Author Archives: Sonot Kkaazoot

Remembering two “reindeer” who led us

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In memory of Frank Soos and Tobben Spurkland, NSCF’s best tiny reindeers

A flashback of just 16 winters:

Because many of the SCUM are parents (and now grandparents), we are frequent volunteers, especially for events focusing on kids. So shortly before Christmas 2008, we were asked whether one of our skiers would be willing to dress up as Santa Claus and arrive with a sack full of candy canes to distribute to Junior Nordics skiers after their Candy Cane event. Not willing to let just one SCUM get all the adoration from the next generation of NCAA and Olympic crosscountry skiers, Bill Husby, one of the SCUM who also serves as a trail groomer at Birch Hill, volunteered the SCUM to deliver Santa pulled by eight (or more) tiny reindeer on skis.

SCUM are deemed “uncoachable” for a reason. Everyone wanted to be a “reindeer”, and no one wanted to be Santa until Dermot Cole was strong armed into donning the beard and red suit.

Dermot reluctantly dons the Santa suit that matches his ski boots

Frank Soos and Tobben Spurkland owned “antlers” of a sort, so they were voted to be our lead reindeer even though I felt that Frank’s antlers were moose like as he was. An additional problem was that our most nattily dressed reindeer were hardly tiny. Frank and Tobben both measured in at 6’5” but they would be in front to guide us. The rest of the SCUM were left with red holiday colored duct tape and whatever antlers they could find in the Birch Hill Recreation Area. Thus, two varieties of tiny reindeer were created with birch and spruce bough antlers, respectively. Hey, what we lack in speed and technique, we make up with adaptability.

Donovan’s red duct tape matches his beard and Bill’s jacket

Having to orchestrate multiple skis while tied together with a nylon climbing rope would be challenging enough without adding ski poles. So, we determined that Santa would be pulled by reindeer skiing without poles. Seeing as the trail from behind the main ski building, where we had assembled, to the stadium area was flat, even SCUM should be able to negotiate this modest distance. Think again. Eight giggling skiers pulling one resistant Santa wasn’t exactly what the coordinator of the Candy Cane Race had envisioned.

Bob and Dan are dejected after being deemed “not REAL reindeer”

One little guy who couldn’t have been older than 4 or 5, looked at us and then protested, “Those aren’t REAL reindeer!” Even the SCUM needing hearing aids clearly heard the disenchanted Junior Nordic skier and were devastated. We snuck away, leaving Santa with his bag of candy canes.

We weren’t invited back again.

SCUM back after RAIN and winds remove smoke hazard

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SCUM ski walked up Ester Dome on Wednesday when winds were gusting to 40 mph, and today a few SCUM tackled the FWW alpine hill after almost an inch of rain. The three Gramps (all over 71 years old) and Mother SCUM tackled the Fort Wainwright alpine hill that is currently involved in the installation of new snowmaking guns. The recent rains around the excavation on the chair lift trail made for some muddy steps that added as much as 5 pounds to one’s boot,

Mother SCUM and three Gramps (all over 70 years old) at bottom of the chair lift–all photos by Carl Hemming

but all four of us made it to the top intact.

Rain-soaked SCUM at the top of the FWW alpine hill

Although wet and muddy, we fared better than one birch tree that we found toppled on the Tower Loop.

SCUM move birch tree off the Tower loop

Bill Husby, a NSCF trail groomer, supervised us while we removed the tree from the trail. Here’s the after photo:

Toppled birch tree moved off the trail

So, we not only got our endurance workout today, but we also got some strength training, too.

Exhibit 1: Uncoachable

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Today’s workout was the usual Wednesday morning SCUM ski walk up Ester Dome Road from St Pat’s to Ullerhaven starting at the Ester Dome bike trails parking lot. We walk down to St. Pat’s as a warmup and then ski walk up Ester Dome Road for 5 km to Ullerhaven; walk back to cars as cool down with vistas that one doesn’t see on the uphill portion. Bernardo, Mike, Tim, Jill, and I did this workout.

