Robert Hannon interviews Bad Bob Baker in the first of a two-part series on his podcast, Northern Soundings:
Bad Bob Interview
Reply
Author Archives: Sonot Kkaazoot
Bad Bob finishes 2016 Equinox Marathon with a smile
Bad Bob, Sonot founder, will run Equinox Marathon with “new heart”
Tomorrow’s 54th annual Equinox Marathon will feature a little additional climb thanks to the last-minute addition of the “zipper” and “tunnel” sections of trail on Ester Dome. However, Bad Bob Baker, the founder and longtime organizer of the Sonot Kkaazoot will be unfazed by this minor diversion. Baker will be continuing his personal Equinox glory in spite of a brush with death in late June when he collapsed at the Loftus Mile after winning his age category by 1:30! Cleared by his doctors to do the Equinox Marathon if he keeps his heart rate under 135, I hope that I get to see him on the course out-and-back. However, with his 75% coronary blockage removed, Bad Bob will likely snooze his way around the course, leaving mere mortals behind him.
photo by Ned Rozell
Second chance for Bad Bob, Sonot Kkaazoot founder
Use 2016 Sonot results for 2017 Birkie wave placement
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:
for details.
Reprieve from break-up
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.
Fantastic photos by Max Kaufman
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.
2016 Sonot Kkaazoot story on FasterSkier.com
Gavin Kentch, who won the first place woodel in the M1 male category for the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot, has a detailed article in FasterSkier.com, illustrated with Max Kaufman’s excellent photographs of the leading skiers.
More photos from Stella Wisner of Public Health Service
Stella Wisner, U.S. Public Health Services shared these additional photos of the 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot
Thank you to Sonot Kkaazoot sponsors and volunteers
On 26 March 2016, the 29th annual Sonot Kkaazoot was successfully completed in spite of the unanticipated break-up of a section of the trail along the Chena River. The organizers thank our title sponsor, Denali State Bank, who has provided continuous support to the Sonot Kkaazoot since 1988. In addition, Doyon, Limited, Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation, Fort Wainwright, U.S. Army Alaska, and the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks are critically important collaborators in this unique ski event that begins in downtown Fairbanks, traverses the Chena River to Fort Wainwright, and follows Fort Wainwright trails to Birch Hill Recreational Area before returning to the start downtown. This year, new sponsor, TRaX Outdoor Center, provided ski waxing and music at the Sonot start, and contributed to our trail grooming costs.
Special recognition goes to Tanana Middle School ski coach, David Frey, who with a feed station parent, provided detour guidance around the washed out section of the Sonot Kkaazoot trail until race volunteers could mark the detour and provide additional staffing.
This year’s El Nino brought record warm winter temperatures to Alaska, and contributed to the unprecedented number of skiers from outside the Fairbanks North Star Borough. We hope that these skiers from Anchorage, Galena, Manley Hot Springs, Minto, Nenana, Soldotna, and the lower 48 and Canada will return next year.
Enthusiastic volunteers provided timing and course work; in addition, they staffed feed stations, road crossings, bib pick-up and registration, and the post-race awards ceremony. Volunteers are absolutely essential to the Sonot Kkaazoot, and we could not do this event without you.
https://sonotkkaazoot.org/volunteers/
We thank all the skiers who participated in the 2016 Sonot Kkaazoot and look forward to seeing you at the 30th annual event.
With sincere thanks,
Sonot Kkaazoot organizers
Sonot Kkaazoot 