At the end of regular Sonot Kkaazoot registration, we have 209 skiers entered and ready to glide. Currently 119 skiers (57%) are signed up for the 20 km event, 27 for the 40 km, 7 for the 50 CL, and 56 skiers for the main 50 km event. These numbers will grow substantially when two high school ski teams (Dimond High from Anchorage and Galena) are officially added to the mix.

Skiers tend to procrastinate so late registration is available (again, all online using the Wild Apricot system) but at higher entry fees. All individual skier registration is online (no paper entry fees) so don’t wait until bib pick-up on Thursday.

Interesting skier registration patterns are already apparent. One week out, we have more skiers signed up for the 40 and 50 km events than the final tally last year. The 40 km event has more skiers entered than any of the previous five years.

Trail conditions are the best that they have been in years! The amazing snow cover means that downhill corners are going to be much more forgiving. So if you have been wavering on attempting the longer 40 or 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot events, this is the year to move up. As a 68 year old skier with two total knee replacements, most years I’ve dreaded the sweeping downhill on the Black Hole that goes over the old luge run. This year, with abundant new snow (instead of ground up old snow), I’ve been able to ski rather than madly snowplow down this trail that is groomed wider than is possible in low snow years.

Enjoy the new snow on the Birch Hill trails this weekend and then make the commitment to enjoy all the Birch Hill trails (and the Chena River) next Saturday.  The register tab at the top of this page is awaiting you.

The 31st annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot is scheduled for a month from today. Currently, 119 skiers have registered and paid their entry fees. As of Saturday afternoon, 69 skiers have signed up for the 20 km event, 9 for the 40, 3 for the 50 CL, and 38 for the 50 km freestyle event.

Please check on the “Entries” page to make sure your registration information is current. If your name doesn’t appear, please check to see that you received an email from the Wild Apricot system with a paid invoice. We cannot enter you in the race until you have submitted valid payment. If you have difficulties, for example, one skier had issues last year with her internationally issued credit card being rejected, please send an email to: sonotkkaazoot@nscfairbanks.org and we will try to work out something.

Only 52 skiers are currently signed up for the 2018 Sonot Kkaazoot although there is over 2 feet of snow on the ground at the Fairbanks International Airport, and much more at Birch Hill.

The Dimond High School ski team from Anchorage is currently participating in the Alaska State High School Championship Races. The team has signed up to come back in a month to ski the Sonot Kkaazoot. Shouldn’t you join them?

Early registration ends tomorrow. It will never be cheaper to register for the 2018 Sonot Kkaazoot than during early registration. Registration is easy online using the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Wild Apricot Secure Site. Just click on the “Register” page at the top of this website.

For school ski teams,  contact Rebecca Heaton at:  membership@nscfairbanks.org and she’ll arrange for signing up your entire team with one credit card charge.