5, 11 3, 7, U.S. NATIONALS America s top skiers hit Alaska s trials. THANK YOU Remembering Randy, grateful for Jan

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1 J a n u a r y 2 018, Vo l.1 9, N o. 4 PHOTO BY CHARLIE RENFREW U.S. NATIONALS America s top skiers hit Alaska s trials 8-10 THANK YOU Remembering Randy, grateful for Jan 5, 11 SKI FOR WOMEN Annual events arrive in Anchorage, Mat-Su, Kachemak 3, 7, 12 Anchorage....2 Eagle River....6 Fairbanks Girdwood Kachemak Mat-Su Statewide...11 U.S. Nationals...8

2 2 January 2018 Anchorage Nordic Skier Newsletter Of The Nordic Skiing Association Of Anchorage, Inc. 203 W. 15th Ave., #204 Anchorage, Alaska, Phone Fax Hotline A new year brings new opportunities to be grateful, connected and excited Message from NSAA s Board of Directors What an amazing year 2017 was! Happy New Year to our Nordic family and friends. We are looking ahead to 2018 with excitement and reflecting on so many things to be thankful for especially with a phenomenal start to this ski season! Sadly, NSAA and the Alaska ski community suffered some very painful losses in 2017: incredible people like Randy Bergt and Jeff Scott, among others. But tragedy brings our tight community even closer and we find strength in each other and in our connectedness to skiing and friends. Just as Randy and Jeff did, the men and women of NSAA are rising to the occasion, especially with upcoming events in We are looking forward to the 2018 U.S. Nationals with close to 250 volunteers coming together to have a great event. Recent weather changes with little snow have made it clear how essential snowmaking capabilities are today. Focusing on snowmaking is saving our AROUND THE BOWL Props to the Knapps for a lifetime of support Recognizing individuals with the NSAA Lifetime Membership Award is a longtime tradition within our ski club. This year, a well-known couple, longtime NSAA members who have served on the board and given countless hours toward NSAA were the recipients and were recently presented the award. One of them started racing in elementary school when her mother signed her up, without her consent. The other, according to his daughter, is up for any race no matter how little training he gets in with his travel schedule, and has raced against her for over seven years. Both of these individuals are passionate about skiing, those closest to them would say that they re major groupies on the World Cup circuit. When they aren t watching these races on their computer, they are planning trips to Europe to physically follow the The Knapp family World Cup and cheer on U.S. skiers. Today, both are Green Grunts: one newer to the crew, being trained this year to be a timer! The other has been a Green Grunt for 11 years, known to most as the bib lady and also the voice behind the microphone at most school races. She has been a Skiku Nordic coach for three years. She has also introduced many young skiers to the wonderful sport of skiing at Chugach Elementary and is an avid supporter of the APU program. And if we haven t given it away already, she has headed up Ski 4 Kids for more years than she wants to count. NSAA is excited to recognize this year s Lifetime Membership Award recipients: Gunnar and Alice Knapp. Thank you! Ready for exploration? Attend an upcoming NSAA backcountry tour Find more information about NSAA tours at anchoragenordicski.com/ tours.htm. UPCOMING TOURS INCLUDE January 13-15, 2018 Two overnights at Sheep Mountain Lodge, includes Matanuska Glacier tour (below).tour leader Mary Vavrik. January 15, 2018 Tour out to Matanuska Glacier along Caribou Creek; Tour leader Ken DePalma. January 19, 2018 Friday Night Fun Ski. Mile 1.2 Campbell Airstrip Road, Basher Trailhead; Tour leader Ken DePalma. January 27, 2018 Williwaw Lake and Middle Fork; Tour leader Patti Phillips. January 30-February 1, 2018 Catch the Lunar Eclipse on January 31! Two overnights (midweek) at private cabin on Red Shirt Lake; Tour leader Patti Phillips. February 9, 2018 Friday Night Fun Ski. Upper O Malley Trailhead; Tour leader Ken DePalma. February 11, 2018 Portage Lake and Pass; Tour leader Patti Phillips. February 17-19, 2018 Two overnights at Manitoba Huts Tele/AT and touring options; ski season and community. Our partnerships with the Nordic community and Municipality of Anchorage are so vital and important. High school and middle school racing, Junior Nordic, and community programs are all dependent on these relationships. Thank you to all the volunteers and partners who help us provide winter recreation for all through quality trails. One area we often find ourselves reflecting on about NSAA is the phenomenal people within the organization. Hardworking, dedicated and extremely talented. What a beautiful NSAA staff, Operations team and group of volunteers we have. Together we are strong and keeping our community healthy, coming together with programs and opportunities to recreate, race, ski, jump, learn, socialize and give back. Thank you all for your support of Nordic skiing in Anchorage, across Alaska and beyond. Tour leaders Michael Henrich, Karlene Leeper and Mary Vavrik. Find all tours and more information at anchoragenordicski.com/tours.htm. NSAA calendar of events JANUARY January 3-8 U.S. Nationals, Kincaid Park Saturday, January 6 Ski Jumping Competition: All Hills Tuesday-Wednesday, January 9-10 Junior Nordic Equipment Return Saturday, January 13 Junior Nordic Equipment Pickup Saturday, January 13 ASD High School Chugiak Stampede, Chugiak Saturday-Sunday, January AWG Biathlon Trials Kincaid Saturday-Monday, January NSAA Backcountry Tour: Two overnights at Sheep Mountain Lodge, Mat Glacier Sunday, January 14 AMH Anchorage Cup Hickok Duathlon Monday, January 15 Ski Jumping Competition: All Hills Tuesday, January 16 Junior Nordic Session #2 Starts Wednesday, January 17 ASD High School Bartlett Relay Bartlett Friday, January 19 NSAA Backcountry Tour: Friday Night Fun Ski Saturday, January 20 Sat Triflake Winter Triathlon Link Saturday-Sunday, January Besh Cup #3 and #4, Homer Thursday, January 25 ASD Middle School Race Kincaid Saturday, January 27 ASD High School Skiathlon Kincaid Saturday, January 27 NSAA Backcountry Tour: Williwaw Lake and out Middle Fork Sunday, January 28 AMH Anchorage Cup Pia s Classic Tuesday-Thursday, January 30-February 1: NSAA Backcountry Tour: Catch the Lunar Eclipse on January 31 Wednesday, January 31 Wed ASD Middle School Race Kincaid For more events and details, visit the NSAA calendar at anchoragenordicski.com/calendar. BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT Joey Caterinichio VICE PRESIDENT Sara Miller SECRETARY Josh Niva TREASURER Karl Garber MEMBERS Molly Brown Alex Grumman Elizabeth Arnold Mike Miller Tim Miller OFFICE STAFF Erin Beam, Business Manager Tamra Kornfield, Program Manager Amber Adams, Office Manager OPERATIONS STAFF Craig Norman Bill Brion Peter Zug Annette Brion Matthew Pauli TRAILS Mike Miller COMMITTEE CHAIRS ALASKA SKI FOR WOMEN Jenny Di Grappa AMH ANCHORAGE CUP Branden Fontana BACKCOUNTRY TOURS Patti Phillips, Mary Vavrik, Karlene Leeper and Ken DePalma BIATHLON Marti Pausback and Catherine Kilby HIGH SCHOOL RACING John Christopherson HOPE CABIN anchoragenordicski.com/cabin-rental JUNIOR NORDIC Shannon Donley MIDDLE SCHOOL RACING Diane Moxness RACE CHAIRMAN Tim Stone SCHOLARSHIPS Dan Rosenberg SKAN 24 Cassandra and Grant Stevenson SKI 4 KIDS Erin Whitney Witmer SKI JUMPING Karen Compton and Vivienne Murray SKI TRAIN Travis Taylor SOLSTICE TREE TOUR Sara Miller SPECIAL EVENTS AND RACING Lauri Bassett TOUR OF ANCHORAGE Matias Saari NSAA OFFICE HOURS 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday BOARD MEETINGS Fourth Thursday of the month, 6:15 P.M. at BP Energy Center or NSAA office. Open to all.

