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TRANSCRIPT
AnchorAge, eAgle river, FAirbAnks, girdwood, homer, JuneAu, kenAi, mAt-su, sAlchA, sewArd, soldotnA, tAlkeetnA And vAldez
D e c e m b e r 2 015 , Vo l .17, N o . 3
rAcING:Never too old to Ski Your Age
11, 13
FAIrbANKS:Explore the Interior with NSCF tours
11
eAGle rIVer:Skiing to honor a friend, mentor
7
ANcHorAGe:Dedication, precipitation: Kincaid Park snowmaking
4
ANcHorAGe:Picture this: Amazing Nordic shots in NSAA Photo Contest
8
Anchorage . . . . . . . .2Eagle River . . . . . . . .7Fairbanks . . . . . . . . 10Girdwood . . . . . . . . 15Kachemak . . . . . . . 12Mat-Su . . . . . . . . . . 15Statewide . . . . . . . .7
Cole Deal’s iconic Turnagain Pass Nordic adventure photo scored first place in the Touring/Backcountry category in the 2015 NSAA Photo Contest.
2 December 2015
the AlAskA nordic skier
B O A R D M E M B E R S
PRESIDENTJeff Scott
VICE PRESIDENTSara Miller
SECRETARYElizabeth Arnold
TREASURERKarl Garber
MEMBERSKari SkinnerMike MillerJosh Niva
Joey CaterinichioDustin Shannon
OFFICE STAFFErin Beam, Business Manager
Tamra Kornfield, Program ManagerAmber Adams, Office Manager
OPERATIONS STAFFBen Powell, Director
Craig NormanBill BrionTom RossPeter Zug
Annette BrionMatthew PauliRicky Prince
C O M M I T T E E C H A I R S
ADULT SKI LESSONSRaye Ann Neustel
ALASKA SKI FOR WOMENFiona Peichel
ANCHORAGE CUP RACINGRaye Ann Neustel
Meg and Bob Stehn
BACKCOUNTRY TOURSPatti Phillips, Mary Vavrik, Karlene Leeper,
Ken DePalma
BIATHLONCo-chairs: Leslie Boughton and Mike Riesler
Eagle Eyes Coach: Tom Grenier
HIGH SCHOOL RACINGJohn Christopherson
HUTSCall NSAA office for reservations
JUMPINGKaren ComptonVivienne Murray
Mike Jokela, Coach
JUNIOR NORDICEric Egeland, Chair
LANDS COMMITTEEGordon Wetzel
MIDDLE SCHOOL RACINGDave Blanchet
RACE CHAIRMANTim Stone
SCHOLARSHIPSDan Rosenberg
SKI 4 KIDSAlice Knapp
SKI TRAINSean Bolender
TRAILSMike Miller
TOUR OF ANCHORAGERaye Ann Neustel
NSAA OFFICE HOURS10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
BOARD MEETINGSFourth Thursday of the month, 6:15 P.M. at BP Energy Center
or NSAA office. Open to all.
Anchorage Nordic SkierNewsletter Of The Nordic Skiing Association Of Anchorage, Inc.
203 W. 15th Ave., #204 Anchorage, Alaska, 99501Phone: 276-7609 Fax: 258-7609
Hotline: [email protected]
anchoragenordicski.com
This year’s NSAA annual meeting was a celebration of all the great people who make this club special. It is always difficult to recognize and thank everyone who contributes to the success of the many programs, events and work that NSAA manages. The annual meeting highlights many of the things we do and it was fun to recognize the leadership of our dedicated volunteers. There are hundreds of volunteers – all of them doing their part to make great things happen out on the snow.
NSAA’s board of directors and staff are extremely grateful for the volunteer army we get to work with. I was also honored to present Diane Moxness with a NSAA Lifetime Member Award. She has dedicated many years to NSAA, as executive director and volunteer, and continues to be a great supporter for the organization.
While NSAA already has many amazing volunteers, it seems there is always a need for more and there are many opportunities of all kinds for new volunteers. Join us in making NSAA and our Nordic community great. Take the first step by visiting anchoragenordicski.com/volunteer.htm.
NSAA has a dynamic group of folks working as volunteers on the board of directors and helping manage the organization. The annual meeting featured the election of two new board members: Joey Caterinichio
and Dustin Shannon. Joey has a long history of coaching and organizing in the Nordic ski community, with her latest venture being Nordic Director for USSA. Dustin is an active skier and is also on the board of the Anchorage Skijoring Club. We have put information about all of our great board members on the NSAA website. Get to know them at http://anchoragenordicski.com/board_bios.htm.
In other exciting news, natural and manmade snow has arrived before Thanksgiving! This season is starting out awesome. We have posted everything you need to know about snowmaking at http://anchoragenordicski.com/snowmaking.htm and there’s a fun article about snowmaking at Kincaid Park from one of our volunteers in this issue of the Nordic Skier. We are grateful to the talented staff and volunteers that make the system work. We are also investigating options to expand the system in the future.
Let’s hope the weather keeps cooperating and we get plenty of nature’s best snow! If not, NSAA will continue to make it if we have to and find a way to have fun on the trails in Anchorage. It does not matter if you are a classic or skate skier, recreationalist or racer, biathlete or jumper, into touring or volunteering – everyone is welcome at NSAA. Have a fun ski season – this could be the best season ever.
A special foundation of snow, skiers and supporters in our community
Message from NSAA President / Jeff Scott
BY NSAA OPERATIONSWe’ve said it before and we’re going
to say it again because it’s worth repeating – it’s all about the base. And no, we’re not talking about the song by Meghan Trainor (although it is fun to picture the groomers dancing around shaking their base). Instead, we’re talking about how a nice, smooth trail is the beginning of what could be a successful ski trail no matter how much or how little snow falls on its surface. Rocks, tree stumps, ruts and grooves create obstacles that can last the entire season if not removed, bladed or compacted prior to the first snow.
After the initial snowfall, the first step is to compact it so that it bonds to the trail. We frequently do this as gently as possible by “wheel packing” with our fleet of ‘80s vintage Honda three-wheelers. Riding these classic trikes not only brings back great memories, they also provide the light touch required for the bonding process. Two passes on the 3-wheeler equals a width of about four and a half feet of packed trail.
This gives us plenty of time to reminisce as we make multiple laps. By the time we’re finished, our hands are cramped and numb (no hand warmers), our bodies are stiff and the memories are no longer good.
If we had started this process with snowmobiles, we would run the risk of just wiping the new snow right off the trail, especially on the corners. However, if the first snow is a big dump, we’ll skip wheel packing and skip ahead 40-plus years and track pack with our 2014 Ski-Doo Skandic Super Wide Track snowmobiles.
When the snow has bonded to the ground and there is enough of it, we’ll bring out the snowmobiles and hook up compactions wings. A compaction wing is an implement that we design and build during the offseason and attaches to snowmobiles that have been heavily modified to accept it. We’ll stay on snowmobiles until the trail has either adequate depth or hardness to carry the snow cat. Bringing the Pisten Bullys out too early can be disastrous and break up the thin base by flipping it – putting dirt and rocks right on the top.
Around this time, some skiers start asking why we aren’t setting classic tracks. The simple answer is that there just isn’t enough quality base to support them without getting into dirt. When it snows a foot, it only compacts to around two inches of base. Our general rule is not to set track until we have 3-4 inches of consistent base, depending on the smoothness of the trail. That doesn’t mean we can’t set
track with snowmobiles. It means that we must have adequate base thickness and stability to set and restore tracks without compromising the cleanliness of our snow.
Typically, when we have enough of a base for tracks, we’ve moved to snow cats. After months of grooming while exposed to the elements, we always look forward to transitioning into the cabs of the Pisten Bullys. The quality and quantity of our grooming more than doubles and the cats are by far the most cost-effective and efficient way to groom. Not to mention they’re warm, comfortable and equipped with a radio and cup holder – a luxurious step up from the three-wheeler.
NSAA’s Operations team’s investment in trail work will pay off in the more skiable days on cleaner snow. Although our focus is on making world-class ski trails, the work we do maintains the trails for all users year-round. With so much division in our world today, it’s reassuring when everyone can come together as a community to appreciate and support our trails in every season.
Find up-to-date grooming activities and trail conditions at the NSAA Trail Grooming Blog at: nsaatrailgrooming.blogspot.com
All about that base
the AlAskA nordic skier
December 2015 3
EDITORJosh Niva
LAYOUTKevin Powell
AD REPRESENTATIVEChristina Cober
LOCAL EDITORS
ANCHORAGE
Josh [email protected]
EAGLE RIVER
FAIRBANKS
Eric [email protected]
HOMER
Marylou Burton
JUNEAU
Mark [email protected]
MAT-SU
SALCHA
SEWARD
Julie [email protected]
SOLDOTNA
Penny McClain262-6257
TALKEETNA
Chris Mannix733-2427
The Alaska Nordic Skieris printed by Alaska Dispatch News
Commercial Printing
The Alaska Nordic Skier is a publication representing the nordic
ski clubs of Anchorage, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau,
Mat-Su, Salcha, Seward, Soldotna, Kenai, Talkeetna and Valdez. The Alaska Nordic Skier is published
October through April by the Nordic Skiing Association
of Anchorage, Inc.
