viking Challenge. All prices increase by $5 for same-day registration, and registration will close 30 minutes before each race. The cookie race is free with no registration. The price for all races includes a post-race lunch of chili and mac and cheese. This race is also part of the Montana Nordic Cup series. 

THIS IS A NON FLUORO RACE!

Please use appropriate poles for race aka Classic length poles for the Classic race. 

Events
1k freestyle race (classic or skate)
3.5k skate and classic races (Compete for combined time top 3 by doing both via the Junior Pursuit Viking Challenge!)
10k skate and classic races (Compete for combined time top 3 by doing both via the Pursuit Viking Challenge!)
Kids cookie scramble 

Schedule
REGISTRATION CLOSES 30 minutes before each race.
Lunch available starting at 11:45

RACE TIME
9:30 10k Classic
10:30 3.5k Classic
11:30 10k skate
12:30 3.5k Skate
12:40 Cookie Scramble
12:40 after scramble 1k Freestyle

Fees
Cookie scramble (7 & under): Free
1k (12 & under only): $5
3.5k races: $15
10k races: $25
Pursuit Viking Challenge (10k/10k) $45
Junior Pursuit Viking Challenge (3.5k/3.5k) $25

All prices increase by $5 for same-day registration

The Pursuit Viking Challenge is completing the 10k Classic and 10k Skate, and calculating the overall combined time for the top 3 winners. The Junior Pursuit Viking Challenge is completing the 3.5k classic and 3.5k skate. Please sign up for the Challenge if you are planning to complete both races. (Montana Cup Points will be given off of individual race times. If you sign up for either pursuit challenge, you will get points of off individual race times.)

Parking is behind the golf course or across the road.

No registration refunds for race cancellation due to lack of snow or weather.