3 January 2018 ANCHORAGE 3 NSAA Biathlon 2018 New Year s Resolutions This year we will shoot clean and close all targets when standing. We will provide many opportunities for people to try biathlon at the Kincaid Range. In 2018, we will share our knowledge of rifles, safety and love of the sport. We resolve to feed our volunteers well and laugh often. We will always have room for one more volunteer and room for one more to sit on the ski couch. And lastly we resolve to ski less penalty laps in If your 2018 resolutions involve participating in, or learning more about, the amazing and challenging sport of biathlon, check in with NSAA s Biathlon program at anchoragenordicski.com/biathlon/. Are you ready to party? 22nd annual Alaska Ski for Women arrives on February 4! BY JENNY DI GRAPPA ASFW Director Can you believe we are already counting down the weeks until the 2018 Alaska Ski for Women event? Last year, over 800 women (and an additional 100 volunteers) of all ages made their way to Kincaid Park on Super Bowl Sunday to enjoy a warm, mostly sunny day of skiing, socializing and supporting Alaska non-profit organizations committed to improving the lives of domestic violence victims and their families. In total, these wonderful community members donated over $60,000! This money was granted to AWAIC, Running Free, YWCA, STAR, Catholic Social Services, and Seaview Community Services in Seward organizations that are administering programs to support victims of domestic violence, as well as provide awareness and education to help stop the cycle of violence in Alaska. The all-volunteer event committee is working hard to ensure another successful year at Kincaid Park. There are 3 options to register for the 2018 Alaska Ski for Women event: 1) Sign up online now through January 31: anchoragenordicski.com/ events/alaska-ski-for-women/ 2) Late registration takes place at bib-pick up on February 2 at REI from noon-7:30 p.m. 3) Race day late registration 9-11 a.m. Racers who sign up on race day can only participate in the untimed party wave. Community members can sign up individually or in teams. Prizes will be awarded this year to the team with the most participants, as well as to the team that raises the most money. There is a suggested donation of $35 to participate, and we encourage participants to give generously, as 100 percent of the proceeds from the event are granted to nonprofit organizations. The first 125 registrants who donate $50 or more will receive the 2018 Signature Buff (race entry included). This year s Ski for Women merchandise can be purchased at bib pick-up, and skis/boots/polls can be rented from REI for a discounted rate. There are four races scheduled for 2018 (start times will be announced online): The Duathlon, an 8K (4.8 mile) course, timed. The skate race is 4K in length (2.4 miles), timed. The classic race will also be 4K, timed. Finally, the party wave will start at 12:15 p.m. and is 4K in length. The party wave is an untimed fun ski take your time and enjoy the trail. Prizes will be awarded to the top three skiers in each of the timed events. The costume contest is the greatest part of the Alaska Ski for Women, where hundreds of women each year dress up in elaborate costumes, many of them taking between several months to a year to put together. We encourage all of our participants to dress up and participate in the Mardi Gras of the North costume contest! Contest will take place from 11:30 a.m.- noon. Prizes will be awarded to the best team and best dressed individual. Another great silent auction is planned this year with numerous items that have been generously donated including sports equipment, hotel stays, art and more! For those that do not own kick wax or would prefer some help, bring your skis to the wax tent from 9-11:30 a.m. to get waxed to win. Ski for Women is the first of a series of four events for women to earn their patch in Alaska s Triple Patch program. The Triple Patch program provides a classy, distinctive patch awarded to women and girls who complete three of the four designated sporting events in one calendar year: Ski for Women, Bike for Women, Run for Women, and the Gold Nugget Triathlon. Ski for Women is the only event in the series where you can participate in an untimed event (the party wave) and still count towards your triple patch. Parking: We suggest that participants carpool when possible. There is limited parking at the chalet and the outer lots, and they fill up early. It is best to park at Kincaid Elementary. Premier Tours provide coach buses that will whisk you and your skis from the school to the chalet. Buses will start running at 9 a.m. and continue until 1:30 p.m. For those that might not be able to participate in the races this year, we would love your help! us if you are interested in any of our many volunteer positions: alaskaskiforwomen@ gmail.com. the Alaska nordic skier EDITOR Josh Niva nordicskiereditor@gmail.com LAYOUT Kevin Powell kevin@powelldesign.net AD REPRESENTATIVE Andre Lovett Andrelovett93@gmail.com nordicskieradvertising@gmail.com LOCAL EDITORS ANCHORAGE Josh Niva nordicskiereditor@gmail.com EAGLE RIVER Ros Singleton jrcjsingleton@aol.com FAIRBANKS Kate Carey katecarey907@gmail.com KACHEMAK Jeannie Woodring jwoodring50@gmail.com JUNEAU Frankie Filliant frankie@gci.net MAT-SU Ed Strabel matsuski@gci.net SALCHA Jim Ostlind jostlind@ptialaska.net SEWARD Julie Robinson julieprigge@gmail.com SOLDOTNA Penny McClain TALKEETNA Chris Mannix 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 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. nordicskiereditor@gmail.com. On the cover Olympian and Alaska superstar Kikkan Randall, right, leads the pack onto the Hillside course at the 2014 SuperTour in Anchorage. Photo by Charlie Renfrew.

4 4 ANCHORAGE January 2018 Reconnect with your inner child Get involved with Ski 4 Kids! BY CARLA BEAM On February 24, several hundred kids will take over Kincaid Park for a festival of skiing, racing, and other outdoor activities. For some, the annual Ski 4 Kids festival will be the first time they compete in a race or try snowshoeing and other outdoor sports and recreation. You can re-experience that first-time excitement when you volunteer. According to volunteer coordinator Lia Slemons, We have a smorgasbord of roles to make the event a success. We can use registration hosts to help the table traffic at REI on Thursday, February 22. We need day-of event people, indoors in the Chalet and outdoors at the activity stations and along the race course. Chalet volunteers will make drinks and lunch available for the skiers and assist with setup and cleanup. Stadium volunteers will make the activities accessible and visible for the participants and cheer on racers out along the course. Online volunteer sign-up is available through MQafnC. For one volunteer, Duncan Wright, Ski 4 Kids is an extension of his love of skiing and interest in and involvement with coaching. An APU student and member of the university s ski team, he s coached NSAA Junior Nordic for years and hopes to become involved in high school coaching next season. Wright has also been a part of the NANA Nordic Program, which has taken him to Nome, Utqiagvik and Noatak where he coached the area s kids. He has volunteered at the Ski 4 Kids several times, enthusiastically sharing, It s an awesome event that helps kids discover a love for skiing and the outdoors. BY ELIZABETH KNAPP BY TAMRA KORNFIELD Duncan s sister, Addy, has also volunteered at the Ski 4 Kids, and his father, Geoffrey, encourages employees at his company, Pango Technologies, to support the winter festival. The Ski 4 Kids committee hopes to net close to $10,000 this year to give out in grants that support youth skiing through funding of equipment, transportation and other needs of Anchorage schools and programs, as well as the Municipality of Anchorage s Ski Outreach Program. Registration fees help towards the fundraising goal, but a significant amount comes from corporations, foundations, small businesses, individuals and families. Their contributions help cover the costs and overhead involved in putting on the Ski 4 Kids and boost the amount available for grants. Erin Witmer, this year s Ski 4 Kids volunteer lead, encourages NSAA members to consider a donation. As you re planning your annual philanthropic donations, please consider giving the gift of skiing to others. You ll not only be helping to create access for all to a sport you love, but you ll be building an even stronger community of skiers to support trails and programs in the future. If you would like to make a donation to the Ski 4 Kids, contact the NSAA office at tkornfield@anchoragenordicski.com. This year s Ski 4 Kids is February 24 from noon to 4 p.m. at Kincaid Park. To register, visit anchoragenordicski.com/events/ski-4-kids/ Events Dec 3: Clinic Dec 13: Show&Go Jan 13: Tour Jan 17: Show&Go Jan 21: Kincaid Classic Jan 27: Clinic Feb 10: Bartlett Relay Feb 17: Tour Feb 21: Show&Go Feb 24: Chugiak Chinook Mar 14: Show&Go Mar 20: Skiquinox Race Details, visit: (907) 346-WOOF event weather hotline