All rights reserved. © 2015 Articles, letters and advertisements
are welcome. Please ensure all names are correct and information is accurate. Submissions may be edited
for clarity, content and space limitations. Deadline is the 15th day
of the prior month. E-mail [email protected].
the AlAskAn o r d i c s k i e r
A N C H O R A G E
Solstice Tour of Trees – A new Nordic tradition
arrives on December 20NSAA will host a fun, new, family-
friend event called the Solstice Tour of Trees from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, December 20, at Kincaid Park. Bring your family and friends out to celebrate winter with a night of skiing! This free and fun event is for skiers of all ages and abilities. Enjoy a short ski on the trails, view some beautifully decorated trees, and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee and treats with your family and friends.
ConocoPhillips Besh Cup series begins in Anchorage
on December 19-20The ConocoPhillips Besh Cup
series races are a great way for skiers of all ages to race and watch some of Alaska’s skiers. The first races in the series begin in Anchorage on Saturday-Sunday, December 19-20, at Kincaid Park. Learn more about the races and register to participate at www.crosscountryalaska.org.
Besh Cup Anchorage viewing tip: Sprint racing is exciting! Be sure to come out Saturday, December 19, to watch the sprints. Heats will begin around midday and go until the late afternoon.
Save the date for a special Alaska Ski
for Women celebrationSave the date for a big-time party:
the 20th installment of Alaska Ski for Women, Sunday, February 7.
Join in the fun at the colorful Alaska Ski for Women (ASFW) – North America’s largest women-only cross-country ski event. This is a great event where women of all ages and abilities come out to Nordic ski approximately 2.4 miles (4K), many in colorful costumes, while raising funds for local non-profit organizations that help stop the cycle of domestic abuse against women and children.
This is not only a fun event, it’s also a fundraising event! Through the generous donations of ASFW participants, and the hard work of our all-volunteer committee, the race has been able to make an impact in the community by contributing over $1,000,000 to groups that actively work to improve women’s lives. A special focus is ending the cycle of violence against women and their families and to help women in crisis find positive solutions to a healthier life.
Please continue to give generously with the assurance that 100 percent of your donation is dedicated to improving the lives of women.
Register and learn more at www.anchoragenordicski.com/ski_for_women.htm.
Get giddy with the kiddies at Ski 4 Kids on March 5Ski 4 Kids Day is a fun winter
day full of events for children aged 0-14. This year’s event is scheduled for noon-4 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Kincaid Park. Activities include an obstacle course, a lemon drop slingshot biathlon, an opportunity to try snowshoeing and orienteering, a 1K storybook trail and a 3K timed or untimed race. But fun on skis is the goal of the day!
Ski 4 Kids is a Healthy Futures event. There is no set participant fee for Ski 4 Kids; just a donation of your choice. Net proceeds from the event directly benefit the Anchorage Parks and Recreation’s Ski Outreach Program and a NSAA grant program that provides ski equipment to schools and youth organizations. Register your kids and learn more at www.anchoragenordicski.com/ski4kids.html.
Can you help as a volunteer? Contact Alice Knapp at [email protected] or 301-9915.
Tour of Anchorage early registration deadline
closes on December 31The 2016 Tour of Anchorage arrives
on Sunday, March 6. Registration is currently underway at www.tourofanchorage.com. Save money and hassle by registering by the early deadline of December 31.
AMH Anchorage Cup 2015-2016
Get those Nordic skis waxed and ready to go! Here is the lineup for this season’s AMH Anchorage Cup Races. As always, all races start at noon. November 29, 2015 : Wooden Ski Classic, wool, Nordic sweaters, bamboo poles and wooden skis, Russian Jack ChaletDecember 6, 2015 : Sprint Relay, 1k x 2 laps per person, arrive early if you need a teammate, kids race, Kincaid ParkDecember 13, 2015 : Hickok Duathlon, Kids race, 7.5k or 15k, Service High SchoolJanuary 31, 2016 : Pia’s Classic, kids race, 5k, 15k, 30k, Kincaid ParkFebruary 21, 2016 : Sven Johansson, Kids race, 10k, 30k, Kincaid ParkMarc 13, 2016 : Phat and Freestyle
Duathlon, 10k fat tire bike + 10k freestyle ski, Biathlon Building at Kincaid Park
Register and learn more at: anchoragenordicski.com/amh_anchorage_cup.html
High school, middle school Nordic racing
seasons arrivesHigh school skiers and coaches
are excited to begin the new season on snow. High school team numbers continue to increase every year with more than 500 skiers beginning this season. The first race of the season, the Service Snowball Skate, will be held on Saturday, December 5, at Service High School.
New development for this season: Region IV coaches have agreed and requested that all flouro waxes be banned for all races except for regional and state championships. This means only CH waxes will be used at Region IV races. This is great news for coaches’ health and ski team budgets.
Middle school skiers will begin their season on January 8, 2016. The first race of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, at Kincaid Park.
Nordic ski instructors needed!
Interested in being a Nordic ski instructor? NSAA would love anyone who wants to lend their enthusiasm and skill to a new skier by teaching for the NSAA Ski School. There are training opportunities, both skate and classic lessons, and the opportunity to create new skiers
A R O U N D
T H E B O W L
See AROUND THE BOWL, Page 6
Ski 4 Kids
PHOTO BY LORETTA MUMFORD
4 December 2015
the AlAskA nordic skier
A N C H O R A G E
What do three retired fellows do when there are cold temps, water and fans, plus great trails? Well they volunteer to make snow at Kincaid Park. What with a state-of-the-art system, tremendous NSAA Operations staff and a willingness to tinker with machines, they venture out in the early morning to make a plan for the day.
Machines being machines, there is sometimes some trial and error on all counts –machines and volunteer – but lugging firehoses, equipment for the machines (filters, propane torches and headlamps) we head out.
At 20 degrees or colder it is optimal to make snow at 50 gallons a minute, but it all has to jive together. Two or more of us are in the field while another volunteer technician stays in the warmth of the Nordic bunker manning the computer system that runs the whole thing. When it all comes
together, using radios for communication, it begins. The larger cannons have a very loud compressor and turbine system, lights tell us the machines are “talking” to the computer, push a button and water flows through the firehose, ice particles are produced and snow begins. Well not always – filters get plugged and the machine turns off as a safety factor or the pump in the manhole needs to be prompted or out comes a small screwdriver to fiddle with some of the electronics. Fiddle is a highly technical term from the manufacturer’s mouth.
When all the stars align and the planets are in sync, snow is producing at a grand rate. All in all it makes for a worthwhile day or evening to see an 8-foot pile of snow waiting for the snow cats to disperse where needed. Plus it keeps the retired volunteers off the streets.
Those flakes do not come from heaven and it takes lots of electricity to drive the snowmaking
machines and pumps. Please think about donating to NSAA to keep those flakes falling when the clouds do not bring them.
Special thanks to our volunteers for this stage of snow making—Tim Brabets, Jack Porter and Steve Beardsley.
Snowmaking 101 – day and night
PHOTOS BY STEVE BEARDSLEY
the AlAskA nordic skier
December 2015 5A N C H O R A G E
Anchorage’s outdoor and Nordic skiing communities came together in early November to officially kickoff the Nordic skiing season at the NSAA Annual Meeting and Ski Swap. This year’s event had many changed, but one in particular was most popular: fresh snow on the ground! There was a buzz in the air as NSAA supporters perused the Ski Swap bargains, the Winter Activities Expo opportunities and the silent auction packages. If you missed it, plan on attending next year!
NSAA recognizes that the organization would not be what it is today without the volunteers, so this year the focus highlighted the people behind all the programs and events.
NSAA program directors and committee leaders were honored that night for their commitment to NSAA, as were top donors: Trail Meisters. This level of support is greatly appreciated and considered an investment in what NSAA does each season. Ellen Toll’s quilting club was also highlighted for donating 11 beautiful quilts as raffle prizes.
Huge thanks to the many volunteers that contributed time and effort in making this year’s event so memorable: Alden Worachek; Alec Cervenka; Alejandra Legate; Alena Bolender; Alex Murray; Alice Michaelson; Alice Pausback; Anne Stone; Anton Clark; Ben Loeffler;
Ben Pausback; Bo York; Bob Butera; Bonnie York; Bruce Talbot; Carol Anne Wolfe; Celia Rozen; Chris Zafen; Cole Talbot; Connie Service; Dave Stamp; Deb Green; Diane Ramey; Elena Hinds; Elizabeth Knapp; Emily Lucy; Jack Porter; Jamie Haines; Jim Burkholder; Jim Wolfe; Julie Truskowski; June Takagi; Kari Skinner; Kellen Beam; Layla Beam; Leah Legate; Lex Treinen; Liam Brion; Libby Kugel; Lin Hinderman; Liz Butera; Louke Ellenbroek; Marcia Bandy; Martha Service; Marti Pausback; Matt and Rebecca Pauli; Meredith Johnson; Nathaniel Betz; Pam Wallace; Peter Johnson; Peter Zug; Sally Burkholder; Sam Sterling; Sara Miller; Sean Bolender; Shannon Brion; The Bleeker Family;
Tim Stone; Tina Thompson; Tom Hoosier; Tom York; Vance Johnson; Zak Hammill.
