Knight racing — locals slide fast, build bonds in Starlight Series

SANDPOINT — If you visited Schweitzer last month, you may have spotted skiers, snowboarders and ... a dragon?

Throughout February, more than 120 locals participated in Schweitzer’s medieval-themed Starlight Race Series — a four-week sequence of Friday night contests in which costumed alpine skiers, Telemark skiers and snowboarders compete and socialize on the slopes. 

According to Schweitzer events manager and Starlight organizer Austin Laiche, the annual series dates back at least to the late ’90s, when former events manager Gail Fendley suggested a recurring group function to drum up participation in Schweitzer’s new night skiing program. 

Every iteration of the event since has come with a unique theme. Last year, skiers and snowboarders donned Hawaiian shirts, life vests and sailor caps for “The Yacht Club,” a Jimmy Buffett-esque nautical concept. 

This year, “I wanted to go far from that and really switch it up,” Laiche said. After consulting coworkers, he landed on “The Knights Who Say Ski” — a play on the 1975 comedy film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and Arthurian folklore. 

According to Laiche, teams often coordinate their name with the annual theme. Quintets in this year’s competition included The Knights of Gnar and the Tele-tubby Templars (a team consisting exclusively of Telemark skiers). 

“People get pretty creative,” he said. 

While prizes are awarded each year to the winning team and fastest individuals in each category, most of the participants are there to take runs with their friends and enjoy post-race games at Taps Bar on the mountain. 

“It's a half-casual, half-serious thing,” Laiche said. 

Because the event takes place over the course of a month, almost all racers are locals. This year’s participants, Laiche said, represent every type of person you can find on the ski hill. 

“Our youngest is 21. Our oldest, I believe, is an 80-year-old snowboarder,” said Laiche. “We get all walks of life involved.” 

That generational overlap creates a distinct social environment that fosters unique connections. 

“If you go have a drink downtown, you might not see a 70-year-old chatting it up with a 22-year-old,” Laiche said. 

Going forward, Laiche said he’s primarily focused on sustaining what has become a beloved tradition and ensuring the event continues to offer residents an opportunity to build friendships and community. 

“Some people, they spend these four Fridays together, and that's how they get to see each other,” Laiche said. 

“To keep it going, and for everybody to have fun and hopefully connect with people they normally wouldn’t — that’s my main goal for it,” he added.

    More 120 local skiers and snowboarders dressed up, raced and socialized throughout the four-week medieval-themed series.