5 January 2018 ANCHORAGE 5 Remembering Randy Bergt Anchorage skiing community mourns the loss of passionate leader, friend and outdoorsman Randall Derril Bergt ( ) Randy Bergt made his last ski turns with friends in the Talkeetna Mountains near Hatcher Pass on Nov. 22, His life ended the way it began, surrounded by the beauty of Alaska. Randy was born on Jan. 30, 1957, to Ronald and LeNelle Bergt at St. Joseph s Hospital in Fairbanks. His love of the outdoors was soon evident, and his mom LeNelle observed, if I hadn t been there, I would have thought he was born on skis. Raised in Anchorage around many of the pioneers of Alaskan aviation, Randy enjoyed many opportunities to explore the wilds of Alaska. He graduated from Dimond High School in 1975, and later received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It was at UAF that Randy met the love of his life, Tasha. They married on the Riverboat Discovery in Fairbanks and spent nearly four decades sharing their passion for outdoor adventure. During their early years together, most summers were split between enjoying their cabin on Farmers Loop and construction jobs across Alaska, where Randy gained skills in project management that he would use throughout his life. Most winters were spent in Alta, Utah, where Randy took great pride serving on the Alta Ski Patrol. Another highlight of their life was rowing for Glacier Raft Company in Montana. In later years, Randy and Tasha would guide together in the Brooks Range for Wilderness Alaska; travel abroad to New Zealand, Australia and Europe; and maintain strong ties to Hawaii, where Tasha grew up. But one of their favorite places remained close to home: the Thompson family homestead on the Tanana River near Fairbanks, where they helped Tasha s parents with their many projects. When Randy and Tasha eventually settled in Anchorage, they became entrenched in the Alpine and Nordic skiing communities. At first they worked weekends for the Ski Patrol and Ski School at Alyeska. Then they began coaching for the Anchorage Junior Nordic League, where they guided the same group of kids for many years, culminating with coaching the powerhouse Service High School Boys and Girls Ski Teams in the 1990s. Ever since, they volunteered regularly for outdoor events, giving generously of their time and expertise. Randy was beloved by many for his kind encouragement and inspiration to others, and is remembered fondly as a pillar of the Nordic skiing community. In his work life, Randy also had a passion for getting people moving literally. He was instrumental in developing transit and transit-to-trail systems throughout Anchorage during his 20-year career in transportation, which included work for HDR Engineering and culminated as project manager for Anchorage People Mover. Randy believed that integrating pedestrian and bike friendly routes into our transportation systems helped improve the health of our community, and he was able to implement this philosophy through his work. His coworkers considered Randy s commitment to transit-to-trail access an absolute obsession and were impressed that he biked to work almost every day. He loved the friends he made on our city s trails. Randy s many other interests included a passion for aviation, a love for music, and a huge heart for animals. He earned his private pilots license at 19, and flew commercially for a few years in the 1990s. Playing the guitar with friends while drinking a good beer was one of his favorite pastimes. He spoke to the wildlife and birds he encountered on his outdoor explorations as if they were family, and adored spending time with his kitties, Oscar and Marley, or playing fetch with his buddy Babe. Randy is survived by his mother, LeNelle; siblings Charie (Ron) and Steve (Lisa); brother-in-law Doug; and many aunts and uncles. He is also survived by his wife, Tasha; her mother, Dorothy; siblings Leif (Claudi), and Kiana; and sisterin-law Svetlana. He especially loved his nieces and nephews: Amy, Matt, Brad, Erik Kris, Steven, Heidi, Kevin, PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BERGT FAMILY Shayla, Sophia, and Alya. Randy was preceded in death by his father Ron, sister Traci, father-in-law Lane, and brother-in-law Yancey. The family would be honored by contributions in Randy s memory (tagged with his name) to the following organizations: Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (anchoragenordicski.com); Friends of the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center (cnfaic.org); Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center (hpavalanche.org); Friends of Pets (friendsofpets.org); and Alaska Humane Society (adopt-a-cat.org).

6 6 January 2018 Eagle River Nordic Ski Club Eagle River, Alaska P.O. Box , Eagle River, Alaska Club hotline Junior nordic hotline cernsc.wildapricot.org AROUND CHUGIAK/ EAGLE RIVER BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT Jason Dennis SECRETARY Meg Stehn TRAILS Jim Kazuba Annette Brion PHOTO BY ANNETTE BRION NSAA Operations team member Bill Brion grooms the Beach Lake Trails. NSAA groomer work magic at Beach Lake Trails Thanks to the skill of NSAA groomers, the Beach Lake Trails adjacent to Chugiak High School were groomed to perfection by December 2 this year. Although warm weather has affected skiing around Southcentral Alaska, hopefully the good base will hold until new snow arrives. Welcome Rish Harty and Ryan Caldwell, new Junior Nordic Coordinators. CERNSC is excited to introduce Rish Harty and Ryan Caldwell as new coordinators for Eagle River Junior Nordic. Ryan was born and raised in northern Pennsylvania, where his parents owned a small side business selling and renting cross-country ski equipment. He started skiing when he PHOTO PROVIDED BY RYAN CALDWELL Ryan Caldwell, one of the club s new Junior Nordic coordinators. was 4 years old and spent a lot of time on snow as his parents educated and skied with their customers. His dad signed him up for a nearby citizens race when Ryan was 16. After winning the race, Ryan realized his passion and wanted to enter more races. He went on to win three Pennsylvania state championships and raced in numerous 50K events. With no college Nordic programs in Pennsylvania, Ryan decided to run cross country and track for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). He met his future wife, Heather, at IUP. A few years after graduating from college, Ryan joined the Army, graduated from Officer Candidate School and became a commissioned officer. His first duty assignment at Ft. Drum, New York, which was close to Lake Placid and other great Nordic skiing areas. Heather and Ryan had two boys, Ian and Declan, while they were at Ft. Drum, and after a brief stint at Ft. Gordon, Georgia, they found themselves stationed at Ft. Richardson -- again close to great ski trails. After leaving the military, Ryan and PHOTO PROVIDED BY RISH HARTY Rish Harty, photographed with husband Jim, is one of the club s new Junior Nordic coordinators. his family decided that Alaska was home, and they continue to enjoy the tremendous ski trails in the Anchorage area. This is Ryan s fourth year coaching in the Eagle River Junior Nordic program, and he is excited to see the kids progress and learn the sport he loves. Rish s family moved here from Colorado six years ago. Her and her husband, Jim, are former Air Force. They moved to Alaska because it was Jim s first duty station as a young lieutenant and he had always wanted to come back. So the family packed up and pursued the dream, Rish said, and here we are! She said they love to hike and ski in winter and love the camping and fishing of Alaska s summers. They have three daughters that are all in Jr. Nordic, starting as Polar TREASURER Bob Stehn bob.stehn@gmail.com Steve Wilson big.su.tka@gmail.com VICE PRESIDENT/RACING Mike Beiersgrohslein mbeiergrohslein@msn.com JUNIOR NORDIC Will Taygan ski@taygan.com Steve Wilson big.su.tka@gmail.com NORDIC SKIER NEWSLETTER Rosalyn Singleton Rosalynsingleton2@gmail.com MASTERS Katie Rehm Kathleen.rehm@gmail.com Jason Gray Jason@datasuns.com Cubs. Jr. She said, Nordic is near and dear to my heart as I believe that getting out in the dark and chilly winter is instrumental to the well-being of our family and I want other families to join our awesome skiing community! Welcome and thank you, Rish and Ryan! If you see them on the trails, say hi. A group of CERNSC skiers enjoyed a cold crisp outing on Eagle River on November 30. If you re interested in CERNSC ski tours, contact Ros Singleton at rosalynsingleton2@gmail. com. Future tours planned for Eagle River Nature Center, Eklutna Lake and Symphony Lake as conditions allow. PHOTO BY ROS SINGLETON BY CODY PRIEST Chugiak High School coach Chugiak Ski Team turning heads this season For the past two seasons, the Chugiak High Mustang girls have brought home the second place team award from State Championships. This season it won t just be the girls that garner success; the boys find themselves in the hunt for medal contention behind the powerhouses of Service and West. With the hard work of the existing boys and influx of successful freshmen, coaches have had to make hard decisions for the varsity squad; leaving out some fast boys. The culture of the boys side has slowly evolved to a point where it is a positive environment for success. Everyone is motivated to go the extra mile and make that extra effort with podiums on the mind. Part of this shift has been created by Brian Wing, the lone senior on varsity who is a positive, hardworking, and enthusiastic leader. He has been sculpting this dedicated culture on the boys side the past couple seasons and is a major factor to the team s current success not just in results but by being a role model. On the ladies side, the team will still remain strong with the help of experienced racers and a group of hardworking underclassmen. The shot at a state team title is within range but teams like West Valley, South and West will make it challenging. Overall there is a lot of energy this year. Team captains have been doing great keeping the environment fun but serious when needed. Skiers have had positive attitudes with the snow, sunshine and recent rain. We are looking forward to a great season! PHOTO BY STEPHANIE PROFFITT Chugiak High ski team seniors Emma Nelson and Heidi Booher compete in the recent Lynx Loppet.