However, the “uncoachable” SCUM wanted an adventure so took the trail less traveled.

The start of the trail less taken–all photos and videos by Bill Husby
Well-marked trailhead of Dermot’s recommended bypass route
Adventure leader and his trophy find
Bill takes over as adventure leader, these are his SCUM flock
This way folks, smile!
Is this a fun trail? (Notice that they aren’t using their ski poles)

They did eventually make it back to Ester Dome Road:

Dermot and Bill finished the adventure, but where is Dan and Robert

Dan said that it was a good change of pace (the search for Cabo trail).

Robert said that it was:

Sunnyside Trail lovely in spite of Monday snow

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SCUM pause to gaze at the mountains on a lovely spring day

The Birch Hill trails had dried out fairly well before the snow and rain earlier in the week. Today, to avoid muddy conditions on the Tower Direct, we took the Sunnyside and Cliffside trails to access the Fort Wainwright alpine hill. We found dry footing for walking and enjoyable vistas. Also, the mosquitoes haven’t discovered us yet.

Once we reached FWW, we did one ascent under the chair lift. The snow left from the ski jumps had diminished significantly since last week, but the hill was still a steep 840 m uphill.

Mike, Dan, and Bernardo ski walk up the FWW alpine hill

The SCUM dryland schedule involves ascending Ester Dome on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. (meet at the bike trails parking lot at 1 mile Ester Dome Road) and doing FWW hill ascents on Fridays at 10 a.m. (meeting in South Birch Hill parking lot). We sometimes change up the workouts depending on trail and weather conditions, so be punctual. Today Robert Hannon was 3 minutes late and didn’t get the change of venue so did his first FWW ascent alone. He did join us for our return hike up Cliffside, Sunnyside and Outhouse. The overachieving SCUM also did South Tower–completing the Birch Bakken course.

We welcome all comers and variations in the courses are frequently taken depending upon the schedule and fitness of participants.

Best skate skiing of the season today

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SCUM enjoy sunshine on upper N40 loop–photo by Joanna Fox

Tom Helmers groomed many of trails this morning and conditions for skate skiing were the season’s best. Glide was great so the uphill sections were effectively shorter.

Here’s Robert Hannon, whose training for the past month has been sightseeing in Portugal, yet the N40 loops were just a good workout for him:

Robert climbs a hill on the upper N40 trail–video and encouraging commentary by Joanna Fox

The downhill tracks were solid (without debris or birch seed) so that even SCUM elders could descend the Tower loop safely. Bob (shown below), skied down Tower even when it had over 2 inches of new snow on Friday:

Bob descends the Tower Loop–video by Joanna Fox

Thanks to the grooming, there was no surprises like the SCUM found on the White Cub two weeks earlier, Wednesday (27 March 2024) when trails hadn’t been groomed:

SCUM on White Cub trail —video by Eric Troyer

If you’re enjoying the spring skiing and haven’t added to your Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks trail donation, please do so now.

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate

Update on Bad Bob

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Bad Bob ready to challenge Kent Karns to a ski race, anytime.

Bad Bob Baker, originator and long-term director of the Sonot Kkaazoot had successful surgery late Friday afternoon. Although originally scheduled to spend the night at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Bad Bob was home Friday night. When Kent Karns, his friend and former Lathrop High Schol XC Ski teammate called him, “Bob said he could beat me in a ski race any day including last night.”

I would be willing to bet on Bad Bob. While balancing on his non-surgical leg, Bad Bob could doublepole faster than Kent, who completed his first ski of the season on Saturday. Kent might still have a fighting chance to catch him on an uphill course.

Recover well, Bob!

