Official word (from John Estle) on difficulty of 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot course

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Sonot Kkaazoot

The courses on the attached maps (course maps on Sonot Kkaazoot website) were plotted in the same FIS Homologation Software (online software) used to generate the specs for our FIS-Homologated competition courses. The elevation data was based on a digital elevation model (DEM) generated from “the National Map” a USGS-provided data set. Using a DEM from the National Map is an accepted practice as part of the FIS course-homologation process. TC = “Total Climb” – the sum of all the partial height differences of every elevation gain on the course.

Section 1 = TC 626m / 16,572m

Section 2 = TC 408m / 14,135m (1034m / 30,707m partial total)

Section 3 = TC 655m / 20,021m (1689m / 50, 728m total)

———————–

Total = 1689m

Those amounts work out to an average of 33.3m/Km of climbing. FIS specs for race courses over 5Km in length are required to be in the range of 25m/Km to 42m/Km. The Sonot course is 33% above the minimum. That amount of climb per Km is a degree of “physical challenge” (a FIS term) that is not typical for “popular competitions” (how FIS would categorize the Sonot Kkaazoot were it a FIS competition). Most 50Km popular competition fall below the lower limit of the FIS specs. On the other hand . . . a course used for a World Cup 50Km would still be legal with 25% more climbing than the Sonot course. And the top male skiers would probably do that under two hours on fast snow.

Black Funk 5Km, South Tower 5Km and the Tower Island-Surprise 1350m sprint course (courses used at the 2023 Junior Nationals) are among about 10 homologated courses at Birch Hill for which the course specs were generated from that same DEM/dataset. No dataset is perfect, and there are always errors in measurements. However, the FIS Homologation Committee believes that datasets such as the one I used for the Birch Hill courses is sufficient to use as a basis for certifying that the course is what the specs say it is.

You can find homologation info at fis-ski.com > Cross Country > Homologations. Use USA in the nation field and apply the filter and you can see all the homologated courses in the US.

There is no homologation certificate for the Birkie course. However, you might try contacting Allan Serrano (allanjserrano@gmail.com) who was the FIS Homologation Inspector for a 30Km course at Seeley Hills, WI, part of which might be part of the BIrkie course. He might be able to provide you with some approximate (or precise) specs for the Birkie course itself.

Can’t think of anything else informative to add.

–-John Estle email to Eric Troyer on how the total climb for the 50 km course was calculated

Regular Sonot Kkaazoot registration ends tomorrow night

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Sonot Kkaazoot

The sun is out and the temperatures have risen dramatically. What excuses do you have for not registering for the 36th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot? It will truly be a spring event this year.

As of 3:50 p.m. today, we have 36 skiers signed up for the 10 km event, 20 for the 30 km, and 42 for the 50 km. That leaves lots of woodels not being contested at present. Regular Sonot Kkaazoot registration ends tomorrow night, so don’t delay or you’ll have to pay late registration fees. There is no registration after 11:59 p.m. ADT Thursday night so don’t be disappointed.

Early bib pickup will be Thursday night from 5 to 7 p.m. upstairs in the Birch Hill Recreation Center. Please participate. All registration is online.

Need for Sonot Kkaazoot volunteers mostly met—thank you!

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Sonot Kkaazoot

We need a couple of folks to help out at the Awards Banquet on Saturday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Birch Hill Recreation Area.

Please contact me at: contact@sonotkkaazoot.org if you can help the Baker family out on this matter.

How tough is the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot?

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Sonot Kkaazoot

In 2022, to avoid using the unpredictably frozen Chena River, Sonot Kkaazoot organizer, Bad Bob Baker initiated three new Sonot Kkaazoot courses. The “all-Birch Hill” 50-km course has 1,689 m of total climb. For comparison: the Birkie Skate Trail has a total climb of 1,398 m.

The last 20 kilometers of the Sonot Kkaazoot are particularly challenging as a skier faces the Sonot Connector (a 116 m long A climb) with 37 km of skiing already on one’s legs. That climb is followed closely by the Hilltop (33 m A climb) and Heartrate Hill (65 m A climb) as the skier skis White Bear for the second time.