7 January Mat-Su Ski Club WASILLA, ALASKA 1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 3 Palmer, Alaska (907) 745-SKIS AROUND THE VALLEY That time of year I always find this time of year kind of odd, deep into winter, but lately not a ton of snow. We ve made it past the holidays, 10-plus pounds different (emphasis on the plus) and now it s time to enact those New Year s resolutions. If you are reading this publication, the odds are that one of those resolutions may relate to skiing, which is a good thing. But as Alaskans, after-work skiing this time of year is a deep dark ambition (figuratively and literally), unless of course you are heading to GPRA. This is where your ski club really helps out. Sometimes I need a goal or an obligation or some means to be accountable to ensure I do get out and place those bindings on in the colder, darker evenings. Thankfully the MSSC has many opportunities to ensure you don t ski tonight s ski. Whether it is a big goal, like the Icicle Double or a regular, weekly event like our community races, or our monthly moonlight skis, we are here to support you. It is a great day to be a skier! By Hans Hill, MSSC Vice President President s Corner: Dave Musgrave As the new president of the Mat-Su Ski Club, I d like to initiate a monthly update of issues before your Board of Directors. We have 13 board members, who are named in the sidebar. We had three members leave the board over the past year: Mike Norton, our former secretary, superlative grant writer, and Junior Nordic coach; Natalie King, who will take over as our race timer; and Ashley Wise, who is one of our volunteer groomers and this summer had his second child and decided his energies were needed on the home front. Each of them brought their energies and considered opinions to the board and the club. We wish them well in their future endeavors and welcome their continued help with the club as non-board members. I d like to welcome three new board members: Caitlin Buxbaum (nee Skvorc), who grew up skiing in the Valley and has returned as a Junior Nordic coach and is now our secretary; Jerry Hupp, who recently located from Anchorage to the Palmer area; and Chris Gierymski, who you have probably seen on the trails either skiing, biking, shoveling or cutting to keep them in great shape. Each year after the election of board members at the annual meeting in October, the board elects its officers for the coming year. I was elected president after offering to take the reins from Hans Hill, who has gratefully accepted the position of vice president. Hans leadership over the past few years has overseen the acquisition of the Centaur tracked vehicle for grooming, lighting of the Susitna Loop with partial funding ($25,000) from the club, and the undertaking of our largest project to-date (more than $250,000), the expansion of the trails at Government Peak Recreation Area, nearly doubling the amount of ski trails. Maritt Youngblood, who was reelected treasurer, has provided a professional approach to our accounts and accounting during a time when our total funds (membership, Junior Nordics, grants, etc.) have more than tripled. Without her professional help, we would be hopelessly lost. Our former secretary, Mike Norton, did yeoman s service in providing detailed minutes from our meetings. I wish to thank all of them and our other board members for their service over the past few years. As we move forward this year, there are several issues that I would like address in this forum over the next year. The board has short-, medium- and long-term goals. In the short term, we will be finishing the new trails, which will take additional work to get them in final shape, including removing rocks and seeding the trails. In the next five years we will be considering how to make our grooming and trail maintenance sustainable. Our groomers are all volunteers, but with the increase in number of trails, we will be considering compensation for groomers. In the three-to-eight-year future, we will need to invest in additional equipment and infrastructure, including a tractor for summer mowing and a storage building to house our groomers, Centaur, tracked vehicles, snowmachines and other equipment. I invite your thoughts on the direction the club will be taking. You can contact me at dave.musgrave@ matsuski.org. Board meetings are the first Tuesday of each month and the date and location are posted on www. matsuski.org. We will be posting the agenda for you to peruse and see if there are things that you may want to address in person. Your input is always welcome. Let s Go Ski, Dave! Northern Lights Race Series I suppose this may come as a surprise to some, but I work out somewhat regularly. Once upon a time I enjoyed training for long distance events, but a myriad of life changes (kiddo, work did I mention kiddo?) have left me a bit time restrained. So what to do? Shorter durations at higher intensities and this is where the MSSC has an offering to those of you who are also time constrained, The Northern Light Race Series. Beginning on January 17 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Dave Musgrave VICE PRESIDENT Hans Hill TREASURER Maritt Youngblood SECRETARY Caitlin Buxbaum BOARD MEMBERS Ed Strabel Dave Freer Chris Tomsen Lucas Parker Gene Backus Ashley Wise Jeff Kase Mark Strabel Jerry Hupp Chris Gierymski ADMINISTRATOR Tammy Hill (conditions dependent), the club will be offering a community race series every Wednesday until March where participants can race in distances of 5K or less. Cost is $5 (cash) per event. Cheaper than a spin class and more time-efficient. New trail pins My wife was recently staring at my side of the closet and poised this question, When s the last time you bought a new shirt? To which I replied, My style is timeless. I have since been informed that opinion is incorrect. So as my closet needs an update, the club has rolled out a new Logo and that means there are new trail pins to be had. Head on over to our website and make a donation of $15 or more and you too can update your ski (or work) attire. Mat-Su Ski for Women is February 4 Save the Date for Super Bowl Sunday! Have a lot of munching and watching TV planned for the afternoon? Work out those calories in advance at the 5th annual Mat-Su Ski for Women! This fun, un-timed event begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4. Costumes are encouraged and all entry fees go to Alaska Family Services. Registration will be up soon; stay tuned to Mat-Su Ski Club s Ski for Women Facebook page for more information. Club calendar January 8-March 1 Junior Nordic begins. Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, GPRA. January Government Peak Invite high school races, volunteers needed; Community/ Junior Nordic race on Saturday. January 17 Wednesday Night races start 7 p.m. every Wednesday to February 28; normally classic and freestyle divisions 1.5-5K) January 27 Moonlight Ski at Moose Range, 7 p.m. February 4 Ski for Women at GPRA February 6 MSSC Board Meeting

8 The race is on U.S. Nationals returns to Anchorage, highlighting country s best cross-country skiers American Junior skiers Katherine Ogden, Julia Kern, Hailey Swirlbul and Hannah Halverson made the first podium ever, a silver medal, at the World Juniors in They are among the skiers to watch during the 2018 U.S. Nationals in Anchorage. PHOTO COURTESY APU NORDIC SKI CENTER U.S. Olympic hopeful and Anchorage local Scott Patterson will compete in the 2018 ConocoPhillips U.S. Cross Country Championships at Kincaid Park. BY MELISSA DEVAUGHN Coast Magazine On the trails of Anchorage s Kincaid Park, Olympians have been made. World Cup champions have been groomed. Countless hours of training and nail-biting racing has happened on these corduroy-covered trails. It s a place where dreams happen. That s why the 2018 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships are not to be missed. This massive event, set for Jan. 3-8, 2018, pits some of the nation s top skiers against one another, not only for bragging rights, but also for a potential berth on the U.S. Olympic Ski Team that will compete in PyeongChang, South Korea, just a few weeks later. The dream is real. Just ask Holly Brooks, who competed in the same event when it was held at Kincaid in 2010, and skied her way onto the podium and the U.S. Ski Team. That accomplishment led her on to a stellar career that included two Olympics and a first-ever U.S. Ski Team World Cup relay victory. Last time this event was here I was racing, and I credit the hometown advantage with making the Olympics, and essentially changing the trajectory of my life, said Brooks, who has had the opportunity to utter those same words, along with many thankyous, to the countless volunteers and experts who put on the races. This year, Brooks, who retired from racing in 2016, is helping to run the Award Ceremonies with her husband, Rob Whitney, during the races. The 2018 U.S. Cross Country National Ski Championships or Nationals, as most people call them, includes four days of racing spread over the course of the week. Plan your calendars carefully for race days, which include two sprint races in classic and freestyle; as well as a longer mass start classic race and interval start freestyle race. Skiers ranging from their mid-teens to masters will be there, competing not only for a podium here, but also potentially earning team spots for Junior Nationals in the spring, and even competitions abroad. Kincaid is no stranger to putting on Nationals, either. Joey Caterinichio, Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage president and chairman of the U.S. Nationals event, helped bring the races to Kincaid, back-to-back, in 2009 and We are a well-oiled machine running this, Caterinichio said even more so now that Kincaid has snowmaking equipment that it lacked eight years ago. There are new, improved courses, and snowmaking, and Anchorage rocks as a strong Nordic See RACE, Page 9

