Thanks to the generous offer of Mike Schmoker, creator and keeper of the Sonot Kkaazoot woodels, if you won a woodel in any of the three Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot events but did not attend the awards ceremony (or request an attending friend to pick up your award), you can still pick it up in the old warming hut at Birch Hill. You must let me know what event, what age category, and what place you earned. I will then email you when your woodel will be available for pick up.
Jerome Jackson, second place among M09 men in the 30 km Sonot Kkaazoot (an age group that had only one original equipment knee out of the four skiing), was among the three back-of-the-pack skiers at the top of the South Tower loop along with Dermot Cole and yours truly. He like Dermot was using the “woodel walk” technique. However, unlike Dermot, Jerome woodel walked for 20 km and then decided to skate. The huge spike in heart rate, shown above, resulted from this decision.
In addition to be 70 years old, this is Jerome’s first Sonot Kkaazoot with his bionic knee. Jerome acquired his first total knee replacement this past summer. The rehabilitation is long and arduous after a total joint replacement, but many more years of less painful skiing are possible. More specific skate ski training may be necessary to get one’s heart rate down as low as woodel walking, though. Jerome may be the first documented prove of the value of woodel walking.
However, before the Sonot Kkaazoot, Dermot decided that walking uphills would keep his heartrate lower. Thus, he decided to “woodel walk” the hills starting with South Tower. Three SCUM (Dermot and two over 70-year-old skiers) crested the hill already settled into the very back of the pack.
The “woodel walk”, Dermot’s key to finishing the new World Class 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot —video by Bill Husby
In addition to teaching us how to do the woodel walk, Dermot provided the caption for bottom half of this photo of the SCUM, post Sonot:
SCUM agree to a group photo–photo by Joanna Fox
“Oh, shit!”–the persuasion needed to force Dave Prusak to be part of the group photo–photo by Joanna Fox
We think that there might be demand for an OLLI course by Dermot on “Woodel Walking the 50 km World Class Sonot Kkaazoot course”. Let us know what you think.
Joanna Fox, Alan Delamere, Dan Johnson, Dermot Cole, Carl Hemming, Bill Husby, Mike Schmoker, and Dave Prusak with their 36th Denali Bank Sonot Kkaazoot woodels–photo by Max Kaufman
Every SCUM who finished their chosen 36th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot event won a woodel for their efforts. Jerome Jackson, Ray Halderman, Greg Kahoe, and Don Pendergrast also earned woodels last night. In addition, Mike Schmoker (assisted by Bernardo Hernandez) is responsible for hand crafting the Sonot Kkaazoot woodels. Bill Husby was grooming until 1 a.m. on race day and still skied a remarkable 30 km Sonot Kkaazoot. Don Pendergrast helped distribute bibs on race day and Dan Johnson assisted with timing (after his 10 km ski). Mike, Dave, and Don also were also volunteers all three days of the Junior National Championships.
Congratulations to these hardy skiers, some of whom were the oldest in their respective races.
The key to Bill’s success (in addition to training)–photo by Joanna Fox
Dan’s thoughtful approach–photo by Joanna Fox
Joanna enjoying post-ski beverages–photo by Bill Husby
SCUM results:
50 km: Mike Schmoker, M08M, 4:37:24.2; Dermot Cole, M08M, 6:13.44.4
30 km: David Prusak, M08M, 2:40:13.0; Bill Husby, M09M, 2:46:45.6; Gregory Kahoe, M07M, 2:53:57.9; Ray Halderman, M10M, 3:00:23.2; Joanna Fox, M06F, 3:08:36.9; Jerome Jackson, M09M, 3:35:11.1
10 km: Dan Johnson, M08M, 52:26.6; Don Pendergrast, M10M, 59:18.9; Carl Hemming, M09M, 1:09:56.8; Alan Delamere, M12M, 1:19:35.5.
After being totally skunked last year, this year the SCUM were redeemed by Mike Schmoker who finished in 4:37.24.2 (too quick for any SCUM photographer) and Dermot Cole finished in 6:13.44. Mike Schmoker heads up the creation of Sonot Kkaazoot woodels, and he’ll be receiving a second place one. Mike and Dermot were the 2nd and 3rd place finishers among M08 Men. Mike was 70 years old on race day and Dermot was 69.
Dermot Cole after finishing his 50 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot–photo by Dan Johnson
Dermot extends a special thank you to the Lathrop/West Valley feed station on the White Bear as they left a cup of hydration fluids for Dermot on the trail after Ken Coe, course sweep, had released them. The young man’s kindness was greatly appreciated.
The trails and stadium look lovely. At 0800, the sun was out and the temperature was +10 deg F. A lovely day is in store for Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot skiers and volunteers.
From Bob Baker, RACE DIRECTOR, here are the rules.
All participants will only be allowed to participate in the race that they are registered in. If a participant decides to change their race distance, they must check in at the bib pickup and make the change before 9:30am. They will be reassigned a new bib for their chosen race distance. They should not wait till the last minute. Once race day bib pickup is complete, participants will only be timed based on their final race selection before the start of the race.
SO, for example: a 30 km participant decides they are feeling great and continues on to finish the 50 km, they would be disqualified, same thing if a 50 km participant decides that they have had enough and finishes at the 30 km point, they would also be disqualified.
SIMPLE RULES……Participate in only the race you are officially signed up for…. PLEASE… this is a great and FUN event, there is no need to confuse everyone involved. PARTICIPATE IN ONLY WHAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR…..
When late registration ended at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, 23 March 2023, 191 skiers had signed up for the 36th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. Eighty-seven skiers selected the 10 km course, 53 will embark on the 30 km course, and 51 will start the 50 km course.
Day of race bib pickup is at Rikka’s Roadhouse (small building next to the Timing Building) from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. only.
We look forward to seeing you on the awesomely groomed trails on Saturday. Mass start for the 10 km event is at 10:00 a.m. and for the 30 and 50 km events at 10:15 a.m.
Race banquet and awards ceremony starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Birch Hill Recreation Building, upstairs.
All registration for the Sonot Kkaazoot is online (see Sonot Kkaazoot main page for link) and will end tonight at 11:59 p.m. Early bib pickup is tonight upstairs at the Birch Hill Recreation Center from 5 to 7 p.m. Please participate as it will make race day easier for you and for race organizers.
Once you have picked up a bib, you must ski that course. If you have already registered, you can change courses prior to bib pickup but will need to go to the line for new registrations and changes. If you have registered for the 10 km event and now want to enter the 30 or 50 km events, you will need to pay the additional entry fee with cash or check. We cannot take credit cards. If you do not have internet access, we can register you tonight.
We currently (9:30 a.m. Thursday) have 180 skiers signed up for the 36th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot.
Sonot Kkaazoot 