NSAA celebrates a new season, snow and you!
PHOTOS BY WILLIE DALTON
6 December 2015
the AlAskA nordic skier
A N C H O R A G E
in the community and inspire new NSAA members! Come on out and give it a try – sharing the gift of skiing with someone can be very fun and rewarding.
For more information contact Ski School Director Raye Ann Neustel at [email protected] or (907) 947-1590.
NSAA Backcountry ToursWelcome to the 2015-2016 schedule
of NSAA backcountry Alaska ski tours. Here are some upcoming touring events. See the entire schedule at anchoragenordicski.com/tours.htm and call the tours hotline at (907) 248-6667 ext. 4 or the respective tour leader for more information.
December 20: Solstice Ski – Middle Fork Campbell Creek, Chugach State Park
Celebrate Winter Solstice and the return of daylight by enjoying a great ski on the Middle Fork of Campbell Creek in Chugach State Park. The loop is nine miles and has just two steep sections, which can be skied or walked depending on conditions. Meet at the Prospect Heights trailhead at 9 a.m. Tour leader: Mary Vavrik, (907) 306-7686.
January 9, 2016: Gold Mint Trail tour
Depart from the Gold Mint trailhead, near Hatcher Pass. Travel under the rugged and beautiful peaks of the Little Susitna Valley. We intend on skiing about five miles up valley (10 miles roundtrip). The trail is relatively steady with just a few fast downhills. Because the weather is often variable, bring clothing for wind, cold and snow. A State Parks season pass or day parking pass is required at the trailhead. Tour leader: Patti Phillips, (907) 240-3742.
January 22, 2016: Full Moon Ski – Glen Alps
Depart from the Chugach State Park Glen Alps trailhead, ski up Powerline trail to the German Bridge. Travel time is 2-3 hours depending on how many breaks we take. Because the weather is often variable, bring clothing for wind, cold and snow. A State Parks season pass decal or parking pass is required at the trailhead. Tour leader: Karlene Leeper, (907) 440-0049.
February 28-March 6, 2016: Denali National Park
Trip of a lifetime! Ski tour through Denali National Park starting at the Savage River Trailhead and ending at Kantishna with a fly-out back to the road system. Dog sled support will carry gear. We will ski with day packs and stay in the historic Park Service patrol cabins. Mileage varies between 7 and 17 miles per day, but most days are about 12 miles. Dog sled support provided by a musher with nearly 35 years of dog trips in and around the park. It’s a great trip, but there is one very long ski day (17 miles) and weather can be a significant issue. Cost is about $1,800 plus air charter out
of Kantishna for about $150. There is room for four people. If we have significant interest, we can get a second trip March 13-20 in which we would fly into Kantishna and ski out of the park to the Savage River Trailhead. If you have any interest in attending, contact Bob Sutherland at (509) 429-1082 or [email protected].
Upcoming NSAA eventsSaturday, December 5: ASD High School Freestyle Snowball Race, Service HighSunday, December 6: AMH Anchorage Cup – Sprint, Kincaid ParkSunday, December 6: Biathlon Race #1 Friday, December 11: ASD High School Lynx Loppet, Kincaid ParkSaturday, December 12: ASD High School Lynx Loppet, Kincaid ParkSunday, December 13: AMH Anchorage Cup - Hickok Duathlon, Service High Sunday, December 13: Biathlon Race #2 Thursday, December 17: Biathlon Race #3 Saturday, December 19: Besh Cup #1, Kincaid ParkSunday, December 20: Besh Cup #2, Kincaid ParkSunday, December 20: NSAA Backcountry Tour: Solstice Ski
Sunday, December 20: Solstice Tour of Trees, Kincaid ParkWednesday, December 23: UAA Friends & Family Relay, Kincaid ParkSaturday-Sunday, December 26-27: Icicle Double Mat-Su Ski Saturday-Thursday, December 26-31: World Junior Trails Biathlon, Kincaid ParkJANUARY 2016Saturday, January 2: Mike Hansen Memorial Race, Chugiak Saturday, January 2: Last day of
NSAA Junior Nordic Session 1Sunday, January 3: Speedskate/Skate Ski DuathlonSaturday, January 9: NSAA Junior Nordic Session 2 equipment pickupSaturday, January 9: ASD High School West Relay, Bartlett HighSaturday, January 9: NSAA Backcountry Tour: Gold Mint TourSunday, January 10: Biathlon Race #4Monday, January 11: ASD Middle School practices beginMonday, January 11: NSAA Junior Nordic Session 2 beginsSaturday, January 16: ASD High School Chugiak Stampede, Chugiak/Beach LakeSunday, January 17: AMH Anchorage Cup - Chugiak Flyer, Chugiak/Beach LakeFriday, January 22: NSAA Backcountry Tour: Full Moon Ski, Glen AlpsSaturday-Sunday, January 23-24: AWG biathlon trialsSaturday, January 23: Besh Cup 3, HomerSunday, January 24: Besh Cup 4, HomerSaturday, January 30: ASD High School Skiathlon, Kincaid ParkSunday, January 31: AMH Anchorage Cup - Pia’s Classic, Kincaid Park
See more upcoming NSAA events at: anchoragenordicski.com/calendar.htm
AROUND THE BOWLContinued from Page 3
anchoragenordicski.com
AMHaLaSKa MoUnTaInEERInG & HIKInG
ALASKA’S NORDIC SKIING CENTER
2633 SPEnaRd
Road
272-1811
Web site: www.alaskamountaineering.comE-mail: [email protected]
Sally Hokanson skiing in the Chugachmountains. Photo by Ryan Hokanson
Christmas is Coming!AMH Has all of the Racing,
Touring & Backcountry ski gear youwill need for Alaska’s World class
XC racing trails, touring and mountain terrain. Come on in and
check it out with Paul and his crew!
AMH
PHOTO BY CHARLIE RENFRO
Besh Cup
the AlAskA nordic skier
December 2015 7
BY LAURI BASSETTLong before the ConocoPhillips
Besh Cup racing begins, CCAK begins the preparations for Team Alaska. This season there are two Team Alaska groups: one for Arctic Winter Games (AWG) and one for USSA Junior Nationals Championships (JN).
Often times Team Alaska can travel by bus to AWG destinations; that’s not the case this year. In early March, the team of 24 athletes and three coaches will take a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and then will hop over to Nuuk, their home for the week. The JN Team Alaska skiers will head to Cable, Wisconsin, the home of the American Birkebeiner, for their races. Each of these trips require, food, lodging and transportation research and preparation.
These teams also require the
process of selecting great coaches. Alaska is fortunate to have a deep pool of coaches from which to choose, many of whom have traveled to AWG and JN as athletes.
Take, for instance, first year AWG Team Alaska coach, Galen Johnston. As a skier from Talkeetna, Johnston participated in Besh Cup races often seeking for a position on Team Alaska. Johnston participated in the 2002 and 2004 games in Alberta and Soldotna. He is now very excited to be heading to Greenland as a Team Alaska coach. Additionally, Adam Verrier is on the coaching staff and Davya Flaharty is the team’s head coach. Verrier is involved with the UAA ski team – both Nordic and the alpine – and Flaharty has coached the past two AWG teams.
The AWG team of 24 skiers is open to U14, U16 and U18 athletes: four boys and four girls in each age group. Congratulations to U16 skier Mallory Conger, the 2015 champion of the Western Interior Ski Association of Alaska. She fills the first position on the 2016 AWG Team Alaska. The remaining three U16 slots will be
filled based on final ConocoPhillips Besh Cup Race Series results.
The JN coaches selected to lead Team Alaska are a mix of the usual suspects and first-timers. Ja Dorris and Pete Leonard once again share the responsibilities of head coach and trip leader. Assisting them are Kenny Brewer, Jan Buron, Mikey Evans, Brandon Fontana, Erick Klaar, Rebecca Konieczny, Anson Moxness, Cody Priest, Sam Sterling, Eric Strabel and Stan Carrick. There are many years of JN experience as coaches and athletes in this group. Several are past Team Alaska athletes who are now coaching with Team Alaska coaches who once coached them. It is wonderful to see many of our athletes giving back to the sport as coaches and volunteers. Congratulations to all of coaches selected and thank you to all who applied to coach one of the Team Alaska groups.
The JN team consists of 42 skiers who qualify through participation in the ConocoPhillips Besh Cup race series. Alaska skiers have other opportunities on a national level to
qualify for Team Alaska. A group of Alaska skiers are attending the Senior Nationals Championships hoping to make either the World Junior Team, the U18 Nations Cup team (formerly known as the Scando team), or finish the championships ranked in the top 20 of the World Cup points list. Biathletes who earn a position on the Junior World Championships Biathlon Team are also eligible for Team Alaska.
