Awesome Chena River skiing today

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Sonot Kkaazoot

1 March 2019: It was +16 deg F and sunny at Denali State Bank at 11 a.m. as I headed out on the 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot course from start to turnaround. Groomers Bad Bob Baker and Bill Poles Husby had been out since 8 a.m. Skiing was awesome including under the highway bridges where Bob had dragged snow earlier and through repeated dragging had ground up the jumble ice. No need to use rock skis today! Today will be Bad Bob’s last grooming of the Sonot course until he returns from Norway on the Tuesday before the Sonot Kkaazoot.

Bad Bob and his drag on Chena River_1 Mar 2019sm.JPG

Bad Bob and his drag on his pass toward town as I headed out around 11:15 a.m. today

Below are some photos I took during my 20 km ski. I was way overdressed and by the end, I was skiing without a hat. Bad Bob made an additional pass on the trail after I skied out, leaving the trail much wider and more level. On my return to the start, it was virtually an all V2 ski.

Only climb on the 20 km Sonot course

Bad Bob removing toe grabbers on 20 km turnaround sm

Bad Bob’s technique for removing toe grabbers on the 20 km turnaround trail

Bad Bob adds a kick as he grooms the 20 km turnaround

Bob and Sharon Baker will be out skiing the 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot course this afternoon. I highly recommend that you do the same. It will top off your Vitamin D stores and will definitely encourage you to sign up for the 32nd annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot today.

March skiing in Fairbanks is simply unbeatable.

Improved Chena River Course Conditions 2-27-19

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Sonot Kkaazoot

From Sonot Kkaazoot Race Director, Bad Bob Baker:

I groomed the entire 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot course this morning. Temperature was -5 degrees F with NO OVERFLOW or OPEN WATER. It’s roughed in, and even quite smooth in places. The Chena River is now SKIABLE.

I will be back down on the River early FRIDAY, and meeting up with Bill Husby (Poles), and will escort him up and down the Chena River. The forecast is for clear days with daytime temperatures in the 20’s and overnight lows around zero through next week. Now that the Chena River portion of the Sonot Kkaazoot is packed and groomed…it should freeze thicker over the next week.

BUT…as we all know…March is just around the corner…and if we get a lot of new snow or extreme high temperatures, it will become a day-to-day call as we approach race day. But, for now, things are looking quite good….amazing how just a week’s time can change conditions so much. If you do choose to ski on the RIVER, please use common sense, and stay away from anything that looks questionable. The Chena River is continuously changing, and what’s good today, may not be tomorrow. Right now it’s been groomed 12′ to 30′ wide…a little rough in spots, but should be much smoother after Friday’s grooming.

27 March 2019_Sonot Chena River Trail Chena River Trail 2-27-19 Chena River Trail 2-27-19b

Sunny ski training for the Sonot

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Now that the 2018-2019 race season for the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks has finished up with the exception of the Sonot Kkaazoot, it is time to enjoy those long spring skis. The sunshine was out in abundance this morning as the SCUM (Sonot Kkaazoot organizers) were out enjoying the black loops.

Red jackets on blacks sm SCUM on blacks sm

Sunny skies, piston bully groomed corduroy, and deep classical tracks–what more could a skier want?

Don’t forget to donate to the grooming fund. http://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate

Also, it is time to make your commitment to skiing the 32nd annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. The longer you wait, the more you’ll pay in entry fees. Just follow the “register” tab at the top of this page. The event on March 23, 2019 is less than a month away.

30 km test this Sunday

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Sonot Kkaazoot

With the 32nd annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot less than 5 weeks away, the Buetow Dental-Pangaea Health Distance Race #3 will be great test of your preparation. The freestyle race is a three lap course so you have 10 or 30 km options. The race starts at 11 a.m. and finishes in the Birch Hill Recreation Area stadium this Sunday.

https://register.chronotrack.com/r/42672

With the recent snows and winds, this will be a great opportunity to get a long workout in on spectacularly groomed trails.

Here’s the course as described by NSCF race director, John Estle:

Start goes up the Ramp, out Relay Alley, descend Outhouse, then turn left on
Upper House cutoff.

Turn onto Sunnyside, then turn back at Section Line cutoff and return to
Outhouse on Sunnyside

Back on Outhouse, finish the loop, then turn right and finish Relay Loop.

