On March 4 at 9am, cross country ski racers will gather to embark on the 36th annual Great Ski Race.

The Great Ski Race covers 30 kilometers beginning at the Tahoe Cross Country Center in Tahoe City to the Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee.

Race registration is available online. Prices go up Feb. 16.

The Great Ski Race is the main fundraising event for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, a nonprofit all volunteer organization. Team members, along with community supporters, organize the Great Ski Race, which continues to be one of the largest Nordic ski races west of the Mississippi. Race proceeds are used primarily to purchase equipment for the team and to support winter survival and avalanche education programs sponsored and conducted by the team.

The Great Ski Race has gone from 60 racers being manually timed in 1977, to more than 600 racers with electronic timing in 1985, to more than 800 racers in 2001. In 2005 all records were broken, with 1,109 registered racers, 1029 finishers, and the fastest men’s and women’s times to date. Registration fees: $55 before Feb. 15; $65 Feb. 16-March 3; $100 if registering on race day; and juniors 18 and under are $25. The entry fee buys a pre-race package, T-shirt, refreshments and a hot lunch at the finish, a chance to win numerous prizes, live music and dancing at the finish.