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Team Birch celebrates back-to-back Ski to Sea wins!
For the second year in a row, captain Jeff Hilburn has led Team Birch to another Ski to Sea victory. And no, despite the rumors, Birch did not hire Olympic athletes...although the rumor makes sense with such an incredible team and group of athletes! Jeff is a local Bellingham teacher who is well known in the paddling community for being an exceptional athlete, racer (and teacher)! Jeff and Birch Equipment's Sarah Rothenbuhler became friends as Jeff taught 5th grade to both Sarah's daughters.
Mr. Hilburn (kayaker, age 53), as he's fondly known around Birch, had taken some time off racing until he reached out and said it was time to put a winning team together. The team is comprised of of runner John Whelan (28, also a Bellingham resident), cross country skier Finn Redman (age 16, Kelowna BC), downhill skier Adam Loomis (31, Kamas, UT), cyclocross racer Jack Shuckra (age 21, Salt Lake City, UT), canoe team Glenn Bond and Bob Woodman (ages 49 and 60, Vernon BC), and road biker Matt Bailey (41, South Jordan UT).
Nope, not a typo, the age range of Team Birch is 16 to 60! Not only did they demonstrate incredible athleticism, they're just damn nice people. When a couple weeks before the race, John (runner) let the team know he was injured and wouldn't be as fast so they may want to find a replacement- the team let him know they'd all just work a little harder to make up the time. (John still came in with a pretty great time of just over 40 minutes, wow!)
Birch road biker, Matt, gained an incredible 7 minutes on his leg, our canoers Glenn and Bob and downhill skier Adam won the Top Gun Awards by being fastest overall in their legs. Cyclocross rider Jack was able to hand the baton off to Team Captain Mr. Hilburn with a 10 minute lead over the over the rest of the field. Hilburn navigated through waters so rough that the race was actually shut down later in the day before all the racers were finished.
Team Captain Jeff Hilburn rang the winning bell for Team Birch's second championship in a row, with a sub 6 hour finish! The team then went off to rehydrate & re carbo load ;) celebrating in Fairhaven and ending the evening at their secret local Team Birch Headquarters in Whatcom County.
We're incredibly proud of the team and the skill, determination and hard work that got them to first place...Again ;)!
Click here to see the Ski to Sea Race Overview!
Click here to see the 2023 Race Results!
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