Returning to stadium, go down Roller Coaster Bypass, then White Cub, through Biathlon Range. Take White Bear to Hilltop cutoff.

Turn left and return to the stadium, then take a LEFT and proceed up East Ramp.

Finish: On the last lap, skiers will go up the E Ramp and down the W Ramp, then into the finish from the South.

Proceeds from the race support the Lathrop XC ski team.

DIST3-map-course-sat-photo

Registration open for 32nd annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Registration for the 32nd annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot to be held on Saturday, 23 March 2019 is now open. Click on the “register” tab at the top of this website and you’ll be taken to the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks secure site. You’ll need a valid credit card to complete your registration. Your Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks membership MUST be current to register at the member rates.

If you need a some guidance in preparing for your first 40 or 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot, Kristen Rozell is offering a Sonot Kkaazoot training course that starts soon: https://sonotkkaazoot.org/2018/12/14/nscf-sonot-training-class-opens-soon/

Make 2019 the year that you take your skiing and overall fitness to a new personal best.

NSCF Sonot training class opens soon

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

The colder weather will allow the ski trails to set up nicely. Take a break from the pre-holiday rush to get out and enjoy the fantastic skiing that Birch Hill, UAF, and other local areas offer.

Online registration for the 32nd annual Sonot Kkaazoot will open soon. By registering then, you will be assured the least expensive entry fee, and will have the incentive to start training in earnest.

If you need additional motivation, Kristen Rozell will once again be offering a 2-month long Sonot Training Course that includes technique refinement as well as training and pacing needed for long events. For the skier who wants to successfully ski the 40 or 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot for the first time, this class is for you. Draw on the experience of a successful Sonot Kkaazoot skier who has helped many others train for the Sonot Kkaazoot in the 11 years that she has been offering this class.

Lock in your slot among the 15 lucky skiers:

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/event-3164689

If you have any questions, you can contain Kristen by email at: kbrozell@gmail.com.

May Day ski with Bill and Jerome

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Skiing is still preferable to road biking in Fairbanks as this May Day video from Birch Hill shows. Both Bill Husby and Jerome Jackson skied the 50 km classical Sonot Kkaazoot in March 2018, and are training for 2019.

April 15 skiing on Sunnyside Trail

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

With temperatures dipping to the mid teens early this morning, the Birch Hill groomers were able to groom and track 9 km of trails to complement the 10 km groomed on Saturday. Although we were unable to see Denali from the Sunnyside Trail, there was plenty of sun and blue skies:

SCUM gather on top of picnic table to approach Frank Soos (far right) in height for last group shot of season.

Coach John Estle slows down to join the gathering crowd

Above, Norma Haubenstock, Volunteer Coordinator for Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks competition events, negotiates the damage done to the corduroy by SCUM.

Enjoy the Spring Skiing! Thank you Birch Hill groomers! Today’s ski was a treat! Even 320 m of climb went by quickly.

Sunshine and newly groomed trails await skiers

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Over a foot of new snow has fallen on Birch Hill trails this week, but skiers arriving at Birch Hill today will find all the trails (with the exception of White Bear where the Army is currently conducting their Arctic Winter Games) were groomed and tracked this morning.

The newly fallen and windblown snow has made for difficult grooming conditions on less used trails with tight uphill corners like those on the new Sunnyside trail. Undaunted, after grooming this morning, Bill Husby went out on skis to further refine the trails.

With an overabundance of snow this winter coupled with wind events that make trail maintenance more time intensive, please make an additional contribution to trail fund so we’ll have fabulous trails to enjoy on sunny spring days like today:

http://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate

If you plan to ski in any of the Sonot Kkaazoot events on March 24, it’s time to put in those training kilometers. The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers are making it easy for us.

Chena River groomed Tuesday

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Bad Bob Baker was out grooming the Chena River again today. He reports that it was “very warm, new soft spots” as temperatures rose above freezing in the low lying areas. Skiers should be alert to potential hazards, and conditions could change quickly if the predicted snow storm materializes tomorrow afternoon.

Warm day on the Chena

Photos by Bob Baker

Sonot Kkaazoot

Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks' annual spring ski marathon

Category Archives: Training Ideas