SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Spokane Valley is testing its new cross-country course with its first major event this weekend. The city is preparing for a full launch next year.
The Spokane Valley City Council described this event as a “soft opening,” providing an opportunity to observe the course in action. This will allow the city to prepare for a full slate of events in 2026.
Spokane Valley City Councilmember Laura Padden expressed excitement about the event.
“It’s pretty exciting. This is the first event at our new cross-country course, and it’s the WCC Championships, men’s and women’s. And it’s just amazing to actually see it all come together and all the efforts come to fruition. And here we have this beautiful, beautiful course. It’s the best west of the Mississippi, and we’re very excited to see everything happen,” said Padden.
The course was constructed using lodging tax dollars and state grants. It was designed to attract visitors and sports tourism to Spokane Valley. Padden emphasized that the “soft opening” is helping the city address any issues before welcoming more competition and the community in 2026.