Besh Cups 1 and 2 are scheduled to take place at Kincaid Park on December 19-20. Online registration closes December 16. Race day registration with late fee is 8-9 a.m. for Saturday’s race and 9-10 a.m. for Sunday’s race. You’ll need a current USSA number to sign up or you can purchase a one-day license if you are just racing one race this season. See the CCAK website at www.crosscountryalaska.org for information on USSA licenses. If any changes are to be made to any weekend of Besh Cup racing, they will be posted on the website as well as the CCAK Facebook page. See you at the races!
BY ANR COACHING STAFFPrior to 1994, there were no
year-round training opportunities for youth skiers in the Chugiak-Eagle River area. Ja Dorris and Joey Caterinichio, co-coaches of the Chugiak High School ski team, developed a junior training program for local athletes who wanted to focus on Nordic skiing competition. Some of the first skiers to participate in the Eagle River Nordic Training Center (ERNTC) were Evan Corral, Gus and Nina Caterinichio, Monica and Lisa Dale, to name a few.
In 2000, ERNTC expanded its scope of services and coaching staff, and subsequently changed the name to Alaska Nordic Racing (ANR). The ANR Junior Ski Program offers racer development and support for middle
school, high school and college-aged cross country ski competitors. ANR athletes are provided with year-round training programs specifically tailored to their goals and abilities, preparing skiers for school races, Besh Cups, Arctic Winter Games, and Junior/Senior Nationals.
Today the ANR Junior Ski Program numbers 20-24 middle school and 55-60 high school/college skiers. Training groups are located in Soldotna, the Mat-Su Valley and the Chugiak-Eagle River area. The middle school program extends from early June to December, while the high school training groups typically run from May to November. Camps are held in summer and winter, and full Besh Cup race support is offered during the competition season.
For more information on the ANR Junior Ski Program, visit alaskanordicracing.org, on Facebook, or email at [email protected].
Eagle River Nordic Ski ClubEagle River, Alaska
P.O. Box 770117, Eagle River, Alaska 99577Club hotline: 689-7660
Junior nordic hotline: 689-7661cernsc .wildapricot .org
B O A R D M E M B E R S
PRESIDENTJason Dennis
VICE PRESIDENTSteve Wilson
SECRETARYAllison Erickson
TREASURERBob Stehn
RACINGMike Beiergrohslein
JUNIOR NORDICWill Taygan
TRAILSJim Kaszuba
[email protected] Annette Brion
[email protected] Bailey
Young Eagle River skiers can now improve year-round
BY ANNIE CONNELLYSometimes, if we are lucky, our lives are
blessed with the presence of someone truly special. For me, and for many others, Mike Hansen was a special person. He was a mentor for many; a teacher, a coach and a friend.
To me, Mike was a game-changer. He taught me how to be confident, and through him I made new friends and discovered my love of skiing. Two years ago Mike committed suicide. In light of suicide awareness, we now host a race that demonstrates the importance of each individual.
I never told Mike how much his life meant to me, so this race is my thanks to him.
On January 2, 2016, we will be gathering at the Beach Lake Chalet to celebrate! The Mike Hansen Memorial Ski will be held at 11 a.m., with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 10:55. The race will begin with the untimed wave at 11:05. Race registration is at cernsc.wildapricot.org/event-2021746; there will also be registration/donations accepted at the race.
Honoring a friend and mentor with a race – The 2016 Mike Hansen Memorial Ski
Team Alaska skiers and coaches represent the state around the nation, world
S T A T E W I D E
8 December 2015
the AlASKA nordic skier
A N C H O R A G E
Last winter, Leah Vanden Busch captured an image she described as “Bluebird Day at Portage Glacier.” This fall, Vanden Busch and her photo captured the attention of judges in the 2015 Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA) Photography Contest, as well, who named Vanden Busch’s shot the Best of Show in the annual competition.
Vanden Busch’s winning shot was among the nearly 200 entries in this year’s edition of the annual competition. The top photos were unveiled at the recent NSAA Annual Meeting in Anchorage.
For taking the top prize, Vanden Busch earned a $50 gift card from Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking (AMH). Winners in each of the eight categories earned $35 gift cards from AMH; second-place entrants received $25 AMH gift cards; third-place entrants received $15 AMH gift cards. NSAA, the Anchorage Nordic ski community and contest photographers thank Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking for providing the prizes.
NSAA also thanks judges Will Dalton and Peter Luchsinger for their time, as well as contest coordinator Amber Adams for her efforts behind the scenes; NSAA office staff Erin Beam and
RECREATIONAL/CASUAL SKIING, SECOND PLACE – Melanie SagoonickThis Nordic skier strikes a perfect pose.
BEST IN SHOW - LEAH VANDEN BUSCHLeah Vanden Busch’s photo capturing what she describes as “a bluebird day at Portage Glacier” won Best in Show honors in the 2015 Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Photography Contest.
Picture Perfect
The best of Alaska’s Nordic skiing adventures captured in NSAA Photography Contest
the AlASKA nordic skier
December 2015 9A N C H O R A G E
Tamra Kornfield for their assistance in proofing and editing; and Justin Ritter and Brian Looney of CRW Engineering Group, LLC for their graphic design and technical assistance.
NSAA selected photographs from the contest for its 2015-16 calendar, which is on sale now around the Anchorage area and online. Calendars are $10 at the NSAA office, AMH, Skinny Raven, Kaladi Coffee Shops and Barney’s Sports Chalet. You can also purchase the calendar for $12 on the NSAA website at anchoragenordicski.com/nsaa_calendar.htm or by emailing [email protected] .
Here are complete results from the 2015 NSAA Photography Contest:
Best in Show: Leah Vanden Busch, “Bluebird Day at Portage Glacier”
Racing – 1: Loretta Mumford; 2: Barry Johnson; 3: Barry Johnson. Touring/Backcountry – 1: Cole Deal; 2: Cole Deal; 3: Bob Baker. Kids on Skis – 1: Jack Consenstein, 2: Melanie Sagoonick, 3: Jack Consenstein. Grooming/Groomed Trails – 1: Jack Consenstein; 2: Dave Ward; 3: Elizabeth Knapp. Biathlon – 1: Melanie Sagoonick; 2: Loretta Mumford; 3: Melanie Sagoonick. Fun Ski Events – 1: Elizabeth Knapp; 2: Daniel Consenstein; 3: Sierra Winegarner. Recreational/Casual Skiing – 1: Leah Vanden Busch; 2: Melanie Sagoonick ; 3: Leah Vanden Busch.
FUN SKI EVENTS, THIRD PLACE – Sierra WinegarnerWho said mermaids only live in the water?
RECREATIONAL/CASUAL SKIING, THIRD PLACE – Leah Vanden BuschWho loves crust skiing at Portage Glacier? We do!
RACING, FIRST PLACE – Loretta MumfordCheck out the form and focus on this Besh Cup skier.
KIDS ON SKIS, FIRST PLACE – Jack ConsensteinYoung skiers shuffle back to class after a fun break on the trails.
10 December 2015
the AlAskA nordic skier
F A I R B A N K S
S K I I N G U N D E R T H E N O R T H E R N L I G H T S
Who’s Who in the Nordic Ski Club
of FairbanksJ U N I O R N O R D I C H O T L I N E
457-4437
W E B S I T E W E B M A S T E RChris Carlson
P R E S I D E N T Bruce Jamieson
S E C R E T A R YLiz Pawelko
T R E A S U R E RMike Donaldson
A T - L A R G E M E M B E R [email protected]
Pat ReinhardSteven Hansen
Dave BloomRobert HannonHelena Reuter
Eric Troyer
A D U L T L E S S O N S C O O R D I N A T O RKathy Bue
[email protected] | 371-9543
F A I R B A N K S J U N I O R N O R D I C SSally Endestad
[email protected] | 371-9564
F A I R B A N K S C R O S S C O U N T R YPete Leonard
Head Coach, Program [email protected]
R A C E P R O G R A M D I R E C T O RJohn Estle
M E M B E R S H I [email protected]
B I A T H L O NHelena Reuter | [email protected]
T O U R I N GMike Schmoker | msfbcski@gmail
Cam Leonard | [email protected]
N E W S L E T T E R E D I T O REric Troyer | [email protected]
Nordic Ski Club of FairbanksFairbanks, Alaska
P.O. Box 80111, Fairbanks, AK 99708-0111Competition Office: 907-474-4242
Competition Fax: 907-474-2073Racing Hotline: 907-457-4434
nscfairbanks.org
AROUND THE INTERIORThe Alaska Nordic Skier – delivered how you like it!
Get your Alaska Nordic Skier online and the links below are just a click away. To get only a PDF version, or both a PDF and printed version, please send an email request to [email protected]. You can also get PDF versions at www.anchoragenordicski.com/newsletters.htm. Receiving the newsletter online saves our club money, too!