9 Home-trail advantage Alaskan athletes aim high at U.S. Nationals 2018 Alaskan skiers compete annually in the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships, racing on the Upper Peninsula s frosty rollercoaster trails, the oxygen-deprived Olympic course at Utah s Soldier Hollow, and on New England s mostly artificial snow. This year, Alaska s skiers are back home at Kincaid Park for nationals. They ve lined up at the start in this stadium countless times. They know the trails. They know where they ve crashed, bonked, passed and excelled. APU elite skier Reese Hanneman, is looking forward to the familiar. It really is such a cool feeling, to remember back racing so much here as a kid, and now so many years later, to try and ski much faster around these same loops, he said. It s an honor to be able to race at home in U.S. Nationals. Reese and his brother Logan Hanneman are just two of the many Alaska skiers to look for at these races. While the blue Alaska Pacific University (APU) race suits will be prominent at Kincaid, some well-known Alaska skiers might be missing. Four-time Olympian Kikkan Randall, and fellow APU skiers Sadie Bjornsen, Erik Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan, Chelsea Holmes, and Scott Patterson, are overseas competing in the early stages of the World Cup season. Their aim is to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team on that European circuit. If they don t, they ll be back in Alaska for nationals, which is another door to the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. If any spots still remain by New Year s, the series at Kincaid Park is a last opportunity to prove up. APU head coach Erik Flora explained that the competition in Alaska is the final week of racing in the U.S. for the Olympic qualification process and for World Juniors. For our APU elite team, this is an opportunity to represent the United States at the Olympics, the coach said. This is a goal they have spent the better part of 10 years preparing for and many thousands of hours training. His roster of senior Alaska skiers to watch include Reese, Hanneman, Logan Hanneman, David Norris, Tyler Kornfield, Erik Packer, Forest Mahlen, Thomas O Hara, Rosie Frankowski and Becca Rorabaugh. Many of these skiers competed together on Team AK at Junior Nationals. Rorabaugh said she and her team are looking forward to Kincaid Park and Alaska offering some good oldfashioned winter conditions and a chance to shine on the big stage. We ve had time to really cohere as a group and that s made each of us stronger, she said. I think we ve got an amazing cohort of skiers who will be in the mix for Olympic qualification this year. APU s Flora is optimistic about his athletes chances and advises not to underestimate the power of the hometown crowd. This is the biggest competition we will have this year in the United States, he said. It will be great to see our community out on the trails in Reese Hanneman skis to victory during Nationals races at Soldier Hollow, Utah. He is among the Alaskans to watch for the 2018 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships being held in Anchorage. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM KELLY USSA/REESEHANNEMAN.COM January to cheer a tremendous event. Olympic slots aren t the only incentive during this week of racing. For college skiers in the Rocky Mountain division, the first two skate races are NCAA qualifiers. Alaskans Tracen Knopp, Sadie Fox and Jenna DiFolco will be skiing for the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Seawolves, and Anna Darnell, Sarissa Lammers, Max Donaldson, Seiji Takagi and Logan Mowry will be skiing for the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Nanooks. Further afield, but also returning home to compete with the Montana State team, is Emma Tarbath. Other collegiate Alaskans retuning to race are Dartmouth skiers Lydia Blanchet and Taryn Hunt-Smith, Williams skiers Jack Consenstein and Andrew Hull, and Middlebury skier Jacob Volz. Along with Olympic and NCAA goals, younger skiers are focused on qualifying for the World Junior Championships in Goms, Switzerland, and the U18 Nordic Nations Championships in Vuokatti, Finland. Getting a spot on either of these teams is based on age and points accrued in all four nationals races. Junior Worlds, explains Flora, starts the road toward international racing and one day the Olympics. Alaskan locals competing with their sights on Junior Worlds include Alaska Winter Stars (AWS) Juniors Molly Gellert, Gus Schumacher, Quincy Donley, Eli Hermanson and Luke Fritzel; APU Juniors Hunter Wonders, Canyon Tobin, Luke Jager, and Dawson Knopp; Alaska Nordic Racing Juniors Emma Nelson, Heidi Booher and Adrianna Proffitt; and FXC (Fairbanks) Juniors Ti Donaldson and Kendall Kramer. AWS skier Gellert scored enough points in last year s nationals to make it to the Nordic Nations Championships. She said the familiarity of Kincaid Park will be reassuring during the tough week of racing. It s super awesome that nationals are on home soil this year because the races will be on trails we spend countless hours training on, she said. Add up all of these athletes and Alaska undoubtedly has a strong presence in this competition, from high school racers to college graduates. There will even be some local senior masters jumping in to see how they stack up against the younger field. The common denominator to this powerful bench of skiers, according to APU s Hanneman, is Alaska s support for the sport. We have some of the best coaches in the country, lots of options for skiing most of the year, and a community that really gets excited about ski racing, he said. A bunch of our junior clubs are really strong right now, and I think we are going to see even more Alaskans competing at a high level. Hanneman should know he s stood on more than one podium at U.S. nationals, the top step as well. Look for him and all of the other Alaska skiers during this exciting week of racing. Don t forget your cowbell. This article first ran in the December 2017 issue of Coast Magazine (coast-magazine.com). RACE Continued from Page 8 community. Caterinichio, who used to be Nordic director for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association, said USSA likes to move the race locations around the country to keep it fair for athletes and allow for varying competition venues. So, when the races come to Anchorage, she said it is a real advantage for local skiers. There is a real home course advantage, she said. There s less travel so athletes can be rested, and staying at home vs. a hotel. Brooks said she is positive that competing at home in 2010 helped launch her success. Skiing, she said, is as much mental as physical, and when there are hordes of friends and family cheering you on, it helps you dig deep. Home course advantage includes everything from not having to travel over the holidays, sleeping in your own bed, eating your own food, and training on the courses in the months and weeks leading up to the event, she said. Also, local coaches know which waxes run well at Kincaid, and athletes have the independence and autonomy to do whatever is best for their preparation and recovery. Perhaps my favorite part of racing at home was benefiting from friends, family, and athletes that I coached coming out to cheer for me, she added. At high stakes races you are physically and mentally prepared to enter the pain cave, but when you have a big cheering squad it somehow has the ability to help you find an additional gear. The junior skiers that I coached at the time painted 5-foot tall GO HOLLY letters that were staged at the top of the sledding hill all week. The support was amazing and gave me the extra boost that helped me make my first Olympic team. So, if you are skier, sports fan or just like to watch and appreciate elite athletes at their best, come out to the 2018 U.S. Cross Country National Ski Championships and cheer them on. I think this is a really special Olympic cycle where Alaska stands to qualify more Alaskans for the Olympic Games than ever before, Brooks said. If our skiers ski to their potential we could stand to send five to eight Alaskan skiers to represent our state and the U.S.A. on the big stage come February! This article first ran in the December 2017 issue of Coast Magazine (coast-magazine.com).

10 L.L.BEAN U.S. CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS January 2018 Welcome to the races! The U.S. Cross Country Championships are the premier U.S. event of the season. The races determine all U.S. National Champions. It is open to all USSA and FIS competitors and include top club racers, foreign skiers and members of the U.S. Ski Team. The Championships are part of the SuperTour; double SuperTour points are awarded during the championships. SuperTour races are used in selection for elite teams such as World Championships, Continental Cup and the Olympics. Qualifying races Nationals allow young seniors and top junior athletes to qualify and represent Team USA for elite international racing teams. Athletes can qualify for: The World Junior Championships Trials: This team is made up from the nation s top juniors and selected from the U.S. Cross Country Championships. The team will compete at the Junior World Championships in Goms-Kandersteg, Switzerland, Jan. 27-Feb. 2, The U-23s: This international race series is in conjunction with the World Juniors, hosting young senior athletes under age 23. The Junior Scandinavian Championships: Open to U16 and U18 competitors only and the premier international competition for competitors 17 years and younger. Team selected through the nationals freestyle sprint and the classic 5/10 kilometer events. For more information on elite National Cross Country Programs, nomination criteria for the U.S. disabled criteria and elite traveling teams, please visit Rules of engagement Welcome to Kincaid Park! We re glad you traveled near and far to take in nationals and we want this to be a spirited and fair event for all. To keep events fair for competitors and fun for spectators, we ask participants to be mindful of the rules. Competition days All race trails are closed to spectators: skiing and on-foot traffic. Only racers, coaches and officials are permitted on the courses. Spectators will have designated areas to enjoy the races. Warm-up and wax testing areas are open to racers and coaches only. You can ski the other Kincaid Park trails; no passes required. If you are a skiing for recreation, a donation to the NSAA trail fund would be appreciated: anchoragenordicski.com. No dogs allowed Cross-country skiing competitions and dogs don t mix. Please leave the dogs at home. Stadium access All access to the stadium floor will be via the bridge from the Chalet parking lot to Spectator Ridge. Spectator routes are designated for each competition day. Walking, and sometimes skiing, will be allowed to access these points. Great viewing spots are on the ridge above the timing building and by the stadium parking lot. The stadium floor will not be open for spectators. Course controllers and stewards will provide direction it is their job to ensure the competition can occur unimpeded. Information is available at the race office and kiosk in the lower parking lot. Start lists, results, course maps and spectator information will be available at this location. Parking The Chalet parking lot will be limited to athletes, officials and select volunteers. Spectator and volunteer parking is available in the stadium parking lot (behind the scoreboard) and overflow lots. Please carpool; if so, you can drop passengers and gear at the chalet before parking in an outer lot. Non-competition days All trails are open to all skiers. Kincaid Park has 60 kilometers of groomed ski trails each is unique and offer great views of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Range, Mount Susitna, the Chugach Mountains, Mount McKinley and Mount Foraker. MAPS Download event maps at anchoragenordicski.com/nationals18/ event-info/. Sponsors Premiere Title Chalet Parking Lot Finish Timing Stadium Lower Parking Lot NSAA Bunker Platinum Level Start Annex Schedule All races at Kincaid Park; schedule subject to change WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Men s 15k freestyle, Women s 10k freestyle FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Men s and women s freestyle sprints SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Men s 30k classic mass start, Women s 20k classic mass start, Junior men s 10k classic mass start, Junior women s 5k classic mass start MONDAY, JANUARY 8 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Men s and women s classic sprints Find a full schedule and PDF for printing at anchoragenordicski.com/ schedule/. Links Biathlon Range Gold Level Silver Level Bronze Level Official website usnationals2018.com Official Facebook facebook.com/xcusnats2018/ Official Official U.S. Ski and Snowboard team usskiteam.com Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage anchoragenordicski.com Friends & Supporters the alaska nordic skier

