Cold temperatures and new, slow snow didn’t deter participants in the 16th annual Wentz Orthodontics Ski Your Age in Kilometers at the Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center on December 26. More than 100 skiers participated in the free event, organized by Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC), the junior race-training program of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF).
The temperature at Birch Hill was 14F below zero at the 10 a.m. start, so organizers added the category of Ski Half Your Age to reward those who came out. Even so, 22 people skied their age led by Corrine Leistikow, who skied 61 kilometers (one more than her age) and Peter Delamere, who skied his age of 50. Esther Humphrey, 7, was the youngest participant to ski her age. Another 22 people skied half their age.
The combination of cold temperatures and a couple of inches of new snow made skiing any distance a challenge. Delamere reported that he skied faster uphill than downhill. Leistikow said she had to double-pole down hills that often make her nervous because they are too fast.
Corrine Leistikow celebrates skiing her age despite the cold temps.
Despite the conditions, skiers from a wide variety of ages participated, from Humphrey and Katy Hicks, both 7, to Ray Halderman, 72. Participants skied 1,424 kilometers. All participants took the opportunity to get outside, be active, and socialize and share food and drinks.
The support of Wentz Orthodontics and Edward Jones financial advisor Christopher Knott was greatly appreciated by FXC, as this is one of the annual fundraisers for the team.
Many thanks to the volunteers and organizers who put on this event, including Lynne and Branden Petersen, Jen Delamere, Ellen Lyons, Julie Esdale, Jennifer Humphreys, and Susan Kramer, and to participants who generously donated funds. More than $1,800 was raised during the event!
Below is a listing of all the category achievements for those who signed up and recorded the kilometers they skied.
2019 Ski Your Age in KMs
- Total Number of Skiers: 106
- Total Number of KMs Skied: 1424
- Total Number of people who skied their age: 22
- Title Sponsor: Wentz Orthodontics
- Major Sponsor: Edward Jones, Financial Advisor Christopher Knott
Skied their age: Skied greater than or equal to their age
Full Name, Age, Distance
Esther Humphrey, 7, 7
Amelia Petersen, 8, 8
Oliver Taylor, 8, 8
Delia Humphrey, 9, 9
Ingrid Baurick, 12, 16
P.J. Bragonier, 13, 13
Elias Engman, 14, 20
Owen Merrill, 14, 14
Harrison Riggs, 16, 17
Eli Merrill, 16, 16
Kenny K, 17, 20
Ti Donaldson, 19, 19
Ari Endestad, 19, 20
Emma Jerome, 19, 19
Quinn Vinlove, 21, 21
Peter Noon, 24, 24
Erica Blake, 30, 31
Shalane Frost, 31, 31
Steve Taylor, 31, 42
Connor Cole, 34, 34
Peter Delamere, 50, 50
Corrine Leistikow, 60, 61
Skied Half Their Age (Ski greater than or equal to half of age)
Full Name, Age, Distance
Olivia Soderstrom, 12, 10
Scott Tragis, 12, 10
John Haas, 13, 7
Sonja Truffer, 14, 7
Leni Stolz, 14, 7
Ian Tragis, 14, 7
Zarah Laker-Morris, 14, 8
Hannah Delamere, 15, 8
Caleb Petersen, 15, 7.5
Jordan Laker-Morris, 17, 15
Jonathon Ebel, 18, 17
Clare Hanneman, 18, 15
Pearl Wyatt, 18, 15
Daryn Espinosa, 18, 9
Sam Delamere, 18, 10
Tjarn Bross, 18, 15
Mary Haas, 32, 22
Bruce Miller, 52, 34
Lisa Stuby, 55, 30
Tamara Rose, 56, 28
Karl Baurick, 58, 29.5
Bad Bob Baker, 61, 45
50-50 Challenge: 50 or more years old, 50 or more Km skied
Name, Age, KMs Skied, Total
Corrine Leistikow, 60, 61
Peter Delamere, 50, 50
Husband-Wife Combos
Pair, Total KMs Skied
Bruce Miller & Janna Miller, 63
Ben Turman & Christina Turman, 29.5
Ty Humphrey & Jennifer Humphrey, 27
Keith Hanneman & Carolyn Hanneman, 12
Father-Daughter Combos
Pair, Total KMs Skied
Peter Delamere & Hannah Delamere, 57
Karl Baurick & Ingrid Baurick, 45.5
Dan Bross & Tjarn Bross, 37
Ty Humphrey & Delia Humphrey, 18
Ty Humphrey & Ester Humphrey, 16
Keith Hanneman & Clare Hanneman, 21
Father-Son Combos
Pair, Total KMs Skied
Peter Delamere & Sam Delamere, 60
Steve Taylor & Oliver Taylor, 50.5
Dan Bross & Aven Bross, 32
Keith Hanneman & Andrew Hanneman, 14
Mother-Daughter Combos
Pair, Total KMs Skied
Jennifer Humphrey & Delia Humphrey, 27
Jennifer Humphrey & Ester Humphrey, 25
Peggy Haas & Abigail Haas, 24
Pam Laker & Zarah Laker-Morris, 22
Carolyn Hanneman & Clare Hanneman 21
Paula Hicks & Katy Hicks, 17
Kelly Scanlon & Ruby Scanlon, 15
Lynne Petersen & Amelia Petersen, 14
Alina Wyatt 10 & Pearl Wyatt 15, 25
Christi & Teyah E. (no last name or kilometers recorded)
Mother-Son Combos
Pair, Total KMs Skied
Kristin O’Brien & Quinn Vinlove, 42
Donna DiFolco & Eric DiFolco, 23
Pam Laker & Jordan Laker-Morris, 29
Anna Merrill & Eli Merrill, 30
Anna Merrill & Owen Merrill, 28
Maria Taylor & Oliver Taylor, 16
Peggy Haas & John Haas, 14
Carolyn Hanneman & Andrew Hanneman, 14
Heather & Wade, 14
Lynne Petersen & Caleb Petersen, 13.5
Families of 3
Family Members, Total KMs Skied
Peter Delamere, Sam Delamere, Hannah Delamere, 68
Anna Merrill, Owen Merrill, Eli Merrill, 44
Lynne Petersen, Caleb Petersen, Amelia Petersen, 21.5
Families of 4
Family Members, Total KMs Skied
Jennifer Humphrey, Ty Humphrey, Ester Humphrey, Delia Humphrey, 43
Carolyn Hanneman, Keith Hanneman, Clare Hanneman, Andrew Hanneman, 35
Make Your Own Category
Group Members, Total KMs Skied
Lit Up Stingrays (Wearing fabulous aglow holiday hats): Susan Sugai, Norma Haubenstock, Joanna Fox, 53.61
U16 Gang: Hannah Delamere, Zarah Laker-Morris, Abigail Haas, 31
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