All items found on the Sonot Kkaazoot race course have been collected and taken to the “lost and found” area in the main building at the Birch Hill Recreation Area. Please retrieve your items before 3 April 2015 when the building will close for the season.
From the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer with 11 photographs:
Alaska Dispatch News story on the oldest finisher in the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot:
Congratulations to Jack Novak of Alaska Pacific University who won the 50 km FS race in 2:12.10 today, followed by Kenny Brewer of UAF in 2:15.09, and Max Donaldson of West Valley High School in 2:15.12.7
The women’s 50 km race was won for the second consecutive time by FXC coach Rebecca Konieczny in 2:23.40, a new record time surpassing the record that six-time Sonot Kkaazoot winner, Melissa Lewis held for 10 years. Melissa followed Becca in 2:38.17, and Sarah Freistone in 2:47.15.
In the 20 km men’s race, FXC coach Peter Leonard won in 45:56.2 over Ti Donaldson (a U16) in 45.56.9 and Ben Koenig (U18) in 45:57.7. Pete also set a new 20 km record for men, bettering the 10 year record held by Marius Korthauer.
In the 20 km women’s race, Jenna DiFolco (U16) won for the second year in a row with a time of 52:43.5, followed by Kaya Ratzlaff in 55:05.6 (U12), and Aasne Hoveid (U20) in 56:57.7.
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.
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
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.
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.
All photos by Sam Lamont
Article by Danny Martin, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner w/ photos including female and male winners of 50 km and 20 km freestyle events
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
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.”
Sonot Kkaazoot 