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.
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-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!
A group of five skiers from Fairbanks are currently in Italy competing in Cross Country Masters Cup in Asiago, Italy. Bad Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot founder and longtime director, was 16th among the M5 men (2nd American) in the 30 km classic event yesterday; Dave Edic, M6 was 5th (first American). In the 15 km classic event, Owen Hanley was 30th among M8 men, good for 2nd among Americans. Bruce Jamieson and Chris Puchner round out the Fairbanks contingent, who opted for the freestyle longer distance events. All results can be found at:
http://www.mwcexperience.com/main.php
Ski fast, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks skiers!
Successful training for the Sonot Kkaazoot can go astray when an unexpected injury or untimely illness strikes. Thus, luck plays a significant role in making it to the start line on the Chena River on March 23, 2013. However, the celebration of spring that the Sonot Kkaazoot marks is more than just a ski race. For many skiers in the last wave, the Sonot Kkaazoot also symbolizes the return of health and fitness after unplanned detours. To those skiers (including our friend and race volunteer Tobben Spurkland, who is presently recovering from surgery in Anchorage), we give the SCUM salute. May you return to the ski trails soon.
Photo by Eli (the kid) Lyke
Sonot Kkaazoot 