Good news for Interior Alaska skiers.
In 2017, the American Birkebeiner will allow skiers to use finish times from the 2016 Sonot Kkaazoot 50 km race for wave placement in the 50 km FS Birkie.
See:
http://www.birkie.com/ski/events/qualifier-races/
for details.
The several inches of fresh snow that fell this morning gave us a short reprieve from break-up. Tom, the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks head groomer, made a single pass of the White Bear and Moilanen Meadows today so we enjoyed the warm, sunny April Sunday. The barely hidden water hazards let us know that our skiing days are numbered for this season.
Max Kaufman, photographer and skier, took all the above photos of the 20 km skiers on the Chena River from under the Old Steese Bridge, of 40 and 50 km skiers in the Birch Hill stadium, and a few skiers at the finish.
You can view and download full resolution digital images of 229 photos from the slideshow at the Awards Ceremony on Max’s Picaso album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/102182157666674406929/Sonot2016?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmOl_y0ptnGwQE
In exchange, please make a donation on Max’s behalf to either the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks trail fund:
https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/
or to FXC, the NSCF youth training program, at the upcoming Spring Gala on April 16, 2016.
Thank you, Max! Your generosity will help appease the out-of-town skiers who were disappointed that we didn’t have swag to sell this year.
Sonot Kkaazoot 