Beyond BirchBirch Hill is an incredible trail system for cross-country
skiing, but there are many other places to ski in the Fairbanks area. The Skarland Trail has been the focus of a recent controversy regarding whether it should be left as minimal track through the woods or whether it should be a bench-cut trail along hillsides (see story this issue). Go see for yourself and make your own decision: https://pearlcreeknordicpark.wordpress.com/.
How to … climb hills!Are the hills just killing you at the beginning of the
season? Here are some tricks and techniques for tackling the uphills.
Quick and Dirty Double Pole Trick For Climbing Hills: tinyurl.com/onrcrlj
The 4 Elements Of Uphill Skate Skiing You MUST Master!: tinyurl.com/o3m8zdy
NSCF calendarSeveral club and ski-related activities are coming in the
next few weeks. All are held at Birch Hill Recreation Area unless otherwise specified. Check out the NSCF online calendar for more details and updates (nscfairbanks.org > Calendar). Here’s a sampling of things to come: Saturday, December 5: Kinross Fort Knox Town Series Race #2Saturday, December 12: Buetow Dental Distance Series #1 Sunday, December 13: Candy Cane RompSaturday, December 26: Ski Your Age in KilometersWednesday, December 30: Wednesday Night Race #3Saturday, January 9: Buetow Dental Distance Series #2
Help NSCF by going shoppingYou can earn donations for the Nordic Ski Club of
Fairbanks by just shopping at Fred Meyer with your Rewards Card. Fred Meyer will donate $2.5 million to nonprofits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington annually through this program.
Find out how to help at: tinyurl.com/npmcles
BY ERIC TROYERBack-to-back September
snowstorms had NSCF trail groomers and borough employees scrambling this fall. More than 15 inches of wet, heavy snow blanketed the Fairbanks area in late September, including one 24-hour period with more than 11 inches, a new official record, though some areas got even more. Trees came down all over, leaving thousands without power. Schools were closed and driving conditions were horrible.
Birch Hill Recreation Area didn’t escape unscathed.
“There was so much snow on the parking lot that we had to bring a large front-loader to dump the snow over the side of the parking fences,” said Lee Williams, Birch Hill facility manager. “And then amazingly most of those large piles melted away.”
Power outages also hit Birch Hill, leaving the facilities without power for four days.
“Fairbanks North Star Borough maintenance staff had to bring generators up to heat the buildings in order to prevent damage to the water
systems,” Williams said.Skiers usually love snow, but
changing conditions made this snowfall hard to predict, said Tom Helmers, the lead groomer.
“We did not do any grooming for the first snow, because I felt it was all going to melt,” Helmers said. “We used the PistenBully on the second
snowfall for the first two days. On the third, conditions changed and it started to melt, so I did not use it after that.”
The snow also caused many trees to come down across trails and powerlines.
“We removed somewhere between 200 to 300 trees obstructing the
September snowfall
keeps NSCF groomers, Borough
employees busy
trails,” said Helmers. “Weakened trees are still coming down from the weight of fresh snow.”
Even after cleaning up all the trees, groomers had to close some sections of trail because of leaning poles and sagging or downed powerlines. The falling trees “damaged three electrical lines to trail light fixtures, as well as breaking one fixture off of its pole,” Williams said.
Work on repairing the trails continued into November. Helmers assisted a crew from Doyon, Limited, to repair a leaning light pole on a section of the White Bear Trail below the biathlon range. The White Bear is on Fort Wainwright land and Doyon has the contract for maintaining the lights on that trail.
As this article is being written lights are still out on some of the trails. The FNSB is responsible for the ski trail lights in Birch Hill Recreation Area, not on Fort Wainwright land. The borough was estimating that power would be back on by the end of November.
PHOTOS BY TOM HELMERS
A photo shot from the PistenBully. There’s a trail down there somewhere!
the AlAskA nordic skier
December 2015 11
BY ERIC TROYERRecent changes to the Skarland
Ski Trail have been met with mixed feelings.
Last April, club member Stan Justice and other volunteers started an effort to move a portion of the historic trail into its easement and create a sustainable, bench-cut trail on side slopes. Letters were mailed to adjacent landowners and notices posted on the trail, on social media sites, and on listserves. Moving the trail into its easement has generally been well received, but not everyone is happy about the creation of a bench-cut trail using a 48-inch trail dozer.
The project was discussed by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Trails Advisory Commission at its November 10 meeting. More than a dozen people attended the meeting either to comment or to just listen to the presentation and comments.
Discussion over the issue has also dominated the Skarland and Pearl Creek Park Trail Users Facebook page.
The NSCF Board of Directors passed a resolution in support of the bench-cut trail at its November meeting. The resolution, which was presented to the commission, cited that the trail is a ski trail that has been groomed for many years and it is difficult to groom on sidehills. Board members also discussed the improved safety of a bench-cut trail over a footpath worn in by years of use.
People opposed to the bench-cut trail have voiced three main concerns: the bench-cut trail changes the nature of the trail; using a trail dozer causes too much impact; and motorized vehicles might start using the non-motorized trail.
Work on the trail has been done for
Changes to Skarland Ski Trail cause controversy
F A I R B A N K S
BY ERIC TROYER Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 26,
to Ski Your Age in Kilometers in Fairbanks.The 12th edition of this annual event will be
held at Birch Hill Recreation Area, the day after Christmas. It’s a good excuse to go cross-country skiing and burn off some of those calories stowed away the day before. The event runs officially from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It has no entry fee, though donations are accepted and organizers ask that people bring potluck food.
Registration and food will be in the borough’s spacious Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center. The emphasis of the event is on fun, socializing and good exercise. Despite its name, people can ski whatever distance they please. Some uber-athletes will be out there hammering the trails, trying to crank out the
most kilometers regardless of their age, while other participants will ski just a portion of their age before heading inside to eat and socialize. It’s all good!
Typically,kids as young as 1 or 2 join the fun along with those into their 70s or beyond. And since food and signups are all located in the Birch Hill Cross Country Center, all participants have a chance to socialize no matter their level of intensity or expertise.
If you would like to participate, please bring food to share. Popular items include soups, stews and chili in crockpots, since they are a great way to warm up after an invigorating ski. Sweets are also popular, especially with those crazy people going for the 100-kilometer challenge (skiing in kilometers the difference between their age and 100) and those geezer-jocks over 50 who ski their age or nearly die
trying.Don’t forget to register when you arrive.
Accomplishments on many levels are recognized, including skiing a portion of your age (with bronze, silver, gold and platinum achievement levels), most kilometers skied (individual, family, mother-daughter, father-son), fewest kilometers skied, youngest and oldest participants, and many more.
While Ski Your Age in Kilometers has no entry fee, it is a fundraiser that benefits Fairbanks Cross-Country, the junior race program of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks. A jar for donations will be available, as will forms for Friends of FXC, the program booster club. Membership forms for the NSCF will also be available.
For questions or to volunteer, please contact Kim Troxel at [email protected].
BY MIKE SCHMOKER AND ERIC TROYER
The ski touring season has begun and several Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks tours are on the schedule. Mike Schmoker and Cam Leonard have again agreed to run the program this year. They will be leading some tours themselves, but hopefully will be able to motivate other club members to also volunteer to lead tours. Stan Justice has already led a tour on the Skarland Trail.
Mike and Cam’s goal is to organize a collective effort for people to share their favorite tours with each other. They would like to see a range of tours offered in terms of location, length and difficulty. Even if you are not hardcore and prefer a shorter and less-challenging outing, rest assured that other club members may want to join you. If you are interested in leading and or sharing your favorite
ski, please contact Mike ([email protected]) or Cam ([email protected]).
As the touring schedule develops, some tours will be planned far enough in advance to be listed in the Alaska Nordic Skier newsletter, while others will be posted to the touring page on the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks website, or announced through the listserv and Facebook. Make sure you check the website for updates and that your membership is up to date with your current email address. Hopefully, with help from others, more tours can be added to the calendar.
For now, the following are on the calendar:
Sunday, December 13 – Ace LakeA three-hour roundtrip to Ace Lake.
This is a flat trail through a beautiful black spruce forest to the hidden lakes off Gold Hill Road. Meet at Gold Hill Liquor/Gas Station at noon and
drive to the start. Wear warm layers because it can be slightly colder in this area. We can go to the Blue Loon afterwards if the group wants to. Friendly dogs are welcome. Tour led by Barbara O’Donnell.
Saturday, December 19 – Big Eldorado Creek in Goldstream
Meet at 11 a.m. at the pullout on Goldstream Road across from Bucks Drive. A short car shuttle to the trailhead at the top of Molly and Waterford Road. This is a several-hour tour on a multi-use trail. Contact Mike Schmoker at [email protected] or 455-6848.
Saturday, January 23 – East O’Conner Creek Ridge to Jones Road
Meet at Ivory Jack’s at 11 a.m. After a short car shuttle on Jones Road to leave cars, we will then drive to the start of the trail on top of Pandora and ski on the east O’Conner ridge to Murphy Dome Road and then ski on primarily dog mushing trails
from the top of O’Conner Creek back to Jones Road. This will be roughly a 12-plus-miles ski, which will take roughly 3-4 hours based on conditions. At times, there is overflow and ice toward the end. Contact Mike Schmoker at [email protected] or 455-6848.