11 January Girdwood Nordic Ski Club Girdwood, Alaska P.O. Box 337 Girdwood, AK skigirdwood.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEB ESSEX President BRIAN BURNETT Vice President BRIANA SULLIVAN Secretary JUSTIN THOMAS Treasurer JIM BRAHAM PETER ZUG ARI STIASSNY AROUND GIRDWOOD Patience is a virtue, but sometimes it s also really, really tough BY PETER ZUG Girdwood is having a slow start for valley snows. Coverage is great above 1,000 feet, but so far not strong on the Girdwood Nordic 5K loop. First groomer pack was late November and after another round of grooming we were on our way to a great ski season on December 1. Then came rain and warm temperatures. As of December 14, all traces of snow and ice are mostly gone from our trail (and the valley floor). Since climate changes seem to have affected the start of the season we see this as a new beginning. The 5K awaits some Christmas cheer in the form of snow. Due to an open tree canopy and the smooth surface of the trail bed, our trail can be open with minimal snow. We can t wait for the next snowstorm. We went ahead with a Friday, Dec. 22, Solstice celebration party at our trailhead kiosk at the end of Arlberg. Unless it was a full-on monsoon, we had a great time! We ll let you know in the next issue. Happy winter from GNSC. STATEWIDE Jan Buron: The North Star for Alaska s Winter Stars BY AWS NORDIC SKI BOOSTERS Twenty years ago, Anchorage coach Jan Buron began his Alaska Winter Stars ski program. During that time, he has helped develop many of Alaska s best skiers. He s arguably one of the best technique coaches you will come across, based on his expertise gained from his early years skiing and coaching professionally in Poland, combined with continued attention and commitment to learning and teaching new techniques as they develop. Many who have known Buron since the early years remember his entrance to the Alaska ski scene: he worked his way across the United States, starting in New York and New Jersey in After a stint as a fisherman in the Bering Sea, Buron ultimately found his way to Anchorage in In 1997, after a few years of working with an early Anchorage training program, the Alaska Sports Academy, Buron started his own program working with skiers aged 10-18: Alaska Winter Stars (AWS). The same year, Buron began coaching at Service High School. During his tenure, his statistics as a high school coach are unmatched by any other school, with 11 state championship titles for girls and eight titles for the boys. Since 1997, 13 of his athletes claimed 21 State Skimeister titles including Tara Masters (Hamilton) from On the national circuit, his skiers often are seen on the podiums and are named to international teams such as the World Junior team or the U18 (previously known as the Scando) team. Buron has twice been named USSA Coach of the Year. AWS has received the USSA Club of the Year award several times, and has had many athletes go on to excel collegiately as well as successfully stay in the hunt for a spot on the U.S. national team. These days the AWS program has a strong junior program, too. In the offseason, you can see Buron goofing around with the kids in a game of soccer, calling out splits at a Gasline time trial, or picking out the slightest technique improvement suggestion on a rollerski route. Additionally, he can be found leading a large group of skiers up a trail in the Chugach, often intermixed with Masters athletes. With actual snow to work with, his skiers are on their skis from the earliest time possible: traveling to Hatcher Pass in early November, to the snowmaking loop at Kincaid Park, and moving snow around on the Hillside trails to take advantage of the home trail advantage that the Service High PHOTO BY ALISON ARIANS Jan Buron with Quincy Donley and Luke Fritzel. PHOTO BY LAURI BASSETT Jan, who is an occasional Minion, watches the 2013 East High Relay. School team enjoys. Buron also leads a dedicated group of Masters skiers; a handful of which including Buron will attend the World Masters Cross Country Skiing Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January. Buron is training along with his athletes and is very eager to go up against his teammates and rivals from years of skiing in Poland. Before that though, he ll be preparing his Service Cougars and Alaska Winter Stars for their competitions: the main event is the U.S. Cross Country National Championships at Kincaid Park in early January. When you see Buron on the trail, it s a sure bet PHOTO BY AMY SCHUMACHER Jan keeps an eye on the Alaskans in action at a recent Senior Nationals in Houghton, Michigan. that he s been outside for more hours of a day than he s been inside. A typical day includes leading the mid-day skiers from noon-1:30; then on to round up the Service High School skiers at 2. Shortly after high school practice, he takes younger junior skiers for a 90-minute workout. And he somehow has plenty of energy left for his Masters skiers, who train from 6:30-8. While he does have assistant coaches, he s very in touch with his AWS athletes on all levels. During training sessions, he s preparing for the real work which is on most weekends in the wintertime. From December through February there is always some kind of race for which he is preparing a waxing plan. At a ski race, it sometimes seems that he is cloned because he gets around to so many places at once. Not only is he waxing skis, he is also running up a hill calling split information to a racer, and cheering on another athlete any athlete, not only his athletes. He is energetic about the competition of racing and loves a good race. Alaska is fortunate to have Buron on its coaching roster. Not only has he developed many Alaska Winter Stars and Service High Cougars into top-notch athletes and citizens, his excellent coaching keeps Alaska skiers competitive. Athletes of all programs benefit from the successes of each program. When the top skiers in the nation are at the starting line for high school races, the national-level races seem a tad less intimidating. Congratulations to Coach Jan Buron for a successful 20 years; here is to 20 more!