Volunteers made the 37th Sonot Kkaazoot a celebration of spring

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Bad Bob with mic and start list providing commentary on race day–photo by Dan Johnson

The 37th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot “is pretty much complete” in the words of race organizer, Bad Bob Baker. He continues “I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Wade tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. Hopes are everything will come out well.” The Sonot “was a great event with great weather and ski conditions. See ya on the other side.”

Please thank the volunteers (https://sonotkkaazoot.org/volunteers/) who made this year’s event happen. At least 53 people staffed the feed stations that kept the skiers hydrated and energized on an unseasonably warm day after cold start to spring. I want to personally thank the West Valley Ski Team feed station for patiently peeling three or four banana sections for me. My legs were cramping seriously by that point so getting my mitt and pole off was virtually impossible. They made possible my 30 km finish. Thank you for providing us feeds and encouragement.

The trails were in amazingly good conditions that we expect from our Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers, who were literally up all night before the Sonot Kkaazoot. No serious accidents were reported during the race as skiers were under the watchful eyes of the Nordic Ski Patrol. I’ve been unable to get the names of these individuals, so please let me know (contact@sonotkkaazoot.org) if you recognized any of these key volunteers.

Many long-term volunteers spent part of their Saturday timing the Sonot Kkaazoot, helping to prepare the stadium area, and staffing the awards banquet. We appreciate all their efforts.

Finally, Denali State Bank (https://www.denalistatebank.com/) has been the title sponsor of the Sonot Kkaazoot for all 37 years that the race has been held. Their support together with the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation, Fort Wainwright, U.S. Army Alaska, and the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks has endured for 37 years. This lasting collaboration was responsible for countless smiles I saw Saturday on the trails. Spring and the Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot will return on 22 March 2025, the fourth Saturday in March.

Back-of-the-pack view of the Sonot Kkaazoot

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Norma Haubenstock’s Sonot Kkaazoot snail award from 1998

Although I’ve been the last finisher in the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot more times than I have fingers to count, I’ve never gotten a red lantern. I have gotten to be friends with the trail sweeps. Ken has taken my excess clothes to the finish for me, and I have told Danny to remove the remaining orange kilometer markers because I definitely knew the course (especially when it was on the Chena River).

In 1998, Norma Haubenstock was awarded the Sonot Kkaazoot Snail woodel made by Bad Bob from a particularly unique shaped birch log. We might need to offer incentives for women skiing the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot. This year Corinne Leistikow was the only woman over 29 years old to finish the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot. She was ahead of her husband, an under 20-year-old female skier, and one 30–34-year-old male skier. But no other Masters female skiers finished the 50-km Sonot Kkaazoot.

Since the pandemic, I haven’t been the last 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot finisher because I have been unable to finish 50 km. Likewise, most of the SCUM have chosen to ski the 30 km instead of the 50 km event.

Among the SCUM there is fierce competition for woodels since the M09 (70 to 74 years old) category had 5 SCUM skiers so only three would be successful.

Woodel winners in M09 men in 30 km Sonot Kkaazoot–Bill Husby (2nd), Mike Schmoker (first), and Dermot Cole (third)–Joanna Fox photo

Last year Mike Schmoker and Dermot Cole skied the 50 km Sonot, however, this year, only Eric Troyer skied it.

Here’s the URL to Eric’s blogpost on his race:

https://notquiteoverthehillcorrineanderic.blogspot.com/2024/03/struggling-to-finish-well-earned-sonot.html

In contrast, he provided these insights from the back-of-the-pack to me:

I don’t try to be at the back of the pack, but I enjoy being there. The people are friendly, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. It’s kind of like a pub in motion. But without the bar. Or the beer. And if you end up doing enough of the races, it’s like Cheers. Everybody knows your name!

One thing nice about being at the back of the pack is hope. You can always hope someone in front of you went out too fast and then runs out of steam badly.  Then you can cheerily call out “Good job!” as you pass them. Sure, it’s sad and petty, but it’s all we’ve got! 

