For the first time Sonot Kkaazoot participant in Fairbanks, there are classes and training groups to assist you. Kristen Bartecchi Rozell instructs a Sonot preparation class as part of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks spring series of adult lessons (admin@nscfairbanks.com). Chris Broda (broda@acsalaska.net) meets twice weekly with the Ladies of Leisure (LOL) group, and Susan’s Class of Uncoachable Men (SCUM) meets on Sunday mornings (rhannon54@yahoo.com).
If the weather is too cold, too snowy, too warm, or whatever, there are alternative means of training that will assist your Sonot Kkaazoot performances (and how you feel the day after). Susan Faulkner (shf@alaska.net) is instructing Pilates courses at North Star Ballet, and Denise Jerome teaches core strength as part of the UAF Student Recreation Center group fitness classes (http://www.uaf.edu/draw/src/fitness-classes/) that will strengthen your critical core muscles. Several SCUM (slamont@alaska.net) have become devoted advocates of the Elite Urban Bootcamp sessions (http://www.eliteurbanfitness.com/about-us) for cross training when skiers are time-limited but need to keep up their strength and endurance efforts. Erica Caroll teaches yoga for cross training and stretching out all those tight muscles from skiing at Infinite Yoga of Alaska (http://www.infiniteyogaofak.com/wordpress/).
For the past 17 years, the SCUM (Susan’s class of uncoachable men) have treated the Sonot Kkaazoot as their “final exam” and reason to ski (regardless of temperature) on Sundays from October to April. When the group first formed, as means for Susan to teach her physical therapist at the time enough about skate skiing so he could rehabilitate her injured shoulder, most of the SCUM were in 40 and over age category. Now the largest cohort are in the 60 and over age category.
After last year’s 25th annual Sonot Kkaazoot, Bad Bob Baker turned over the event organizing to the SCUM. It takes a whole lot of SCUM to replace the Baker family and the Bakers are still very much involved in the event. We thank them for everything they do.
photo by Daniel Baker Photography
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Photos of SCUM enjoying the sunshine and fast snow in the 2011 SonotKkaazoot (left to right from top to bottom)
Bill (Poles) Husby, groomer and doublepoler extraordinare; Professor Emeritus Frank Soos(also a classic specialist); Bob Moloney (watch out for him on the downhills and flat areas);Dan Johnson (transforms himself to a medic in a moment), NSCF Prez Pat Reinhard (SCUM on snow but even faster on wheels), Bernardo Hernandez (skier-triathlete), and Tobben Spurkland (Nordic dynasty builder and statewide race volunteer)
Athabaskan: Sonot (pronounced “SAW NOT”, “springtime”) Kkaazoot (“kah-ZOOT”, “to slide your feet across the snow”)
Saturday, March 27, 2027
Save the date. It will be springlike for our 40th running of the Sonot Kkaazoot. New race organizers Alex Morris and Cyrus Freeman have ideas for making the event even better.
10 km race start at 10:00 a.m.
30 and 50 km race start at 10:15 a.m.
Sonot Kkaazoot Race Courses: All races are freestyle events. Classical tracks will be set for all courses. All three races will have the same route for the first 2 km, which starts in the stadium, up the main ramp, out Relay Start Loop, onto the South Tower to the top and back down to the end of Tower, then onto Roller Coaster Bypass to stadium.
10 km course: After the above start route, the 10 km will head down the White Bear access and out onto the White Bear. Will follow the White Bear to the Beacon Cutoff, then return via the White Bear, skipping Moilanen Meadows, back to the White Bear Access, finishing the White Bear Access to the stadium, then a hard right following the east side of the stadium and then ski the whole Warm-Up Loop and into the FINISH.
10 km Sonot Kkaazoot course with profile
30 km course: After the start route as the racers come into the stadium from the Roller Coaster Bypass, they will ski directly across the stadium and down onto the Competition, then out onto the entire North Forty back to the Competition, then down onto the entire Back Hole back to the Competition then finishing the remaining Competition and back into the stadium. Skiers then proceed up the west side of the main ramp and down and around the Blue Loop, then down onto the Outhouse Loop to the Sunnyside. Ski the entire Sunnyside trail (not Cliffside), and back to the Outhouse Loop. Finish the Outhouse Loop then turn left onto the Relay Return to the top of the ramp. Turn right onto the Tower Loop, ski entire Tower Loop followed by Medevac and finishing the Roller Coaster. Ski right down onto the White Bear Access then right onto the White Bear, all of the White Bear including Moilanen Meadows, and the White Bear Access back to the stadium. Turn right and ski along the east side of the stadium, and the entire Warm-Up Loop, and into the FINISH.
Section 1 of 30 and 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot courses with profile
Section 2 for 30 and 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot courses with profile
50 km course: Ski the 30 km course but after skiing under the bridge, the 2nd lap for the 50 km course will lap around the finish and take a right down on the Competition, then onto the North Forty for a little over a kilometer, then skiers will take the cut-off back onto the Competition, by-passing the Black hole, continuing up the Competition keeping straight and left back to the stadium, then right up the west side of the main ramp, and down the Blue loop, then the Outhouse loop, then down the Sunnyside and Cliffside, across the base of the Ft. Wainwright Ski Hill just in front of the Ft. Wainwright Ski Lodge, and then turn left up the Sonot Connector all the way back to the White Bear. Turn right onto the outbound White Bear, then ski the rest of the White Bear and Moilanen Meadows and the White Bear Access to the stadium. Turn right and ski along the east side of the stadium. Ski the entire Warm-Up loop then under the bridge and into the FINISH!!!
Section 3 of 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot course with profile
PDF versions of the course maps can be downloaded at the Courses tab above.
Feed Stations will be staffed by the Lathrop, North Pole, and West Valley XC Ski team boosters and are located in the stadium and on the White Bear trail at Sonot Junction. A detailed list can also be downloaded at the Courses tab.
(Photos by Karl Kowalski)
Sonot Kkaazoot 