Washington Ski Area's 'Legendary' Banked Slalom Cancelled

Since 1985, Mt. Baker has hosted the Annual Legendary Baker Banked Slalom, and the event is one of the "longest running and most respected gathering of snowboarders in the world," according to Jones Snowboards. 

Gwyn says, "as of Sunday, we were hopeful. We needed 3 things to happen: to not lose a lot more snow, the temps to cool down, and a good shot of snow this coming weekend to have enough for the race." 

"We were hopeful based on what forecasts we were seeing and all of that, that we had a good shot at that. However, things have shifted." 

In a recap of the past few days, Gwyn explains that the resort has lost 14 inches of snowbase, had 3 inches of rain, and the atmospheric river is slow moving, meaning the rain will stick around for awhile. 

While officials believed the rain was going to stop today, there is actually a couple inches still on the way.

On top of that, they are not seeing potential for new snow. 

The conditions are just not there, and while it pains everyone at Mt. Baker greatly, "El Nino has washed the legendary banked slalom into 2025." 

Watch highlights from the 2020 Legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom (the 34th one!) below. 

In the meantime, officials at the resort have been "seeing what's possible" but there are rocks, cracks in trails, and sliding snow everywhere.

"Things have not been in our favor this week." 

Luckily, Gwyn says there is a La Nina winter predicted for next winter, which is "the light at the end of the tunnel." 

In the past, when they have cancelled the banked slalom, the next season ends up being all time, with extra snow to make up for the winter before. 

Hopefully that means next winter will be extra snowy to make up for all of our struggles!