Jonathan Denton skate skied the virtual 10 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot last week in about 45 minutes.
Jon writes: “I jumped on my skate skis a week and a half ago after work to kick off the Sonot season. The air was warm and the snow was like wet concrete. It was a battle and I found double polling in the tracks to be quicker than V2 on the flats. It was a good warm up for the 50K. My time was about 45 minutes.”
Jon Denton skate skied his virtual 50 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot on Saturday in 3:31:30.
Jon writes: “Thank you for the Sonot Khazoot! This was my first 50k race. My time around the course on skate skis was 3:31:30. I added east ramp and white bear access to hit the 50K mark at 3:41:16. The trails were amazing. There was a bull moose at the top of Black Hole. He told me that willows are best before noon and that I would be in big trouble if I had taken the high road cut off. It was a great race and fun to see people out enjoying the fast spring snow.”
Max Kaufman skate skied his 30 km virtual Denalii State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot in 1:54:58.
He writes: “I started too late on Saturday and got caught on course by some snow showers. That slowed things down for me, and sadly, I wasn’t able to beat my classic time. The corduroy was great while it lasted.”
Erica Blake skated the virtual 30 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot in 2:44.
She writes: “Snow was slower than expected and my skis were not waxed for the cold slow snow, but completed the 30k course under glorious sunshine, and finished smiling.”
Eric Troyer, head media volunteer for the Sonot Kkaazoot, skate skied his 50+ km virtual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot on Sunday in corrected time of 4:40.22.
Eric writes (at 4:53 p.m.): “I did my 50k Sonot today, completing the Sonot Hat Trick (10, 30 and 50k versions). My time was 5:14:22. That has got to be one of the toughest just-shy-of-50 50k races out there! I was darn happy to see the 48, 49, and 50k signs right there at the Timing Building. Another 3k, especially if it had gone down into the Black Loops would have killed me. I tried to convince myself that the last 10k was flat, just like in the original Sonot, but my legs and lungs argued otherwise. Thanks to everyone for putting this on, especially to those awesome groomers (tracks and trails were outstanding!)!”
At 5:53 p.m. Eric adds: “Whoops. Corrine pointed out that I screwed up. I did the Black Loops twice! I just checked and I actually did 53.5 kilometers. Corrine checked my stats and says I spent 34 minutes in the Black Loops on the second round, so I guess I’ll take that off my time.”
Eric never responded in my request that he submit his final official 50 km time so this current English major will do the math for him getting a final adjusted time of 4:40:22.
David Prusak submitted what may be the shortest report for the 30 km virtual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot.
Dave writes: “David Prusak Age 63 30K 3 hours 2 minutes Skate Ski”
Curtis Henry skate skied the virtual 50 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot in 3:19:03.
He writes:
“I skated the 50k course in 3:19:03 then added one lap around the stadium to get over 30 miles. Conditions were great and fortunately I didn’t have any issues with the bull moose who I crossed paths with three times.”
GPX:
Tom Dale skate skied the virtual 10 and 30 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot courses in times of 47:09 and 2:38:23, respectively.
He reports:
Skated the 10k mapped route 3/15/21 47:09
Skated the mapped 30k route 3/17/21 2:38:23
Lots of new ungroomed snow both times, but I appreciated the ability to do the routes virtually. I really enjoy skiing the non lighted tracks at Birch, although “enjoying” the black loops might be overstating things. 🙂
Tom Dale
Age 63
Report submitted by Benjamin Bagonier:
A handful of FXC comp skiers went out on the Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot course on the final Sunday of the event. Some athletes threw themselves at the work while others were happy to take a lighter-duty approach to the end of race season.
Elias Engman, Nelson Hays, Ian Tragis, and PJ Bragonier put on their game faces and raced the course. They reported a glaring mismatch between their prior evening’s waxing for warm temperatures and the race-day snow thermometer needle pegged at -13 C.
In stark contrast to the aforementioned racers, Eli Merrill started his race by double-polling backwards and then performed a signature 180 once he was up to speed. Caleb Peterson sported mismatched boots and rode on his “game” skis — most likely in regular use when he was under the tutelage of Coach Pam in Jr. Nordics. Zarah Laker-Morris was kind enough to slow things down and chaperone her male high school peers around the course. (It’s so sad when they get off course.) As with other FXCers, Josh Baurick has distinguished himself many times this ski season, but the low-key Kkaazoot inspired a mellow pace where fun in the sun was his order of business.
Riley Whisler was the only known FXCer to select the 30 KM course. The fleets of 50-somethings and 60-somethings out on the longer courses appreciated that Riley feigned being visibly taxed as she skied by them. There’s no doubt in this writer’s mind that she could have manageably tacked on a subsequent 50 KM — you know, in an effort to finally work up a sweat.
Last, FXC Coach Asne graced the 10 KM course. We all know that she could have broken thirty-minutes, but then again, she might have risked forfeiting her infectious ear-to-ear smile.
U16 GIRLS – 10 KM
Zarah Laker-Morris (skate) 45:44
U18 GIRLS – 30 KM
Riley Wisler (classic) 3:01:28
U16 BOYS – 10 KM
PJ Bragonier (skate) 31:27
Elias Engman (skate) 32:01
Nelson Hays (skate) 34:20
Ian Tragis (skate) 35:20
U18 BOYS – 10 KM
Caleb Petersen (skate) 45:42
Josh Baurick (classic) 45:44
Eli Merrill (classic) 45:45
FXC COACHES – 10 KM
Åsne Honerød Hoveid (classic) 41:22
The Sonot blogger thanks Ben for the interesting and thorough report on the FXC participation in the 2021 Virtual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. I’m recommending you to Bad Bob to supply future reports.
Paula Hicks skate skied the virtual 10 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot in 47:44 on Sunday.
She writes:
“Awesome trails. Thank you!I
The conversation going on in my head.
Happy Heart “Wow the snow is fast today, I love these new skis!”
Healthy Heart “Did you train at all for this? Did that sign just say coronary bypass?”“
Yes, Paula, the sign did say Coronary Bypass. Come back next year and ski the 30 km so you can keep skiing up Heartrate Hill.
Sonot Kkaazoot 