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.
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.
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.
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
With the 37th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot less than 3 weeks away, we are in desperate need of some dedicated volunteers to make sure this event runs smoothly. The Volunteers page (see tab above) has been updated with our current needs.
Volunteers for our timing crew are our most critical need. Anna Sorensen, NSCF head timer will train all volunteers and Gina Chythlook will make sure you have food and beverages to keep you energized during your shift. You do not have to work the entire race. The most intense period is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. when the 10 km skiers are finishing. Timers have the best view of all the finishing action. Hopefully, race day temperatures will be springlike as most of the timing crew work outdoors.
Other needs are help for day of race bib distribution from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and early bib distribution on Thursday, 21 March from 5 to 7 p.m.
NSCF President, Chris Puchner skis 30 km classical race--all photos by Bad Bob Baker
“Pics of Chris and Owen today. 15 degrees and snowing. Owen did three 5 km loops and Chris skied three 10 km. Chris might have gotten lost along the way, as the results DSQed him for going off course? I’m sure we’ll get the story later. The snow conditions were quite slow.” writes Bad Bob
Owen Hanley on route to 4th place in M11 age class
Just one more race and World Masters Cup 2024 will be over. Tomorrow the long-distance freestyle races are scheduled to be contested. Bad Bob and Sharon Baker as well as Bruce Jamieson should be skiing.
Sharon scrambles for USA F03 relay team--all World Masters photos provided by the Bakers
Recently, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks skiers have gotten a reprieve from the unusually cold conditions of January. However, skiers traveling to Vuokatti, Finland for the 2024 Masters World Cup encountered more cold weather. The race jury canceled the first two days of planned races because of the cold.
Today some of the Fairbanks skiers competed in the relays representing the USA. Sharon Baker (above) skied the scramble leg for the USA F03 (40- to 44-year-old) women’s team.
Bad Bob skied the anchor leg for the USA M08 (65- to 69-year-old) men’s team:
Bad Bob anchors USA M08 relay
Warmly clad, Bruce Jamieson skis scramble leg in makeup team with the Aussies:
Bruce Jamieson skis in fashion statement knickers
Owen Hanley, like Sharon Baker, skied down a class to scramble for the USA men’s M10 (75- to 79-years old) team:
Owen Hanley scrambles for USA M10 team
Meanwhile, back in Fairbanks, those of us pirates who didn’t make the travel team, are skiing at temperatures in the low 40s.
While we enjoy spring skiing weather in Fairbanks, here’s Bad Bob Baker’s report from World Masters in Finland:
“Here’s the pic our friend took near the top of the hill by the ski jump. The hut looks like a sauna setup inside. Temp felt like about +10 up there. Still around zero, or below, at the bottom of the hill, where the races are supposed to be happening this year.
SCUM do Ride or Glide–video and interviews by Bill Husby
In the Ride or Glide relays, two person teams either bike or ski a 9-km course. The biker must do the first leg. Mike Mathers was ahead of Corrine Leistikow on the first leg. However, Eric called Dan an old man as he passed him. It may have had something to do with the tights that Eric wore. Alternatively, Eric must not have gone off course (like he did in last year’s Sonot Kkaazoot) or his bike wheel didn’t fall off (like in last year’s Ride or Glide).
What to wear if you want to beat SCUM
Congratulations to all. I’d still be out on the course if I had attempted to ski it.
Although the sun came out today, the SCUM were less animated without Bill Husby leading us on trails less traveled:
Bill leading Norma up the Fort Wainwright alpine hill in February using the route before the Sonot Connector was built
Without you, Don and Dermot wimp skated up the Comp Loop twice after we finished the Flat Black and Tommy Knocker Extension trails. Dan and I were able to V1 and not get our heartrate above level 2 while chasing Mike on classical skis. Still suffering the residual fatigue from his epic 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot, Dermot demonstrated wimp woodeling:
Dermot wimp woodeling up the Comp Loop
We hope that your surgery went well today. We miss you and hope that we’ll be chasing you soon.
Wednesday SCUM skiers (minus Byron who skipped the Comp loop) sending blue skies to Bill Husby–photo by Mike Mathers
Sonot Kkaazoot 