Profile of last 20 km of the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot

Don’t worry, there’s a feed station at Sonot Junction so you’ll be able to rehydrate at the top of the Sonot Connector and again after you descend from the top of Heartrate Hill.

However, the SCUM might be in the market for e-skis by that point. Last year, after 2 years of virtual Sonot Kkaazoot efforts, none of the SCUM were able to complete the new 50 km Sonot course. Fighting accelerating carcass and engine deterioration, the SCUM won’t be racing the clock but rather the calendar. Can skiers over 70 years old with both mental and physical impairments still finish the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot? Stay tuned. Several have registered to try again. They’ll be out at Birch Hill next week volunteering at the Junior National Championships.

SCUM left behind

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Sonot Kkaazoot

By definition, SCUM rises to the top, but nowhere does being a SCUM signify possessing speed. Thus, during SCUM workouts, Mom is frequently left far behind, and she subsequently takes unplanned diversions to amuse herself. So today, Bill Husby, decided that I needed to carry an Apple AirTag so that overachieving SCUM could come back and find me. (Aside: 25 years ago, when the SCUM were much younger, Sgt. SCUM, aka Mark Haas, would ski back and find all the lagging SCUM without any electronic gadgets. FWW Army band members were better at tracking than former Lathrop High School teachers, apparently.)

However, out the South Birch Hill Parking Lot, I had multiple Rosie Brennan moments where my left ski was not attached to my left boot.

Mom’s Rosie Brennan moment before workout began–*all photos by Dan Johnson*

Fortunately, after I had inserted my ski boot to binding a dozen times without successful attachment, Dermot came to my rescue. Seven minutes later and with cold fingers and thumbs, we headed up the stadium ramp without a lot of glide.

Boot and binding aligned and cleared of ice thanks to Dermot

We started out on the newly groomed and tracked trails by skiing the Tower, Medevac, Blue and Outhouse. At the Sunnyside cutoff, Mom and Dermot decided that Sunnyside would be much more enjoyable since the sun was out today, unobstructed by clouds. Since we were headed downhill the extra inch of snow on the trails wouldn’t be a problem.

However, eventually the air tag told Bill that we weren’t following them:

The SCUM caught us as we had decided to go down Cliffside and up the Sonot Connector. Dan and Bill wanted to turn back at the Cliffside gate because Dan’s feet were getting cold and Bill said Sonot Connector wouldn’t be groomed until Friday. When Dermot and I pointed out that it WAS Friday, the SCUM followed us down Cliffside and up the Sonot Connector, where apparently, Bill was pinging the AirTag:

However, I couldn’t hear the pinging because Dermot serenades everyone around him when he skis with a cacophony of groans, moans, and other animal sounds:

Dermot penguin walking with south effects--video by Joanna Fox

Dan, Tim, and Bill waited for us in the sun at the road crossing at the top of the Sonot Connector, wondering why I hadn’t heard the pinging. We finished off the incoming White Bear, where Doyon Utilities had removed a number of trees touching the power lines recently. Much more daylight was seen on the last km of the White Bear as a result. Finishing on the Warmup Loop, Bill and Dan were humored by their IT success before they headed off for the Skiathon on Sunday.

Dermot and I won’t be at the Skiathon as we need to do a several hour skate workout as we prepare for the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot. We’ve already signed up at the early registration rate, which ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Bad Bob Baker interviewed by Arctic Vibe on Sonot Kkaazoot

Posted on March 2, 2023 by Sonot Kkaazoot

The collaboration between the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright has increased the number and variety of groomed Nordic ski trails available to both civilians and military personnel in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Through all 36 years of the Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot, Fort Wainwright has been a key sponsor because the race has involved trails on military land.

Recently, Bad Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot race originator and current organizer was interviewed by U.S. Army Garrison Alaska Commander Col. Nate Surrey for Fort Wainwright’s monthly Arctic Vibe show. Here’s Bad Bob’s interview as part of the Arctic Vibe: Ready for Spring program.

Arctic Vibe program for March cued to section with interview with Bad Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot race organizer

Fort Wainwright thinks that skiing the Sonot Kkaazoot is a great way to get ready for spring. We definitely agree.

