Updates from the Sonot Kkaazoot course from trail crew

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Sonot Kkaazoot

As of 7 a.m Saturday, the Kilometers signs are out, and we are still planning to have the Sonot on the river.

At 4:30 p.m. Friday, the Fort Wainwright (FWW) alpine hill melted so rapidly that a very large and fast RIVER of water came gushing down the slope taking most of the SONOT course out with it. Bad Bob and Jeff, the Fort Wainwright groomer, watched this phenomenon take place. Jeff said that he would reroute around it and put the SONOT course up and down the bunny hill. There is some water at the base of the hill but skiers should be able to ski around or through it.

Update from Tom Helmers, head groomer for the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) at 4:00 a.m. Saturday. Creek on FWW down hill is still flowing, The cat tail pond as you leave ski area parking lot has some water in it but not a problem yet. There is water at top of Sonot Connector just below road half way across trail, at gate pretty wet all the way to white bear. Was 29 deg at base of hill and 36 here at the stadium, heading out for second lap on WB.

Perfect Spring skiing on the Sonot Kkaazoot river course today

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Callie Underwood was out training for the Sonot Kkaazoot in the sunshine and fast snow, how about you?

Late registration is 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, 26 March 2015 at the Doyon, Ltd. Headquarters (downtown).

Photo by Bill Husby

Volunteers needed to haul snow under Steese Hwy bridge

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Sonot Kkaazoot

The Chena River is really looking good. To keep the ski bottoms of Sonot Kkaazoot skiers looking good, we need volunteers to haul clean snow over to the icy and gravel covered area under the Steese Highway bridge. Volunteers with shovels and sleds are needed from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening, 25 March 2015. Bill Husby is organizing this event and will have sleds and shovels available if you don’t have them. If we get enough help, we can set up several snow stockpiles to be spread on Friday night/Saturday morning.

Meet at the Graehl Land boat launch. Questions: Bill Husby at 460-2130.

Here’s what the trail looked like today.Photo by Bill Husby.

It’s still warmer than normal

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Although two recent Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks events have been postponed due to cold, 2014 was the 4th warmest year in Fairbanks in over a century.

http://akclimate.org/Summary/Annual/Fairbanks/2014

Nordic skiers in Fairbanks are just not acclimated yet. Look at how much warmer (red bars) we’ve been than normal this winter. Also, remember we had a cold dip last January as well as a colder than normal February.

We should embrace our cold because our ski trails are snow-covered, and they won’t be melting soon. This cold weather is also good news for skiing on the Chena River this winter and spring.

Random shots from the Sonot Connector & Fort Wainwright

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

: NSCF co-Prez Bruce Jamieson

: Chris Puchner

: Darren Rorabaugh

: Dash Feierabend

: Frank Soos

: Gretchen Chamberlain

: Ian Ludwig

: Heidi Amskold

: Joey Nunes

: Ari Endestad

: Matt Cameron

: Sam Flora

: Mike Schmoker

: Will Coleman

: Sharon & Bad Bob Baker

All photos by Sam Lamont

2014 Sonot Kkaazoot Event Podiums

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Article by Danny Martin, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner w/ photos including female and male winners of 50 km and 20 km freestyle events

http://www.newsminer.com/sports/local_community/priest-konieczny-tops-in-k-sonot-kkaazoot/article_726fd6ca-b7df-11e3-945e-0017a43b2370.html

Present or former Nanooks swept the Men’s 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot podium:

1. Cody Priest in 2:21.55.2

2. Alex Morris 2:22.42.9

3. Isaac Lammers 2:23.11.4

Women’s 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot leaders were:

1. Rebecca Konieczny 2:33.38.7

2. Shalane Frost 2:37.47.6

3. Melissa Lewis 2:48.46.2

Men’s 50 km CL winners

1. Pete Leonard 3:00.58.4

2. Scott Jerome 3:19.42.0

(See: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=651789528222342 for photo)

3. David Apperson 3:29.4.4

Women’s 50 km CL

1. Lynne Petersen 4:45.11.4

2. Jessie Turner 5:44.01.0

3. Liz Pawelko 5:47.07.2

Men’s 20 km event winners

1. Ti Donaldson 50:21.6

2. Kevin Brune 50:37.6

3. Benjamin Koenig 50:37.8

Women’s 20 km event winners

1. Jenna DiFolco 56:46.0

2. Kriya Dunlap 1:05.01.2

3. Christine Broda 1:08.21.2

Men’s 40 km winners

1. Mark Ross 2:31.08.8

2. Patrick Druckenmiller 2:35.11.9

3. Patrik Sartz 2;37.18.3

Women’s 40 km winners

1. Kristan Kelly 2:38.11.1

2. Robbin Garber-Slaght 3:10.09.2

3. Maria Berger 3:37.35.0

Photos by Sam Lamont, lead road crossing volunteer

Friday morning report: The river is “awesome”

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

From Bill Husby, NSCF deputy groomer:

“Spent the morning grooming the river and it continues to look great. Only a few very short sections that will require double poling in the tracks. Encourage folks to wear sunscreen.”

Snow haulers and shovelers needed tonight!

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Snow haulers and shovelers needed tonight to move snow onto icy sections of the Sonot Kkaazoot trail on the Chena River under the Wendell Street and Steese Hwy Bridges. There is highway gravel embedded in the ice that needs to be well-covered with snow. Park at Graehl Park (#26 on the map below) and bring snow shovels starting at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Groomers will have large sleds for moving snow to where it is needed.

Fairbanks skiers #1 and #2 for M6 men at 2014 National Masters Championships

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Dave Edic and Bob Baker helped melt the trails at Kincaid with their performances in the 10 km classical technique race at the 2014 National Masters last night. Dave, who was 12th in a field of 69 men, was first among M6 men with a time of 33:58. Bob Baker, originator and long-time organizer of the Sonot Kkaazoot, was 20th overall and second among M6 men with a time of 35:12.

National Masters continues with relays tonight and finishes with the Tour of Anchorage on Sunday. At least 2 dozen Fairbanks skiers plan to be at one of the various starting lines on Sunday. Good luck to all of them.

Six Fairbanks skiers at World Masters in Austria

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Six Fairbanks-based cross country skiers are in Austria competing in the 2014 Cross Country Masters Cup. These skiers include (in alphabetical order): Bad Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot founder and longtime director; Dave Edic; Owen Hanley; Bruce Jamieson, co-President of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (http://www.nscfairbanks.org/); Ken Leary, the only guy to finish all 26 of the Sonot Kkaazoot (long course), and the organizer of the Wednesday Night Race Series (http://www.wnrace.com/Home_Page.html); and Chris Puchner. All these skiers, in addition to being amazing local racers, have contributed countless hours toward improving the nordic ski opportunities in Fairbanks.

Here’s the link to World Masters Cup race results with first event scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, 24 January 2014):

http://mwc2014.com/en/pillerseetal-masters-world-cup/home

Have fun, and ski fast!

Sonot Kkaazoot

Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks' annual spring ski marathon

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