As the climate prediction center outlook (above) shows, springlike conditions are predicted for race day. However, for the 38th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot to be a success, we still need volunteers for race day.
Our greatest volunteer needs are for race timers (all day, with greatest need between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.) and for bib distribution volunteers from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. race morning. If you can help out so that our regular race volunteers can ski in the Sonot Kkaazoot, please contact me at: contact@sonotkkaazoot.org
SCUM before starting Frank Soos Distance Race #3, the Unpleasantry–photo by Sarah Jackson
Thanks to NSCF timer, Claire Ferree, the three SCUM signed up to ski 30 km were allowed to start our ski an hour earlier than the rest of the field. This would allow the timers and course crew to head home before dinner. Unlike the World Championships in Trondheim, our trails were awesomely groomed with a trace of new snow. It was 24 deg and snowing lightly when we started and 28 deg when I finished 3.5 hours later. Although I was the red lantern, I was overjoyed because my longest ski this season before Saturday had been 17 km (1.7 x the White Bear course).
Jerome Jackson finished in under 3 hours and Byron was not that far behind him. However, Jerome had Sarah as his support team.
Jerome (and Sarah) and Byron at finish
Thanks to FXC Masters Power Lunch and Strength workouts, I was able to ski 30 km without falling. After dislocating my right shoulder before Thanksgiving, I had to skate ski with one pole for weeks with my physical therapist’s warning not to fall. Knowing that I had skied the White Bear loop with one pole made it possible to ski it the third time yesterday when multiple body parts were screaming.
Finishing the Unpleasantry–photo by Jerome Jackson
Even at 75 years old, you can refine your ski technique and develop strength to overcome the inevitable slowing down that comes with aging. Thanks, Christina Turman!
Mike Schmoker and Chris Puchner carbo load and taper for World Masters–photo by Margaret Mannix
The twice postponed Frank Soos Distance Race #3 Unpleasantries is Saturday, 8 March 2025. Unless you are part of the SCUM travel team in Klosters, participating in Masters World Cup, you should be skiing the Unpleasantries 30 km event.
Fairbanks skiers enjoying the trails in Switzerland–photo by Mike Schmoker
Today Colin had groomed the Black loops so we skied them easily in preparation for tomorrow’s 30 km challenge. However, some of the SCUM won’t be participating in Unpleasantries so they did an extra ascent of the Black Funk today.
David slogs up Black Funk as his kick wax doesn’t work
Bill leads Bernardo up Black Funk
Some SCUM failed to show up today at all:
Where’s Dan, who hammered the inverted double omega yesterday? —photo by Bill Husby
So, enjoy the beautifully groomed White Bear trails tomorrow as we honor our friend and primordial SCUM, Frank Soos. It’ll be >3.5 hours of unalloyed pleasure.
Who wouldn’t want to help out Sonot Kkaazoot race organizer, Bad Bob Baker who has been involved in timing virtually all the major NSCF races this season?
Here’s how:
We need 10 timers for the Sonot Kkaazoot on Saturday, 21 March. Volunteers can work for all or part of the day with the busiest time when the 10 km racers are finishing. Claire Ferree, head timer for the Sonot Kkaazoot will train everyone and Gina Chythlook will have hot beverages and tasty treats to keep you fueled while you work. It’s much warmer now being a timer at Birch Hill than it was during the first three decades of the Sonot Kkaazoot, when the start and finish was on the Chena River.
Please send an email to me at contact@sonotkkaazoot.org if you can help out. We’ll try to work around your availability on race day.
Wolfman shredding snow down the Black Cross–all photos and videos by Bill Husby
There was at least three inches of new snow atop the firm pistenbully groomed black trails so it was a good day to ski all the downhills. There was no sun this morning, so we saw no shadows.
No guts, no glory. Bernardo and Greg (below) are “dusted with the snow of shame” from the Black Funk and Competition downhills (yeah, Black Funk is supposed to be skied uphill, but the trails needed packing and Bill is a groomer, so we went down then up the Black Funk).
Bernardo and Greg dusted with the snow of shame
Latest SCUM to be “dusted with the snow of shame”–photo by Bill Husby on 2/5/25
Bill had so much fun packing the trails and setting tracks with his skis, he swapped hats and decided to pack the Sunnyside and Cliffside trails using one of their machines:
He saw lots of animal tracks while traveling down the sunlit Cliffside trail. Could some of them belong to a groundhog?
At least on the Cliffside trail, the sun was out, so a groundhog could see his shadow.
With the 4 to 5 inches of new snow on the Sunnyside and Cliffside trails since they were last groomed, I think the ice storm remnants will be well buried before the Gingersnap Special, the Frank Soos Distance Race #2 scheduled for Sunday, 9 February 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Homemade gingersnaps (Frank’s favorite) will be available if you ski either race or volunteer to help out.
Scroll up to: https://sonotkkaazoot.org/ and you’ll find the URL to the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Zone 4 registration system. Early registration through 28 February is your best deal.
Silverback Dermot and Silverback Wolfman JACKson–photos by Joanna Fox
Wolfman JACKson is emulating Dermot lately when it comes to dressing for SCUM workouts. The Silverback twins, shown above, had dermotized so that they wouldn’t get cold waiting for the slower SCUM.
SCUM enjoying Bill’s PistenBully groomed White Bear trails
Travis Kulp had groomed the White Bear and Moilanen Meadows with the PistenBully Friday night and with the 2025 U.S. National XC Ski Championships taking place in Anchorage this weekend, we had the awesome trails virtually to ourselves on Sunday.
Dan admiring the corduroy on Moilanen Meadows
Some SCUM take the path less traveled around corners like Dan Johnson, above.
It was a treat to have firm, fast tracks set by the PistenBully and allowed to set up overnight without having to be racing.
Sonot Kkaazoot 