12 12 January 2018 Kachemak Nordic Ski Club Homer, Alaska P.O. Box 44, Homer, Alaska kachemaknordicskiclub.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Gracz President Stacey Buckalew Vice President Christine Anderson Secretary Richard Burton Treasurer BOARD MEMBERS Jan Spurkland Jason Neely Jasmine Maurer Derek Bynagle Glenn Seaman Annie Ridgely Administrative Manager COMMITTEES AND EVENTS Baycrest Upper Alan Parks Baycrest Lower, Eveline State Recreation Site, Snowshoe Trails Dave Brann Lookout Mountain Mike Byerly McNeil Canyon School Derek Stonorov Trail Signs Jennifer Edwards Snow Machine Maintenance Equipment Chairperson Bob Glen Junior Nordic Deb Mosely Kachemak Women s Nordic Jasmine Maurer Kenai Borough lands (red) and KNSC trials (blue) in the Kachemak Bay area. AROUND THE BAY Coming to terms with the future of our trails terms Message from President Mike Gracz aka Fritz Creek Skier Kachemak Nordic Ski Club is in the process of entering into a 20-year Community Trails Management Agreement with the Kenai Peninsula Borough. A long-term goal of the club has been to gain more permanent status for our trails. KNSC manages trails that cross lands with diverse ownership, but many of our trails and both of our maintenance buildings are on Kenai Borough lands. Currently, the trails on Borough lands are covered by two different types of arrangements: a 10-year lease for the trails at the Lookout Mountain Recreational Area, and 5-year permits for other parcels. The permits and the lease all expire next year, therefore, it is timely to enter into an agreement that will give us longer-term management authority over our trails. This longer-term authority will require more work upfront, but should lower the workload over the longer term. The load will be lowered because KNSC won t need to consult with the borough every time we want to perform trail work at one of the permitted parcels, and we won t need a letter to potential funders stating the Borough s intention to continually renew the permits/lease. One especially important funding source requires this sort of long-term agreement with owners of the lands that our trails cross. Moreover, KNSC will only need to renew one agreement every 20 years rather than permits and leases that expire at different times. With that management authority comes responsibility. Most of the application process is straightforward and includes the types of trail construction and maintenance activity that KNSC has been doing all along. The Borough s land manager thinks we should have no problems obtaining an agreement because KNSC has proven its capacity over the past 31 years. The club intends to continue managing the trails as we always have: for the benefit of Nordic skiing in the Kachemak Bay area. However, if we wish to formally restrict any activities on our trails, such as unauthorized motor vehicle use, we need to support those restrictions with some sort of management activity, such as signage. The KNSC Board of Directors and I are therefore looking for your input on this process, especially if you have specific information on specific Borough parcels that we may not be aware of (see the map figure here and in the links at: kachemaknordicskiclub.org/event/community-trails-management-meeting/). Feel free to me at mbgracz@ gmail.com or visit kachemaknordicskiclub.org/about-us/boardmembers/ for contact information of other board members! Ski you out there!! Send us your snow! Here in Homer, we ve seen the beautiful photos of Nordic skiers throughout the state having a great time racing and playing in this year s snow. We want to race and play in the snow, too. But the rain has washed away all our snow in this tropical portion of the Kenai Peninsula. So unless nature cooperates and gives us some good white stuff, we need you to send us your snow for the following events to take place. As always, check the KNSC club website (Kachemaknordicskiclub.org) and our Facebook page for updates, as well as occasional s and future newsletters. Think snow! Ongoing around the Bay October 16-April Kachemak Women s Nordic Intended for those skiers looking to improve their technique and establish a regular training program. Racing is encouraged but not required. The group focuses on skating and classical techniques. Practice is held three to six times a week. Participants must be KSNC members. Kachemak Women s Nordic Training Dates Mon, Wed., Thurs., Fri. from noon-1:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. kachemakwomensnordic.com. Co-Ed Intermediate Skate Technique and Tour Preparation Awareness A new program, sponsored by Kachemak Women s Nordic, to train co-ed intermediate skiers to improve their skate techniques and fitness levels. Five-week course with 10 sessions, running from January 27 through February 28, on Wednesdays, noon- 2 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon. Locations depend on snow conditions. Cost $50. To participate, phone coordinator Jasmine Maurer at Jan. 27-Feb. 24, Saturdays Junior Nordic Program This learn-to-ski program for youth from kindergarten through 6th grade offers five Saturdays of winter fun. The program takes youth to different trailheads. Rental equipment is available. First session Saturday, Jan. 27, at Lookout Mountain Recreation Area, 1-2:30 p.m. Other locations TBA. PSIA Coaching Clinics Wednesdays afternoons. Contact Megan Corazza at JANUARY Besh Cups at Lookout Mountain Recreation Area. 26 Friday Night Lights 6-9 p.m., location depends on snow. Check the Events Calendar page or KNSC Facebook page for the location. PSIA and Adult Ski Clinics, Private Ski Lessons Megan Corraza Membership, Website Richard Burton School Races Coordinator Leonard Miller Backcountry Film Festival Dan Del Missier Winter Gear & Ski Swap Mike Illg (Homer Community Recreation) Besh Cup Races Jan Spurkland Kachemak Bay Ski for Women & Haven House Kris Holdereid/Shelly Laukitis Wine, Cheese & Wooden Ski Tour Kevin Walker/Marilyn Parrett Alaska Nordic Skier Jeannie Woodring Kachemak Bay Marathon Ski Deland Anderson Homer Epic 100 Homer Cycling Club Friday Night Lights Stacey Buckalew Sea to Ski Triathlon Derek Bynagle 27 Junior Nordic Program First session on Jan. 27 at Lookout Mountain Recreation Area. 1-2:30 p.m. Other locations TBA. FEBRUARY 3, 10, 17, 24 Junior Nordic Program Saturdays at Lookout Mountain State Recreation Area, 1-2:30 p.m. Other locations TBA. 4 Ski/Walk/Run for Women At Lookout Mountain State Recreation Area. Backcountry Film Festival 7 p.m. at Homer Theatre. Dates and details TBA. 11 Wine and Cheese and Wooden Ski Tour Noon-4 p.m., location TBA. MARCH 10 KNSC Nordic Ski Marathon At Lookout Mountain Ski Trails (starting line). Check the club s website and Facebook page for updates and more information. Sea to Ski TBA, based on snow. For more details, check out the KNSC website or Facebook page closer to March.

13 January 2018 KACHEMAK 13 Corazza brings new level of coaching to Homer BY JEANNIE WOODRING Ski coaches in Homer and on the Kenai Peninsula can now get taught from the nation s most recognized ski program. They will be coached by Megan Corazza, a lifelong Homer resident and third-generation skier, who has received the Level III certification from the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). PSIA is the world s largest organization dedicated to teaching people how to ski and snowboard. This is a big deal, says Annie Ridgely, administrative assistant for the KNSC. Megan brings a whole new level of coaching. Her caliber is as high as it gets. Getting the Level III certification was no easy feat for Corazza. She grew up skiing in Homer, winning races, improving her technique, and volunteering for ski events and the KNSC. As an adult, Corazza went through a rigorous tryout process to be on the PSIA national team. The team consists of 30 skiers from alpine, snowboarding, Nordic, and adaptive categories. During her tenure on the team, Corazza was the only cross-country specialist on the Nordic team. She developed a lot of educational material and traveled the nation and world putting on and giving ski clinics. While on the team, Corazza also took on another huge challenge: co-authoring the nation s technical manual for teaching Nordic skiing. She literally helped write the book for coaching cross-country. And now she s offering her coaching skills to Homer along with the lessons she has learned along her ski journey. I got overcommitted and I was asking other people to overcommit, she says. Our ski club is entirely run by volunteers. I think there is a healthier way to do it. I gave time to skiing that should have been given to my family and my marriage and the cost was very high. Now, she adds, I am trying to return to skiing with more balance and perspective. I have volunteered to be the director of coaching education for the Junior Nordic Program. And if anyone wants to get their Level I-III PSIA certification, I can help with that. As Director of Coaches, Corazza is also leading PSIA coaching clinics, which take place on Wednesday afternoons. To take part, contact her at (text is best). I have always believed that coaches are the foundation of the ski community, Corazza concluded, but now I am doing it in a much more relaxed manner. New Co-ed Ski Clinic available in Homer PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN CORAZZA Megan Corazza and son Fischer Corazza Spurkland take a happy ski selfie! BY JEANNIE WOODRING The Kachemak Women s Nordic program, formerly known as Homer Women s Nordic, has offered Nordic instruction and training to women in Homer for over 11 years. The program has become hugely successful and many ladies would love to have their significant others ski with them from time to time. Now the men are welcome in a new intermediate to advanced co-ed program that starts on January 27. Jasmine Maurer, one of five directors for the Women s Nordic Program, has been involved with that program for seven years. The program has always been evolving to match the changing interests of participants, she said. Last year we heard repeatedly from the Nordic community and Women s Nordic participants of the need for two opportunities to provide for their current interests. One was more technique instruction and the second was to create an opportunity for men to participate in a group setting. So the idea for a co-ed training program emerged. The Co-Ed Program will be led by a collaboration of volunteer coaches from the Women s Nordic Program and the greater ski community. The Co-Ed Program will focus on skate technique. Starting on January 27, the group will meet Wednesdays from noon-2 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, for five weeks and 10 sessions. Cost is $50. The goal of the program is to improve skate technique and to prepare skiers for the Tour of Anchorage, scheduled for March 4. To sign up for the program, contact Maurer at