“Sophomoric humor” on the day after Frank Soos Distance Race #1

Posted on December 11, 2022 by Sonot Kkaazoot

SCUM await the Arctic Force on Cliffside–*photos by Joanna Fox*

On the day after the Frank Soos Distance Race #1, we decided to ski the military transect starting on the White Bear, going down the Sonot Connector and returning up the Cliffside and Sunnyside trails to the Outhouse and Relay Return. When we got to the bottom of Cliffside, we found we had company, a group of the Arctic Force at Fort Wainwright.

Who’s the skier without white pants? Why it’s Dermot Cole, who wrote a touching tribute to Frank Soos after yesterday’s event: (https://www.dermotcole.com/reportingfromalaska/2022/12/10/mssfuxkl7l8p01ig7rmfpjs3q8obfr)

Today while participating in our sophomoric humor, we came up with a new SCUM acronym to more accurately reflect our current composition. Susan’s Class of Uncoachable Misfits was the new definition. Here’s the SCUM in action on the Cliffside once we got ahead of the Army:

Snow angels by the 70 to 79 age class from yesterday’s Frank Soos Distance Race (and one 69-year-old)–video by Joanna Fox

Snow angel by the wannabe 70-year-old SCUM

We did eventually ski back to the Birch Hill stadium, regrouping when Santa executed a dramatic fall:

We’re looking for some younger recruits to join us. The Sonot Kkaazoot is a little more than 3 months away. Woodels will be awarded this year and the post-race banquet will be held like before the pandemic. Plan to join us. You’ll have to prove that you’re a misfit, though.

Joanna proving she’s a misfit–*photo by Dan Johnson*

By the way, we have located 4 of the LOL Christmas ornaments. We’ll do a blogpost when we get all 12.

Santa and ornament 4–*photo by Dan Johnson*

Bad Bob skis military tour and Blackhawk with SCUM

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Bad Bob joins the SCUM for ski of Sunnyside to Sonot Connector and Blackhawk–*photo by Joanna Fox*

Bad Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot originator and race organizer, joined the SCUM for a leisurely ski through the newly fallen snow on Sunday.

Bad Bob indicated that registration for the 36th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot will open in January 2023. There will be woodels for all three courses, and a post-race awards banquet with hot soups and other goodies will be held. Stay tuned.

The man in orange (Bad Bob) waits at the Cliffside gate-*-photo by Joanna Fox*

We waited when Bob Moloney fell on one of the more technical corners on Cliffside. However, when someone falls on the straightaway at the bottom of Cliffside, their miscue is recorded (especially if their flexion is limited by bionic knees).

Did you see that moose divot that caught my ski? —*photo by Dan Johnson*

Groomer, Bill Husby, was eager to ski the Blackhawk trail even though there hadn’t been enough snow to groom it this season. So Bad Bob, Greg, Dan, and Bill headed into the helicopter trail to check on the brushing work that Mike Schmoker and David Prusak had done this fall.

Bill led the way (after Bad Bob who was back on White Bear by this time) —*photo sequence by Dan Johnson*

Bill bombing the tracks that Bad Bob set

Greg checking on Bill with his ski pole basket

While the younger SCUM were rolling around the helicopter singletrack trail, the rest of the SCUM continued on the Sonot Connector and White Bear. The new snow was lovely in the low light of a late November morning.

Meanwhile, the older SCUM ski up the Sonot Connector to the White Bear–*photo by Joanna Fox*

Remember, the 36th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot is Saturday, 25 March 2023.

SCUM hoping for Sonot redemption in 2023

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Sonot Kkaazoot

At the 35th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot, on the new 50 km course that has a total climb of 1,689 m, no SCUM finished the designated course for the first time in 25 years. Several of the SCUM are seriously geographically challenged, and one SCUM skied 50 km of the Sonot Kkaazoot trails but not as Bad Bob designed the course. A couple of SCUM attempted the 50 km course and were unable to finish it. Seeing as SCUM are rapidly getting older and feebler, we figure that 2023 is going to be our best chance to redeem ourselves.