Saturday, February 20 – Goldstream East
Meet at noon at the pullout at about Mile 2.5 Ballaine Road, just before the Goldstream Creek bridge. Estimated ski time is 2-3 hours. We’ll start on the old Tanana Valley Railroad route and then take a side trail that parallels the north side of Skyline Ridge. We’ll see if we can find an old cabin, then take a connecting trail (if it’s still there) back to the valley bottom and hook up with the railroad route. We’ll look for the “pingo” that’s probably really a pile of old tailings and head back to the start. Leader: Eric Troyer, [email protected] or 455-6641.
Ski Your Age in Kilometers going on a dozen years
NSCF Tours continue exploring the Fairbanks area
PHOTO BY STAN JUSTICE
One of the gated, split-rail fences recently put up along the Skarland Trail to discourage motorized use on this non-motorized trail. See SKARLAND SKI TRAIL, Page 14
12 December 2015
the AlASKA nordic skier
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
Jan SpurklandPresident
Nicky SzarziVice President
Richard BurtonTreasurer
Mike ByerlySecretary
Carlin Rauch
Mike Gracz
Kevin Walker
Andrew Peter
Stacey Buckelew
Olympia PiedraAdministrative Assistant
C O M M I T T E E S / E V E N T SLookout Mountain Ski TrailsKevin Walker (Construction)
Mike Byerly (Grooming
Lower Baycrest Ski Trails; Snowshoe Trails; Friday Night Lights; Grooming Equipment
Dave Brann
Upper Baycrest Ski Trails; Marathon Trail CommitteeAlan Parks
McNeil/Eveline Ski TrailsGinger Johnson (Chair)
Derek Stonorov (McNeil Grooming)Dave Brann (Eveline Grooming)
Kachemak Nordic Ski Development; Ski Your Age; Besh Cup Races; Homer Epic 100
Jan Spurkland
Junior NordicCarlin Rauch
Homer Women’s Nordic; PSIA ClinicsMegan Spurkland
WebmasterRichard Burton
Alaska Nordic Skier NewsletterMarylou Burton
Snow Machine MaintenanceBill Hague
Trail SignsJennifer Edwards
Winter Gear & Ski SwapMike Illg
Kachemak Ski for Women & Haven HouseKris Holdereid
Wine & Cheese/Wooden Ski TourKevin & Jeanne Walker
Kachemak Nordic Ski MarathonDeland Anderson
Sea to Ski TriathlonMike Byerly
Winter Backcountry Film FestivalDan Del Missier
Kachemak Nordic Ski ClubHomer, Alaska
P.O. Box 44, Homer, Alaska 99603kachemaknordicskiclub.org
BY MARYLOU BURTONWe all know the benefits of cross-
training to skiing. It improves balance, strengthens muscles, builds endurance, and you can work on it all year long, snow or no snow. But when the cross-training becomes primary, and the skiing secondary, that’s a problem. And if you’re a high school ski coach trying to keep a couple dozen teenagers engaged and competitive, that’s more than a problem. It’s the stuff that keeps you up at night.
This is the dilemma that Alan Parks and Alison O’Hara found themselves in last season when Homer experienced its lowest snow year, ever. Both have upbeat personalities and are parents of teenagers, so they knew that they had to keep it positive and fun. And being excellent skiers and trained coaches, they also knew the benefits of dry-land techniques like roller-skiing, hill bounding, plyometrics, deep squats, etc. But when the first race approached and the Hayfields were still more hay than snow … well, that was a little discouraging.
“We trained on dry land for four weeks and finally, on week five, we skied,” O’Hara told the Homer Tribune a few days before last year’s Homer Invitational. There was snow in the forecast. The kids were psyched. And then – it rained. Again. The race was moved to Soldotna.
As the bus headed out of town, no one was sure what to expect. They’d only had about four days of on-snow
training. It was raining. But 75 miles up the road, the Tsalteshi Trails had about 10 inches of snow and were freshly groomed. Life all of a sudden got a lot better and they had a good race.
And so it continued for the rest of the season. Here in Homer, a dusting of snow followed by rain, short-sleeve temperatures in January, towing tires around the reservoir, more plyos on the beach. And every couple of weeks, a trip to Soldotna, Anchorage or Fairbanks where the Mariners held their own against teams that were skiing every day on actual snow.
But if you think everyone was totally bummed, think again. Better yet, check out the Homer Mariner’s Ski Team Music Video 2014-2015 Season on YouTube. The kids are dancing, running, kicking soccer
balls, and finally (mostly at out-of-town ski meets) double-poling, skating through tight turns, kicking up hills, tucking in low and tight on the down hills – and they are smiling! They are having fun.
As this year kicks into gear, both coaches (joined this year by Aleta Phelps) and skiers are back and rearing to go. They’ve already had more days on snow than they did by the time of their first race last year. Everyone is cautiously optimistic that we’re going to have good skiing this winter. And if we don’t?
“Last year was so bad,” O’Hara told me at the KNSC annual meeting, “and we made it work. This year I’m not nearly as anxious.”
One thing’s for sure – the skiers and coaches will have a good time.
It is the middle of November and ski reports are filtering in from the various KNSC-maintained trailheads. The Homer High School ski team has been out skiing the Lookout Mountain Hayfields, and classic tracks have been spotted at Sunset Loop and McNeil. This marks one of the earliest on-snow starts to the winter season of the past decade. The trails are certainly an equal mix of snow and grass, but that is OK … We are skiing! After the past two mild winters, it is easy to understand the enthusiasm that skiers are bringing to this early season skiing opportunity.
It is impossible, of course, to predict what the winter will bring. But the folks out there gliding around the trails are a testament to the philosophy of our Nordic skiing community: If there is white stuff on the ground, go skiing! After all, even a mediocre day of skiing is better than the best day of … well, pretty much anything else.
KNSC recently hosted our annual membership meeting. Boasting one of the best potlucks in town, there was great camaraderie and stoke about the upcoming
winter. Several presentations were offered to the general membership, including the financial stability and outlook of our club.
The KNSC Board of Directors also presented a challenge to the general membership: share the joys of Nordic skiing with a friend. Our bread and butter of operational revenue comes from memberships, and the easiest way to increase membership revenue is to recruit new members. For each of us to find one friend that is not yet a member is not a too terribly difficult task. And if we all do it, the crowd-sourced impacts can be monumental.
You will see new signage this winter at each of our trailheads, monitoring the current level of our membership. While skiing with your friend, use these signs as an opportunity to discuss the multitude of benefits that KNSC brings to our community, and how that is made possible by our membership.
Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Climate change coaching
Making hay while the sun is shining … or tracks in the snow, and bringing a friend
Message from KNSC President / Jan Spurkland
PHOTOS BY ALISON O’HARA
Homer Mariner 2015 ski team out for a snowless training run.
Thurs-Mon 7am–7pm | Olympic Mt. Loopwww.thebakeshop.com | 783-2831
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the AlASKA nordic skier
December 2015 13
KNSC Annual Meeting & Potluck –A great success!
The annual KNSC Annual Meeting & Potluck was noisy, well-attended and fun, with lots of good food, really great auction items, and desserts that will take many hours of hard skiing to work off. Alan Parks, dessert-auctioneer par excellence, was – as usual – very persuasive in getting people to open up their wallets for those gluten-free cookies (valued by the baker at $1 million) and that chocolate-on-chocolate chocolate pie (admitted by the baker to contain 1 million calories per slice).
If you missed the party and still haven’t reupped your membership for the 2015-2016 ski season, you can download a membership form or join online at kachemaknordicskiclub.org.
And when you join, not only do you get great
trails and a clean conscience, you’ll receive this attractive zipper pull with artwork by Deland Anderson. By wearing this zipper pull while skiing on the trails you will help the club generate more revenue. Currently the club spends over $100 per member each year keeping the trails cleared and groomed. Skiers that may not be members will notice that a lot of people using the trails are wearing this cool zipper pull and will definitely want one for themselves! By wearing this zipper pull you can help the club generate much needed revenue without spending an extra dime, and these additional memberships will lower the cost per member needed to keep the trails in great condition. It’s a win-win.
Changes at the helmYou know those boards on which people who
already have money get paid more money to sit around a table and decide how much to pay their CEO? Well, the KNSC board isn’t one of those. Instead, it’s what we understatedly call a “working board” – which is to say that everyone puts in a lot more time and effort than just attending monthly meetings, all for the low, low price of zero. Such a deal.
So, when we thank the retiring board members for their service, and thank the new board members for stepping up the plate, we really, really mean it. In this case, we thank Kevin Walker and Mike Byerly for their years on the board. During that time, they’ve groomed trails, built buildings and put on events. No wonder they’re tired. And we thank Glenn Seaman and Derek Bynagle for joining the board. Both are already active in the club and bring new skills and ideas to the table. Welcome aboard.
Homer Middle School islooking for a coach
Here’s the deal with middle and high school ski coaches. The coach’s kid graduates, Dad or Mom moves onto other things. Or to a different level.
This year it’s someone (probaby a parent’s) else’s turn to coach Homer Middle School. It’s a great gig. The kids are at a perfect age – energetic, growing out their ski boots every month, still willing to listen to an adult now and then.
If you’re interested, the application can be viewed at: applitrack.com/kpbsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Co-Curricular
KNSC groomers clinic and refresher on Saturday, December 12
Everyone knows that it’s all about the trails. The groomers are our heroes!
Whether you’re an experienced groomer or someone who aspires to become a mighty Marvel groomer hero, this clinic is for you. It will take place from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, December 12, at Lookout Mountain, and is an important review for both current and would-be groomers. There is no charge and registration is not required. For more information contact Dave Brann at 235-6018 or [email protected].
Ski Your Age –Saturday, December 26
There are two options to the Ski Your Age race. You can ski your age in kilometers, which is pretty easy if you’re on the Mariners high school ski team, but pretty hard if you’re pushing 70. Or you can ski 100 minus your age, which is probably still doable for those high schoolers and still challenging for the senior citizens. In either event, if you’re 50 years old, you’re screwed.
Whichever option you choose, this is a great time to burn off some of those holiday calories so that you can actually fit into that fab ski skirt that you got for Christmas the day before. Location TBA – check the KNSC website and Facebook.
Register now for KNSC Junior Nordic Junior Nordic is a great way to introduce kids
to a healthy, fun sport that they will enjoy for a lifetime. We offer a non-competitive, learn-to-
A R O U N D T H E B A Y
K A C H E M A K
PHOTO BY MARYLOU BURTON
Lucas, Beka and Elora Thoning check out the auction items at the KNSC Annual Meeting & Potluck.
BY STACEY BUCKELEWSkiers visiting the Lookout Trail
system this season will notice the new kiosk that has been installed. Located at the trail entrance from the parking lot, the kiosk has a unique look that is consistent with other trail signs created by local artists. The kiosk was designed and constructed this summer by local artist and resident Taro Sasakura. The kiosk was completed as part of a much larger effort to enhance trail infrastructure. Funded in part by a grant from the Alaska Recreational Trail Program, the improvements include the construction of a maintenance building and restrooms, improved parking and trail signage.
Taro is not an unfamiliar face to the Lookout trail system or, for that matter, skiing in general. Beyond his artistry, Taro is well known for his infectious enthusiasm for snow. No matter the ski type, Taro is one of those individuals perpetually stoked to be gliding around on snow, and rightfully so. Taro and his family easily access the trails and make
turns literally out their front door. Beyond skiing, Taro helps to share his winter passion by staying active with KNSC in all capacities. From grooming trails to volunteering at events, Taro is among the KNSC members that “make great things happen.”
When I talked to Taro, it was no surprise that I learned the kiosk design was inspired by the curves and turns made by skis. His building approach was to make a kiosk both
aesthetically appealing and fun to visit. Rather than a typical three-sided boxy kiosk that is difficult to access on skis, Taro developed two 4-foot-by-6-foot panels that frame a middle gate. The hope is that design will attract skiers to easily access the space and connect them with important postings about KNSC events, trail maps, conditions, etc. Then after reading, rather than making a 10-point awkward turn around, skiers can enjoy an easy exit through the middle
gate or perhaps even drop off the backside before returning to the trail.
Most noticeable about the kiosk, beyond its shape, is the roof line. Rather than a traditional roof that sloughs snow and shades the posted materials, Taro elected a more organic feel. The roof is made from local spruce that is in a natural shape that Taro spent many hours in the woods seeking. The shape emulates the contour of the Kachemak Bay mountains viewed on the horizon from which Lookout Mountain so affectionately gets its name.
Bringing original and local artwork to the Lookout area enriches the trails and skier appreciation of the surrounding beauty. The kiosk taps into local creativity, skiing enthusiasm and resources to provide a trailhead experience that matches the quality and care the KNSC invests into our truly unique trail system. Thank you to Taro for your vision and for the other KNSC members who generously volunteered time to make this innovative project possible. We couldn’t do it without you.
Merging kiosks with nature: Local art enhances the trails at Lookout Mountain
See AROUND THE BAY, Page 14
14 December 2015
the AlAskA nordic skier
Supporter of
Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
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ski program for youth in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. The emphasis is fun on skis while working on balance, agility and the fundamentals of technique. Sessions begin Saturday, January 30, from 1-2:30 p.m. at Lookout, and continue every Saturday through February 27. We hope to explore all trailsheads during the season.
The cost for the season is $20. Participants must be KNSC members and at least 5 years old. A limited number of rental skis and boots are also available at the low price of $25 for the season. Contact Carlin Rauch at [email protected] for more detailed information.
Also – coaches and other volunteer helpers are needed! Come share your love of skiing with us!
Friday Night Lights return in JanuaryThe ever-popular Friday Night Lights returns January
8 from 6-8 p.m. with an encore on Saturday. Location TBA, but somewhere on the Baycrest Ski Trails. Keep an eye on the KNSC website for details.
This family-friendly event winds its way along a trail lit by Tiki torches and is open to skiers, snowshoers, and folks who just want to sit around the bonfire, drink hot chocolate, and catch up on gossip.
You know the drill: Headlamps recommended (be sure and light up those kids in sleds!); leave your dog at home; and don’t come expecting this to be a race. Also, this is fundraiser for KNSC so there’s a fee involved, but it’s not much – you can afford it. And kids are free!
While the event isn’t until January, Dave Brann is looking for volunteers in December to help refurbish the torches, wicks, canisters and poles. If you can help, contact Dave at at 235-6018 or [email protected].
K A C H E M A K / F A I R B A N K S
AROUND THE BAYContinued from Page 13
years, such as brush and trees being cut, roots and stumps being removed, and benches being cut across sidehills. That work has generally been well received, but it has been done mostly by hand. With this new round of work, the use of a trail dozer surprised many people. Justice worked with Jon Underwood, a local trail con tractor who donated his time to the project. Sustainable techniques, such as out-sloping and rolling grade reversals, were used to minimize erosion. Signs and split-rail fences were installed to dissuade motorized vehicles.
Besides the actual trail work, people on both sides have also expressed concern that no clear public process has been outlined to explain how the public can be involved if someone wants to work a trail. Fairbanks is a second-class borough that has only planning and zoning powers over trails. The borough has a trails coordinator who can give advice and support to projects, but he lacks authority to impose requirements.
People also are unclear on what work a person can do in a trail easement that crosses private property. Like an electric utility that routinely builds and maintains power lines in a utility easement, trail groups can build and maintain trails in trail easements, but any limits on what that work can entail is uncertain to the general public and even the Trails Advisory Commission.
The commission took no official action at its meeting, but commission members
did say they plan to find out the answers to several questions, including if a public process requirement can be put in place and what the rights landowners and trail workers have when a trail is being built across private property in an easement.
The Skarland Ski Trail was built in the 1960s as a rough, ungroomed trail through the woods on state land. In later years, the land was subdivided and homes built. The trail is designated as a class B trail in the borough trail plan and described as “primarily a recreational cross-country ski trail.” The trail was used for the Skiathon, a 20-kilometer classic ski race, for many years until new road crossings and faster skis made to race too hard to manage. In the summer, it is used for hiking, running, dog walking and mountain biking.
In winter, there have long been conflicts between dedicated skiers and other users. Non-skiers object to being restricted so as not to damage set tracks. Originally tracks were set by foot, first snowshoeing then skiing in the tracks. This changed to machine-set tracks as the equipment became available. The track-setting is done by volunteers.
A meeting was held last January to air feelings and see if any compromise could be found. Packing a parallel winter walking trail seemed like an acceptable alternative and has been implemented with good results on some sections. But there was also consensus that the trails should remain narrow, making dual trails harder to implement in many places. All agreed the discussion should continue.
SKARLAND SKI TRAILContinued from Page 11
the AlASKA nordic skier
December 2015 15
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
PRESIDENT
Hans Hill
VICE PRESIDENT
Susan Skvorc
SECRETARY
Mike Norton
TREASURER
Maritt Youngblood
BOARD MEMBERS
Gene BackusDaryl FarrensNatalie King
Dave MusgraveMichael NortonLucas ParkerTom Smayda
Edward StrabelMark StrabelChris TomsenAshley Wise
Mat-Su Ski ClubWASILLA, ALASKA
1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 3Palmer, Alaska 99645
(907) 745-SKISwww.matsuski.org
Snow Wars – A New HopeThe following week has given me
optimism for this season, in more ways than one. It all started with a nice little Saturday trip to the local big box home improvement – “betcha can’t leave without spending $100+” – store. After running into no less than a baker’s dozen worth of people we know, we came across one of the club’s past board members, Mark Stigar. If you don’t know Mark, you are missing out. He is one of the most helpful persons on this blue orb. He served for many-a-year on the board helping us grow to what we are now. (Sidenote: if you are living with a significant other for so-many years, common law says the two of you are married, shouldn’t the same apply to serving on the board of directors?)
