Results from today’s 15/30/45 km classical races at the Masters World Cup were delayed as officials revised courses to work around a train that parked on the tracks blocking the intended race course. Only two Interior Alaska skiers participated, Bob Baker was 12th in the revised 40 km CL event for the M6 age category with a time of 2:30:09, and Owen Hanley, was 18th in the 30 km CL event for M9 skiers with a time of 1:50:06. Congratulations to both of you.

Here’s the FasterSkier.com story of the train snafu complete with photo and quote from Bob Baker:

http://fasterskier.com/fsarticle/masters-world-cup-day-5-train-snafu/

From Sharon Baker, “Here is Bob at the high point of the course for the 3rd time.  Looking strong.”

All photos by Sharon Baker

“Descending from the high point,”

nearing the bottom to complete his 3rd lap. One more to go.

Had great kick the whole way.”

Bob Baker, Sharon Baker, Chris Puchner, and Owen Hanley ski the 7.5 km CL race on Monday, 22 January at World Masters. All four skiers are key race organizers for the Sonot Kkaazoot as members of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks.

All photos from Skinnyskier.com (https://www.skinnyski.com/result.asp?Id=43873)

As mentioned earlier, conditions at World Masters yesterday were beyond challenging. They got 10″ of snow within 12 hours–much of it during the 7.5 km FS race.

Here are some photos of Bruce Jamieson, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) board member and Sonot Kkaazoot volunteer, taken by former NSCF skier, Dave Edic,

Photos by Dave Edic

Older Masters skiers suffered longer in the blizzard than the younger, faster skiers. We salute the great ski performances of all the Fairbanks skiers yesterday. Enjoy your rest day.

Bad Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot originator, course chief, and major organizer, has a new role today, as proud dad of World Masters Gold Medalist, Gina Chythlook, F2, in the 7.5 km freestyle race with a time of 24:32.5 and Silver Medalist, Davya Flaharty, F1, in a time of 24.50.7. It was both snowing and blowing as this photo shows:

Davya Flaharty (bib 106) leads older sister, Gina Chythlook (bib 202) in blizzard during 7.5 km FS at World Masters--photo by Sharon Baker

Bob’s son-in-law, Tyson Flaharty, M1, was 5th in a time of 19:38.4.

Bruce Jamieson, former Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks President and current Board Member,  was 36th in the M8 event, with a time of 35:01.3.

Congratulations to all our Fairbanks World Masters skiers who prevailed in blizzard conditions in Minneapolis today.

At World Masters today in the 7.5 km CL events, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks skiers were challenged by windy conditions in early stages of a snow storm that added leaf matter to their sticky kick wax

Bob Baker, 19th in M6 event with time of 25.11.6.

Chris Puchner, 21st in M7 event at 29:48.8

Owen Hanley, 18th in M9 event at 30:35.3.

All three of these skiers are key members of the Sonot Kkaazoot organizing group.

Sharon Baker, long time Sonot Kkaazoot volunteer, was 6th in her F6 event with a time of 28.38.4. Sharon described the bottoms of her skis after the event as looking like “a long, wet, twisted blob of tissue!!”

Hang tough! And major kudos for your great skis.