XC IMD Season Opener 2025
DATE
December 19-21, 2025
LOCATION
Lake Creek Ski Center, Ketchum (Map)
Official Event Wax Call will be made Tuesday, 12/16 at 10:00 a.m.
Events:
Friday 12/19—Classic Sprint, U12 – Sr classes
Saturday 12/20—Skate Mass Start Distance, U8 through Sr classes
- Open/U18/20 – 7.5km
- U16 – 5km
- U14 3km
- U12 2km
- U10 1km
- U8 1km
Sunday 12/21—Skate Relay 4x 5km or 4x 2.5km Mixed gender, U12 through Sr classes
Race Registration
Registration for all 3 days can be found at the Zone4 IMD opener page – link to come
Early entry deadline is Sunday, 12/14 at 10:00 p.m.
All competitors must have a current USSS license to participate in events
Team Leaders Registration https://forms.gle/aeK49MRiELHEotou9 —TL’s please complete this registration to receive event information and updates
Coach registration (in zone4 event registration)—All coaches must have a current US Ski & Snowboard Coach License. Coaches must wear an official USSS Coach’s Bib in order to access the field of play areas, including the stadium and all courses.
RELAY TEAM registration link: https://forms.gle/4AJ7Nmu6dFrzfjHt6 (DEADLINE: Saturday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m.)
Entry Fees:
Friday, 12/19 Classic Sprint
U16 and older classes – $45
U12/14 classes – $30
Saturday, 12/20
U16 and older classes – $45
U8-U14 classes – $30
Sunday, 12/21
U12 and older $30
Event Trail Fees
Training at Lake Creek is included in the competitor entry fee. Note that skiing elsewhere in the Wood River Valley requires purchase of a North Valley Trails Pass, available at Galena Lodge or BCRD.org for Non-Comp Days
Lake Creek Parking and Shuttle Details
The Lake Creek Venue Parking Lot does not have the capacity to meet the needs of all athletes, volunteers, and spectators. Only team vehicles and volunteers in possession of an issued parking pass will be afforded parking access to the Lake Creek Parking Lot on race days.
A Race Day Shuttle will operate from the HULEN MEADOWS LOT located ½ mile south of Lake Creek for all non permit vehicles, race volunteers and spectators. The Shuttle will operate from 7.00am to 1 hour after the conclusion of each race. If you have a wax trailer, please contact Kelley Yeates to determine a parking arrangement: [email protected]
Volunteer Opportunities
All volunteers please register using the button below – link to come
Volunteer questions? Please contact Daisy Fair, SVSEF XC Volunteer Coordinator, [email protected]
Race Contacts
Event Director
Kelley Yeates
[email protected]
Chief of Competition
Becky Flynn
[email protected]
Race Administrator
Susie Quesnel
[email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator
Daisy Fair
[email protected]
Competition Timing Services
Zone4 Race Timing
Start List & Results
START LISTS
links to come
RESULTS
links to come
Events Schedule
IMD SEASON OPENER 2025 SCHEDULE
Sunday, 12/14
Early Entry deadline 10:00pm
$10 late fee applied after this deadline
Tuesday, 12/16
Event wax call made and distributed to Team Leaders by 10:00 a.m.
10pm entry cutoff—no entries after this deadline.
Thursday, 12/18
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Courses open for inspection. Lake Creek Cross Country Center
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Race office open for check-in and parking permit pick-up
TBD: Team Leaders meeting
Friday, 12/19—Classic Sprint, U12 – Sr classes
9:30 a.m. Qualifier Start Open Class men through U16
15 min course open
TBD Qualifier Start Open Class Women through U16
10 min course open
TBD U14/U12 Qualifier
TBD short break
TBD U14/U12 Semi Finals – Finals
TBD Heat Rounds
– Open Men rounds of 50
– U16 Men rounds of 50
– Open Women rounds of 50
– U16 Women rounds of 50
Saturday, 12/20—Skate Mass Start Distance – order TBD
9:00 a.m. Start
2:30 p.m. USSS L1 Course
Sunday, 12/21—Skate Relay 4x 5km or 4x 2.5km Mixed Gender, U12 – Sr classes
9:00 a.m. 4x 5km U16 – Open classes Mass Start (FMFM)
10:30 a.m. 4x 2.5km U16 – U12 classes Mass Start (FMFM)
Course Maps & Policies
COURSE MAPS
Sprint map – link to come
2.5km Loop
U18/20 Open class Men and Women 7.5km (3 laps)
U16 Men and Women 5 km (2 laps)
U14 Men and Women 3km (1 lap)
U12 Men and Women 2km (1 lap shortened loop)
U10/U8 Men and Women 1km (1 lap sprint loop)
Sunday Relay
4x5km 2 laps (per leg)
4×2.5 km 1 lap (per leg)
STADIUM MAP
Friday Sprint – link to come
Saturday Mass Start – link to come
Sunday Relay – link to come
OFFICIAL WAXING POLICY
Please refer to the official Intermountain Division Wax Policy—https://www.intermountainxc.com/wax-policy
Official Glide wax call will be made and distributed by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 12/16.
Spectator Guidelines
Spectators we encourage you to come out to support skiers in the 2025 IMD Season Opener. We love spectators and we are grateful for your support and encouragement of the athletes. This section sets out the guidelines for spectators and some pro tips for best strategies to watch the races. The event web site includes a detailed schedule of events course maps and start lists for each day to help you plan your spectating strategy.
Guidelines:
- All parking is off site and involves a shuttle. The parking and shuttle plans are explained on the event website.
- Pro Tip: Allow extra time to account for parking and shuttle. It takes about 10 min to walk from the Lake Creek parking lot/bus drop off to the start and finish area.
- Spectators are not allowed to spectate on skis but must walk to all viewing areas.
- Pro Tip: Don’t bring skis to spectate–they only get in the way and again skiing on course is not allowed by anyone other than racers and credentialed coaches.
- Spectators are permitted to walk on the side of the trails to spectate but must keep well out of the way of skiers and avoid impacting the groomed part of the trail.Pro tip: Pay attention!!
- There will be course control volunteers on course. They are there to help ensure the safety of both spectators and skiers. Please thank them and follow all their instructions for spectating.
- There are a number of spectator control gates with course control monitors–please follow their instructions for crossing.
- There will be fencing at the bottom of hills or high traffic areas and spectators are required to stay behind the fence.
- In the stadium there are sections reserved for competitors, coaches and race officials only. Please respect these areas.
- No pets allowed please. Lake Creek Ski Trails are a No Dog Ski Area
Race Sponsors & Partners
Race Partners
Race Sponsors