Nevertheless, Mark mentioned that the skiing was decent at Independence Mine. That little comment threw out our plans for the remaining half of our weekend. In the previous months I have written on the topic of “parenting with skis,” which has translated to skiing with a screaming (literally) 30-pound pack. However, our ski the subsequent day proved to be quite enjoyable, as in replace screaming kid with screaming lungs.
The snow was fresh and recently groomed, not having a chance to firm up just yet. The temperature was moderate, with overcast skies that could begin snowing at any moment if someone would just add a teaspoon more moisture to them. As we cruised
the skate-able trails for a hundred or so minutes, my body reminded me of how much skiing I had done so far this season; virtually none. My arches were killing me, but that may have been from the lack of insoles in my boots, which I had conveniently left sitting on my shop table …
As we rolled into the work week, the thoughts of that Sunday ski lingered. Sure a few muscles I didn’t know still existed begged me to never ski again, the rest of me wanted to repeat the experience with, maybe, the only revision to include insoles. With the conclusion of my work day I phoned my wife to ready the “honey badger” (our son), for at sundown, we dine on skis!
For the sake of brevity, let me just say this about that evening; if the Sunday ski was to be represented
by the color white, this evening’s ski would be the color black, as in pitch black; like what you would see
AROUNDTHE VALLEY
if you were blindfolded, with a black cloth, and that was covered with a backwards balaclava, and it’s the
Solstice and holiday celebrationsin Girdwood
BY DEB ESSEXThe translation of solstice is “sun stands still.”
Winter Solstice was truly a cause for celebration among our ancestors in Scandinavia. Their Midwinter Feast lasted at least 12 days. During the festivities they burned a giant Sunwheel, which was put on fire and rolled down a hill to entice the sun to return. (According to one theory, this is the origin of the Christmas wreath) Well, we aren’t going to send a burning wheel down the Nordic trail, but we are going to light the trails, ski down them, and have a bonfire!
Since we officially opened our trail system on
Solstice Day 2012, we want to celebrate every year by placing lights around the Nordic Sprint Loop (1.5 kilometers) and a bonfire at the kiosk. Come celebrate like a Viking, weather permitting, and wear all the lights you can. LED clothing or reflective wear – perfect! We want to bring light to the trails on Friday, December 18, around 7 p.m. to kick off Solstice weekend. More details to come on Facebook and our website at skigirdwood.org.
Also in December, Girdwood PTA is hosting the annual Christmas Bazaar at the new Girdwood School gym. The bazaar is from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, December 5. The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club will be selling memberships, moose pins, socks and hats! Our new wool hats are $40 and
make great presents for all you outdoor trail lovers. If you can’t make this fun event, we can mail all moose swag right to your door! Our membership form includes space to add a hat – or email us at [email protected].
Happy holidays and happy skiing everyone!!
Girdwood Nordic Ski ClubGirdwood, Alaska
P.O. Box 337Girdwood, AK 99587
skigirdwood .org
B O A R D O FD I R E C T O R S
DEB ESSEXPresident
BRIAN BURNETTVice President
BRIANA SULLIVANSecretary
JUSTIN THOMASTreasurer
JIM BRAHAMPETER ZUG
CHUCK DORIUS
ARI STIASSNY
A R O U N D G I R D W O O D
See AROUND THE VALLEY, Page 16
16 December 2015
the AlAskA nordic skier
middle of the night on the winter’s solstice and you just so happen to fall into a 1,000-foot deep crevasse and lived. Black. Suffice it to say, my colorful nickname for our family unit was very apt for this occasion.
It would appear that I am a glutton for punishment, for I knew what this meant for the coming weekend … more skiing! Short of it warming to 90 degrees, I would do anything in my power to make a ski happen. Well, we made three more happen. Although the temp dropped to sub-zero, we suited up the honey badger in his ski chariot and made a great weekend of it.
While this season is still in its infancy, I can’t help but think, “The force is strong with this one.”
– By Hans Hill, MSSC President
Third annual Mat-Su Icicle Double, December 26-27With the ski season finally upon
us it is time to start setting goals. The Mat-Su Ski Club is offering the perfect motivation to get you through the holidays on your skis. The Mat-Su Icicle Double is a two-day series with classic style on Saturday, December 26, and freestyle on Sunday, December 27. In freestyle ski you can classic or skate, in the classic ski you can only classic ski. There are several distances that you can elect to ski: 5Km, 10Km, 15Km and 30Km. You can change the distance you would like to ski up to 10:30 a.m. on race day.
We want to encourage families to take part. Families and individuals are charged the same fee, so sign up your whole family for the same cost. If you sign up for the two-day series (classic on Saturday, freestyle on Sunday), you will receive a $7.50 discount for each day. Participants who finish the 30Km on both days will receive the coveted Icicle Double beverage glass. Mark your calendars and jump on the website to sign up today. The first 75 to sign
up will receive a free Mat-Su Icicle Double hat. Visit www.matsuski.org/competition to for details and to register.
Adult ski lessonsFirst-time skier? Need to tune
up your racing skills? The Adult ski lessons are for all. Adult ski lessons are offered on five days of the week and you may attend any session at any time.10-11:15 a .m .: every Saturday from December 5, 2015, to March 1, 2016. Skate and classic techniques
will be taught.Noon-1 p .m . Mondays and Wednesdays: from December 7, 2015, to March 2, 2016. Classic technique.Noon-1 p .m . Tuesdays and Thursdays: December 8, 2015, to March 3, 2016. Skate technique.All lessons will be held at Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA) or Archangel Rd. depending on snow conditions. Fees: 5 punch card, $50; 10 punch card, $90; Unlimited card, $150; Walk-on price, $12 cash.
Register online at www.mat-suski.org
Junior Nordics is just around the corner!Story by Tobias Buchanan, age 10
Mat-Su Junior Nordics is a fun activity that the whole family will love. This is my family’s 7th year attending the club and every year it is so fun! Every time we get our skis on and ski the trails, we have a blast. Zooming
past the trees on skis truly is a great experience. Sometimes it is cold and challenging, but when you really get into it you feel like you are having the time of your life! I hope your family will enjoy Mat-Su Junior Nordics as much as my family does. Never before has a ski club been so exciting. Sign up for Mat-Su Junior Nordics today and “Let’s Go Ski!”
If Toby has piqued your interest, head over to the website for more details on Junior Nordics.
CalendarDecember 26: Moonlight Ski, GPRA December 26-27: Icicle Double Races, Gov’t Peak Nordic Area 5Km, 10Km, 20Km, 30Km; classic on Saturday, freestyle on SundayJanuary 4: Junior Nordic beginsJanuary 9: MSB Winter Trails Day, Gov’t Peak Nordic Trails, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ski lessons
M A T - S U
Mat-Su Ski Club Presents the 3rd Annual
Location: Government Peak Recreation Area
Early Entry Fee: $25 one day, $35 both days per Family. Bring the whole gang!
After Dec 25 Fee: $40 one day, $50 both days
Skiers who finish 30k both days win the coveted Icicle Double Beverage Glass
Icicle Double fleece hats to first 75 folks to sign up!
Details & Registration: www.matsuski.org/competition
Brought to you through the generous support of our sponsors: Saturday, December 26 Classic skiing Sunday, December 27 Freestyle skiing
5k, 10k, 15k, 30k Each Day
Door Prizes
And many other sponsors listed on our website!
Mark and his family have been charter members of the Mat-Su Ski Club since it was formed in 2007 and volunteered in numerous areas in addition to grooming ski trails. Mark is a Junior Nordics coach, membership chair, computer wizard, weather station czar, and just recently gave up his seat on the board of directors so he can devote more time to skiing (and possibly grooming).
Mark is married to Stacy and their daughter Sterling attends Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff. Mark is 58 years old, born in Los Angeles but he moved to the Reno area at a young age and attended high school, college and grad school there. He earned a master’s degree in Wildlife Biology and picked up cross-country skiing because he was too poor to downhill. Mark was an Army National Guard rotary wing aviator for over 20 years. During the first Gulf War, Mark flew the giant
helicopter that looks like an insect, the CH54, and experimented with precision drops of 10,000-pound bombs to knock out Iraqi command and control
headquarters. Mark has had a few wildlife encounters while
grooming. The most memorable included a standoff with an irate moose. He put his wildlife biology management skills to work and bluffed his way out of a jam to complete the grooming job. Mark enjoys grooming the loops at Gov’t Peak with the ski club’s XMR-tracked ATV primarily because that is his favorite place to ski. Mark’s best “got stuck grooming” story is the time he rolled one of the ski clubs SWT snowmachines on “Sochi Hill” at Independence Mine. Fortunately, two big, strong college skiers were coming up the hill at the time and helped right the machine in just a few minutes. In grooming as in life, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than skilled. Say hello to Mark next time you see him grooming or skiing.
Mat-Su Ski Club Groomer of the Month: Mark Stigar
AROUND THE VALLEYContinued from Page 15