14 14 January 2018 Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska SKIING UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Q&A with Norma Haubenstock, NSCF Volunteer Coordinator Q: How are you involved with the NSCF? I have volunteered with the NSCF for over 20 years, mostly working as the volunteer coordinator for many of the competition events. The first big event that I worked on in Fairbanks was 2003 Junior Nationals and after that I was hooked because the crew was so helpful, kind and did such a great job. Other events included Distance Nationals 2008, 2009 and 2017, Arctic Winter Games 2014, Junior Nationals 2013, many years of high school championships and our own local town races. Many of the crew members who currently volunteer at our races are also some of the same people who helped in It is wonderful group. Q: How long have you been a cross-country skier? What do you remember about your first time on skis? I have been a cross-country skier since my first winter in Fairbanks in But my first memorable crosscountry ski was around 1977 in the Lake Tahoe, California, area. I remember the smell of pine tar and then slowly meandering up a beautifully snowy trail. The snow was deep and soft and we had a picnic in the sunshine, which included wine slushies. Q: What do you like about crosscountry skiing? I love the total body workout of cross-country skiing and the silence of being out on the trails. I love skiing alone and skiing with friends. It is a great way to stay warm outside during the winter. Q: Where do you like to crosscountry ski and why? I especially like to ski at the Birch Hill Recreation area, because I love going up hills to get a great workout and we live very near those trails. I also appreciate the great grooming and like the rhythm of skiing there. I also like the many other trials in Fairbanks and surrounding areas. Q: When and why did you move to Fairbanks? What do you like about living in Fairbanks? I moved to Fairbanks in June 1982 for a job at the Institute of Marine Science, at the University of Alaska PHOTO BY JOHN ESTLE Norma Haubenstock poses in Soldier Hollow, Utah as volunteer at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics cross country events. Fairbanks. I love living in Fairbanks because it is so easy to get outside on the trails and quickly be out in nature. I love our circle of friends and our community of kind and great people. I love that rush hour only lasts for 20 minutes and doesn t involve too many cars. Q: Is there anything more you want to tell us about yourself? I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I am the only one of five siblings who doesn t live within 45 minutes of the house I grew up in. They don t get living in Alaska. I have worked at UAF for over 30 years and have been blessed with great supervisors and co-workers. In 2004, I got my massage license and have been practicing part-time ever since. In P.O. Box 80111, Fairbanks, AK Competition Office Competition Fax Racing Hotline nscfairbanks.org Who s Who in the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks JUNIOR NORDIC HOTLINE PRESIDENT Steven Hansen president@nscfairbanks.org VICE PRESIDENT Bruce Jamieson vicepresident@nscfairbanks.org SECRETARY Helena Reuter secretary@nscfairbanks.org TREASURER Anna Sorenson treasurer@nscfairbanks.org AT-LARGE MEMBERS Eric Beutow Kate Carey Mike Donaldson Mark Winford ADULT LESSONS COORDINATOR adultlessons@nscfairbanks.org FAIRBANKS JUNIOR NORDICS Sally Endestad juniornordics@nscfairbanks.org FAIRBANKS CROSS COUNTRY Pete Leonard Head Coach, Program Director FXC@nscfairbanks.org RACE PROGRAM DIRECTOR John Estle competitionevents@nscfairbanks.org BIATHLON Helena Reuter biathlon@nscfairbanks.org TOURING touring@nscfairbanks.org Mike Schmoker msfbcski@gmail.com Eric Troyer fbxskierparent@gmail.com NEWSLETTER EDITOR Kate Carey newsletter@nscfairbanks.org 2005 and 2007, I traveled with friends to ski across Finland in the Rajalta Rajalla Hiihto. AROUND THE INTERIOR Sonot Kkaazoot and Sonot Training class registration available now NSCF is proud to announce that registration for the 31st annual Sonot Kkaazoot is now available. Fairbanks annual spring skiing marathon will take place Saturday March 24, and will have 50K, 40K and 20K options. Early registration deadline is 5 p.m. February 23. For more information visit Kristin Rozell will once again be holding a Sonot training class focusing on skate technique, intervals and pacing for intermediate level skiers. Training will be focused on the 50K but those interested in an introductory training program are welcome to attend. Register at or contact Kristen Rozell at kbrozell@ gmail.com with any questions. Adult Lessons Session II After an excellent turnout in early winter, NSCF will continue to offer adult lessons in Registration is now available at org. If you have questions or are interested in becoming an Adult Lessons coach, please contact Rebecca Heaton membership@nscfairbanks. org. NSCF Calendar keeps you updated Remember to check the NSCF Calendar for upcoming club events. You can check competition events, social activities and more. Visit www. nscfairbanks.org for more! You can also like the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks on Facebook to keep up with local events. NSCF seeking Junior Nordics coaches Our youth skiers are in need of your help! We have lots of excited, budding Nordic skiers ready to enjoy this amazing snow and not enough volunteer coaches to go around. The See AROUND THE INTERIOR, Page 15

15 January 2018 FAIRBANKS 15 Skiing through growth/ Growth through skiing BY OWEN W. HANLEY The wonderful thing about skiing is the way it can hold different purposes throughout life. Aside from my parents, skiing has been one of the most constant relationships in my life. It has transcended friendships, physical growth and change from youth to young adult to fatherhood. Just like friends that hold special meaning and impact your growth through a particular phase of life, I see the ways in which skiing has supported my growth. My first memories of skiing are, in fact, some of my first memories. I remember my father s hands picking me up out of the snow shuffling a few awkward strides, falling and there he was to pick me up again. A gift of support, perhaps, so much more significant than I could have realized at the time. In my elementary school years skiing was a way to go fast and be with friends. I remember climbing up the glacial moraine behind our cabin in the Alaska Range, putting on my skis and pointing them straight down the hill. I would do this for hours with my brother and friends in the spring warmth of the March and April sun. In high school and continuing into college, skiing became the outlet of my competitive growth. Setting goals that motivated me, working towards those goals most of the time failing in the attempt, but refocusing each time. The relationships I made through skiing in those years last with me still and those people remain some of my closest confidants. Following college, I continued to ski competitively; in retrospect, I think I needed to see what I was capable of when dedicating myself to one goal. Transitioning into a professional career with postgraduate training, skiing was my outlet. It brought me away from study and a sedentary life and into the outdoors each day, providing me time in the natural world. I began, once again, to use skiing as a way to get into the backcountry and the rare/beautiful places of the world, something that had become less of a priority during my more competitive skiing years. Today, 35 years after my first memories on snow, each fall I still await those first snowflakes with anticipation. Skiing is my way of staying healthy and exploring the outdoors as life has brought new diversions with work and family. My two-year-old daughter, who is yet to take her first strides this season, runs around the house with any available stick or similar object mimicking the movements she has seen from her folks and saying, I ski, I ski! I hope skiing can have the same influence on her life a way to develop strong friendships, a healthy body and a sense of appreciation and wonder in the natural world. AROUND THE INTERIOR Continued from Page 14 number of Junior Nordics participants is growing along with the interest in our awesome sport! You do not need experience to participate, just a positive attitude and love of skiing that you are willing to share. If you are interested please contact Sally Endestad at juniornordics@nscairbanks.org. Junior Nordics lessons take place: 6:30 p.m. Monday at UAF West Ridge, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Birch Hill, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Birch Hill. There is also a new daytime pilot program at 1 p.m. at Birch Hill Ski Center intended for home school children. See org for more information. NSCF 50th anniversary Youth Ski Challenge The ski season marks the 50th year of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks. We are encouraging kids in grade K-6 to get out on the trails to help us celebrate by skiing 50 kilometers this season! Ski with a friend, parent or coach and keep track of your distance you will be surprised how far you ski! Registration will be available soon at Junior Nordics, FNSB elementary schools and online but you can start recording your Ks now! Awards for all finishers and each grade level and a midway prize once you get to 25K! Those that complete the challenge will be entered into a drawing for fun ski gear to be awarded in March. For more information contact Kate Carey at katecarey907@gmail.com. ONLY 3 miles to Birch Hill Free WiFi Team Waxing Area 24 hour Fitness Center SKIERS DISCOUNT Meeting & Banquet Space Laundry Rooms & X-C Ski Trails Wedgewood Resort FountainheadHotels.com Supporter of Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Fully-equipped kitchens 1 & 2 bedroom residential-style suites BOOK EARLY SAVINGS BESH CUP & TEAM RACING Mention Codes BESH18 or SKI18 NSSC18 - Feb. 21 For Groups - Families - Coaches - Ski Teams WEDGEWOOD RESORT - Fairbanks CALL DIRECT for Best Rate - mention code SKI

16 16 FAIRBANKS January 2018 Skiers take to trails lit by the peaceful glow of flickering candles Goldstream Sports presents: Birch Hill Candle Light Ski Check out the beauty of Nordic skiing and a Fairbanks winter night at Birch Hill. The Fairbanks community is invited to a midwinter candlelight ski. Please join us from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, January 4, at Birch Hill Recreation Area as we turn off the trail lights and instead brighten and warm the snow with hundreds of candles. This is a free event and all ages and abilities are welcome, so bring your family and friends. A beginner loop around the stadium will be available, and the warmup loop will be uniquely flickering. Ski amidst the peaceful glow of frosted candles. Take as few or as many loops as you d like and stop inside for a warmup and some hot chocolate and cookies. The first 80 youth participants will receive a free gift! This event is generously sponsored by Goldstream Sports and NSCF in hopes of seeing many new faces enjoying these beautiful Fairbanks trails and to have those familiar with Birch Hill see it in a different light. See you there! Questions? contact membership@ nscfairbanks.org. Note: if it is colder than 10 below at 3 p.m. on event day, it will be postponed until January 12. PHOTO COURTESY HELENA RUETER OFF THE TRAIL Foot care for the crosscountry skiers throughout winter BY ZUZANA ROGERS PT, SCD, SCS, COMT Advanced Physical Therapy Now that racing season is in full swing, we may be skiing several times per week in our ultralight (and stiff) ski boots strapped into a pair of skinny skis. As the racing and training ramp up, many of us notice this annoying foot/arch/ Achilles pain that just does not go away no matter how much we stretch or rest. Sound familiar? The biggest issue is that we stop using the muscles in our lower leg and foot appropriately some get very strong but many lag behind, developing imbalances that eventually show up as pain. You can do a quick check: Stand on a hard floor, barefoot. Can you lift your toes? Can you stand on the ball of your foot and lift your toes? Can you go into a full squat with heels on the ground and not fall over? Is your calf restricting you to do that? Exercises to try: 1 Calf stretch gastrocnemius/soleus SPONSORED 2 Hip flexor stretch 3 Plantar fascia stretch 4 Tibialis anterior strength 5 Shuffle walk Do you want to learn more? Come see us at Advanced Physical Therapy! Call for an appointment at any of our five locations statewide. #ChoosePT #aptofalaska ANCHORAGE: (907) WASILLA: (907) FAIRBANKS: (907) SOLDOTNA: (907) SEWARD: (907) the alaska nordic skier