I’ve been at the back of the pack many times. I’ve even got a list of all my Red Lantern finishes. I’m proud of them! Entered, competed, finished! Most important, though, is that you have a good time while you’re out there. Even when you’re struggling and feel like you want to puke. Good times! 

Regardless of distance attempted, the SCUM have a good time. Here’s the view before the Sonot Kkaazoot as they flex their bionic hinges:

SCUM before the Sonot Kkaazoot, posing in front of the spectator directional sign —photo by Dermot Cole

and a view of the morning after:

SCUM on the day after the Sonot Kkaazoot, with Bill Husby feeling the effects of grooming for 5 hours, sleeping only 3 hours, and having Dermot pass him on the black loops when he fell–photo by Joanna Fox

However, this year, Sonot Kkaazoot race director, Bad Bob Baker, felt the effects of his completely torn hamstring while setting up the courses, supervising all the volunteers, and providing the play-by-play in the stadium for 6 hours. The pain and swelling did force Bob to go home for several hours before race morning.

We wish him a successful surgery and speedy recovery so that he can have more fun at next year’s Sonot Kkaazoot.

Bad Bob Baker at rest during a lull in the finish line activities of the Sonot Kkaazoot–photo by Dan Johnson

2024 Winners of 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot

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50 km winners (L to R): Mike Ophoff (3rd), Ben Dohlby (2nd) and Christopher Kalev (1st) —photo by Dermot Cole

Three UAF Nanook skiers comprised the podium for the main event of the 37th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. All three skiers recently competed in the NCAA championships in Steamboat Springs, CO, while pursuing their engineering degrees. Mike and Christopher are skiing while engineering graduate students. Christopher Kalev won the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot for the second straight year with a time of 2:15:39.4; Ben Dohlby was second in 2:16:13.4 and Mike Ophoff third in 2:17:14.6. Christopher improved upon his time from 2023 when he finished in 2:19.00.6. Earlier this season Christopher competed in World Cup races in Minneapolis and Canmore, Alberta representing his native Estonia.

50 km winners (L to R): Astrid Stav (2nd), Rosie Fordham (1st), Anna Engel (3rd) —photo by Joanna Fox

The women’s 50 km podium was also topped by an Nanook skier, Rosie Fordham, who was an All-American at NCAA finals this year. Rosie’s winning time was 2:34:37.7 and was much faster than her winning time in 2022 when her finish was clocked at 2:43:15.8. Rosie, a mathematics student, also raced in the Minneapolis World Cup races representing Australia. Astrid Stav of UAA was second behind Rosie in 2:36:06.8 and Anna Engel of APU was third in 2:57:27.2.

Congratulations to all of these amazing skiers.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner story: https://www.newsminer.com/sports/local/two-uaf-athletes-win-37th-annual-sonot-kkaazoot-races/article_3d425b90-e96a-11ee-8b7d-9f1df3afd40a.html

Unclaimed woodels from 2024 Sonot Kkaazoot available for pickup (updated on 3/26/24)

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SCUM with their stash of woodels, including for wayward SCUM–photo by Jimmy Fox

If you missed the awards banquet for the 37th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot, you still have an opportunity to pick up your handmade birch woodel in the small warmup hut at Birch Hill Recreation Center from Tuesday afternoon, 26 March through 3 April 2024.

Mike Schmoker, head woodel maker, will have unclaimed woodels in labeled plastic bags in the log warming hut that is open 24 hours a day. There will be one bag with overall awards for Aiden Summers, Riley Whistler, and Dana Fjare. A second bag will have the age-class woodels for the 10k with 1st, 2nd & 3rd in zip lock bags. There will also be a 30k & a 50k bag with 1st, 2nd & 3rd zip lock bags. There is the list of names in each bag, and we ask that skiers mark off their names when they get their woodels.  

The woodels are highly coveted as were Gina’s pecan, white chocolate cookies, also shown above. However, if you missed the banquet, you missed out on the cookies and Gina’s fabulous soups.