Although one SCUM was out skiing as early as October 14,

Ray Halderman skiing before trail grooming–*photo by Bill Husby*

most of us waited until October 23rd, to enjoy our first on snow ski as we posted earlier. The snow from this first major storm created a good base on Birch Hill’s well-maintained trails, but the snow cover was thin, and with use by the Nanooks, high school teams, FXC, and recreational skiers, conditions were challenging for 70-year-old SCUM with their various bionic joints.

Bill Husby discovered that the Noyes Slough provided a great venue for skate skiing so the SCUM practiced their V2 and ski jumping techniques, between and over the beaver dams:

SCUM at beaver dam before the Johansen Expressway bridge–*photo by Joanna Fox*

Once FXC Masters workouts began, the SCUM realized that we needed hill workouts so Sunnyside and Cliffside trails called us:

Skiing down to Fort Wainwright was the fun part, and we discovered that they are not snowmaking yet on the alpine hill:

but the sun came out, so we had vistas to gaze at while we climbed up Cliffside:

Bernardo and Tim taking a momentary break on their climb up Cliffside

and we celebrated when we made it to the Cliffside gate:

From there, the workout became more of a struggle, and Bernardo skied ahead leaving the rest of us to claw our way back up Sunnyside. We were able to see our little hamlet at Powerline cutoff on our return whereas it had been in the clouds on our descent. Mike took some photos on Sunnyside but I think that they are too embarrassing to share.

We managed to ski almost 10 km with 261 m of climb. This represents 15% of the climb and 20% of the distance of the Sonot Kkaazoot—our first small ski toward our goal of finishing the 50 km course on March 25, 2023. However, thanks to the trail groomers, we were skiing on a couple of inches of packed snow in November at temperatures in the mid 20s. It was heavenly even though we were wiped afterwards.

I’ve made my trail donation and received a thank you letter from Chris Puchner, NSCF president, who is working to strengthen his new bionic knee. If you haven’t already, please donate to the NSCF trails fund, because we have fantastic early skiing thanks to our groomers:

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/

SCUM ski first White Bear with an eye toward potential hazards

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Sonot Kkaazoot

A huge thank you to the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers who made possible for the SCUM to ski the entire White Bear on their first outing on skis for the season. Seeing as we had just finished a major trail brushing effort, we were disappointed to see that the wet snow created hazards that we hadn’t seen last week.

I didn’t need to get beyond the Warm-up Loop to have my first fall, which my friends rushed to document. It was practice for the falls I would do throughout the morning as I attempted to remove fallen branches while skiing:

SCUM mom’s first fall on skis this season —*photo by Jerome Jackson*

The sensible approach after this tumble would have been to stay in the stadium area and practice technique and balance. However, the White Bear had been rolled and combed, and I needed to check on the brushing we’d done last week. As early as the cutoff from the biathlon to White Bear, I discovered I didn’t have enough kick, but continued on with my slick skis:

We followed the tracks of Eric Troyer and Corinee Lestikow until Coronary Bypass, where Joanna wanted to head back. However, with virgin groomed trails ahead, Dermot and I wanted to continue. Joanna yielded to subtle pressure.

Not enough kick to make it back to White Bear from biathlon cutoff–*photo by Joanna Fox*

Dermot skiing in his own tracks on the White Bear–*Photo by Joanna Fox*

Dermot was attempting to do brush hazard removal, but the snow was still sticking to the branch:

Dermot attempting to remove the snow from a branch overhanging the Whitte Bear–video by Joanna Fox

The most serious trail hazard we found was a large section of a birch tree that had probably fallen during an earlier wind event as the leaves were still attached. Additional snow on this suspended section of tree (with leaves) could definitely be a hazard to a groomer or skier who passed under this tree at the wrong time. This tree is just outbound from the Heart Rate Hill sign:

Dermot looking back at the suspended section of tree with leaves on very beginning of Heart Rate Hill–*photo by Joanna Fox*

Thanks to the groomers, we had a wonderful first ski around the White Bear today. The snowpack is very thin, so we were classical skiing to preserve the snow. We hope other skiers will do the same and contribute to the trail grooming fund: