March 2026 was coldest March ever in Fairbanks
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Author Archives: Sonot Kkaazoot
All-time record cold winter
From the National Weather Service Fairbanks:
So, you’ve got plenty of excuses for why your 39th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot wasn’t your personal best. It likely means that the 40th Sonot Kkaazoot will be better.
Yes, it’s been cold this March, but still wasn’t safe on the Chena River
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On Friday, March 27, a woman fell through the ice on the Chena River very close to the Sonot Kkaazoot start line in 2018 and most years before then.
A woman crossing the Chena River on Friday fell through the ice before being rescued by emergency crew–photo by Anna Lionas/News-Miner
Congratulations and Thanks
Congratulations to all the skiers who successfully finished their 39th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot event yesterday. The grooming team did a fantastic job of firming up the trails after our recent assault of fine-grained snow. However, the lingering cold weather made skiing challenging.
Please check the draft results and let us know if you see any errors in times, names, or age categories. Just send an email to contact@sonotkkaazoot.org and we’ll make the changes in the final results. The results won’t be updated immediately as head timer, Anna Sorensen is heading off for a well-deserved vacation.
Overall winners are listed on the “About” page above and on the “Sonot History” page. The winning times reflect the challenging conditions. Only Elsie Weiss of the UAF Ski Team was able to ski her event faster than last year’s winner.
Help me thank all the volunteers who made yesterday’s Sonot Kkaazoot possible. Please check the “Volunteers” page and provide the Sonot organizers with the names of others who assisted us.
Finally, save the date for the 40th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot, 27 March 2027. Race directors Alex Morris and Cyrus Freeman promise us springlike weather.
136 skiers ready to ski
The Birch Hill trails have been groomed to perfection with groomers using two pisten bullies last night. The color-coded kilometer markers are in place to guide the 59 skiers in the 10 km event and the 77 in the longer 30 and 50 km events.
The sun is out and temperatures will rapidly rise from the -6 deg at 8:00 a.m. Race Day bib pickup is open now.
Have fun on the trails today. Make sure you thank our wonderful volenteers.
Results will be posted when available on the Results tab above.
39th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot has 135 registered skiers
Registration for the 39th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot is closed. One hundred thirty-five skiers are signed up to compete on Saturday. Fifty-nine skiers will head off on their 10 km journey at 10:00 a.m. At 10:15 a.m., 37 skiers doing the 30-km course and 39 doing the 50- km course will start.
Race day bib pick-up is at Rikka’s Roadhouse from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Please join us for the Awards Ceremony and Dinner at 6:00 p.m. upstairs in the main Birch Hill Recreation Building. If you qualify for an overall or age-class award and are unable to attend the awards ceremony, please try to find someone who can pick it up for you.
Results will be posted on the Results tab as soon as they are available. Please notify us if you see any mistakes in names and/or times. Email: contact@sonotkkaazoot.org
Last chance to register for Sonot Kkaazoot
Today is your last opportunity to register for the 39th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. Please pick up your race bib tonight between 5 and 7 pm upstairs at the main Birch Hill Recreation Building.
Remember tonight is your only opportunity to chance your race distance and all registration ends at 1159 p.m.
As of this morning, 50 skiers are registered for the 10 km event, 68 for the longer distances.
Early Bib Pick-up Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Early bib pick-up will be Thursday, 19 March 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. upstairs in the Birch Hill Recreation Center.
Three reasons you should attend early bib pickup:
You spare yourself (and friends and family members for whom you pick up bibs) the stress of waiting in line on race morning.
Early bib pick-up is the ONLY time that you can change the race event that you are registered in. You may change to a race shorter than you registered for at no-cost. If you want to ski a longer race, you will be responsible for the difference in race entry fee. Bring cash or check for the fee difference when you change your registration. No changes after 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Mark Ross, the artist responsible for this year’s Sonot Kkaazoot poster, will be available at early bib pick-up to sign posters.
Timers needed for Sonot Kkaazoot
Want to be have the best spot to watch skiers finishing the 39th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot? Volunteer to be part of the Sonot Kkaazoot timing crew.
Head timer Anna Sorensen will train you and you’ll get to work with other key members of the NSCF ski community. Subway, a Sonot Kkaazoot sponsor, will supply sandwiches to fuel timers, while Gina and Margaret will supply sweet goodies. Hot beverages and indoor bathroom facilities will be available.
The unseasonably cold temperatures likely mean that many skiers will not be setting personal records, so we’d really like to have adequate timing volunteers so that Anna can relieve volunteers when additional help arrives.
Email: contact@sonotkkaazoot.org if you are willing to be a part of this essential Sonot Kkaazoot function.
Regular registration ends soon
Avoid late registration fees of $20/person for adult skiers if you register before 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. Registration fees for junior skiers increase from $5 to $15 depending upon their age and ski club membership status.
All registration for the Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot ends at 1159 p.m. on Thursday, 19 March 2026. There are no race day entries.
Sonot Kkaazoot 