For 37 years, the Sonot Kkaazoot has served as the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks‘ springtime celebration of the return of longer days and faster snow. The race was conceived (and for many years organized) by Bad Bob Baker and his extended family. The SCUM organized the Sonot Kkaazoot from 2013 to 2018. Don and Tracie Pendergrast and Nick Nugent have also served as past race organizers. The Sonot Kkaazoot has never been canceled although the route has changed over the years.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sonot Kkaazoot was virtual in 2020 and 2021. Beginning in 2022, the Sonot Kkaazoot has three courses: a 10 km, 30 km and 50 km, all at Birch Hill Recreation Area. The 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot course no longer includes 20 km on the Chena River, so times from 2022 forward will not be comparable with older 50 km times. The new 50 km course involves 1,689 m of total climb (this is 291 m more than the Birkie Skate Trail and 310 m more than the Birkie Classic Trail)!
In 2024, the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot was won by two UAF Alaska Nanooks Christopher Kalev of Fairbanks in a time of 2:15:39.4; Rosie Fordham from Fairbanks, won the women’s 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot with a time of 2:34:37.7. Both of these Nanooks improved upon their previous winning times.
In the 30 km Sonot Kkaazoot, Kieran Kaufman of Fairbanks won with a time of 1:31:36.1 for the men, and Kendall Kramer of Fairbanks won with a time of 1:29:39.8 for the women.
In the 10 km Sonot, Fairbanks’ Micah Rozell won with a time of 33:59.7 and Emersyn Knopp of Fairbanks was the winning female with a time of 35:40.3.
Six skiers have won the Sonot Kkaazoot 50 km race more than twice. Melissa (Fink) Lewis has won the race an amazing total of 6 times (1993, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2011). Two men and four women have won the race three times: Audun Endestad (1997, 1998, 1999), Peter Alden (1990, 1993, 1995), Donna Hawkins (1994, 1995, 1996), Sigrid Aas (2001, 2003, 2008), and Rebecca Konieczny (2014, 2015, 2016).
As always, the real heroes are the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of skiers of all ages who helped celebrate the return of sunshine to Interior Alaska for 36 years. Please join us in 2025 for our 38th annual event.
(Banner photograph is courtesy of Daniel Baker Photography)
Sonot Kkaazoot 
Hey Bob and Sharon I was thinking about you all and duh, gee look up online. You all look busy. Hank Irelan still in Nome.
Hi Hank!
It’s so good to hear from you! Since you are still in Nome, we will let you know our son in law is headed your way. He’s riding his bike in the ITI. His name is Tyson Flaharty. He and his buddy Miron will likely be the first finishers. They left McGrath this morning and are in Ophir now. Our daughter, his wife, Davya, plans to fly to Nome to see him finish. In case you dont know, you can track racers at trackleaders.com. I’m guessing he’ll finish the week after next.
You can contact us directly at bobandsharonbaker@gmail.com.
Sharon😊