Race News
Registration for the 2023 Sonot Kkaazoot is Open!
We’re pleased to announce that registration for the 2023 Sonot Kkaazoot is now open! You can get all the details and register on the Sonot Kkaazoot website.
We look forward to seeing you at Birch Hill in March!
28th Annual KINROSS Fort Knox Town Race Series’ Interior Women’s Health Ski-Cross this Weekend
The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks is pleased to announce the fourth and final race in the 28th Annual KINROSS Fort Knox Town Race Series, the Interior Women’s Health Ski-Cross, will be held Saturday, January 28, at 11:00am at the Jim Whisenhant Ski Trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area. The KINROSS Fort Knox Town Race Series provides a competitive forum for skiers of all ages beginning with pre-schoolers. Over 150 entries are anticipated.
Racing begins at 11:00am in free technique with all classes racing in ski-cross format. Distances will be: 1000m for high school and adult skiers, 800m for Grade 7-8, 600m for Grade 5-6, 600m for Grades 3-4 and 300m for Grades K-1-2. This race will serve as a Region VI high school competition, with skiers from Lathrop HS, West Valley HS, North Pole HS and Hutchison HS competing in both boys’ and girls’ classes. The competition will start with the older skiers on the longer courses, then move through progressively shorter distances for the younger classes. The last group to start will be the K-1-2 skiers, tentatively around 1:30PM-2PM. Watch nscfairbanks.org on Friday for complete information.
Entry is free for all students from Kindergarten through high school. School students who are part of a school or club team or program should be entered through their school club or team. All school-aged skiers must be entered in each race in the series during the week leading up to the race. Individual students who are not part of a program, and adults, can enter online at https://register.chronotrack.com/r/72012
The entry fee for adults is $10 for members of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks, and $15 for non-members. Race entries close at 5:00pm Wednesday, January 25. There will be no late entries or race day entries.
All elementary finishers receive a ribbon recognizing their achievement. Elementary, junior high, and high school-aged competitors who have finished three or more of the races in the series will receive a free, commemorative t-shirt after the conclusion of the series.
For further information on the KINROSS Fort Knox Town Race Series call Race Director Jesse Wilkins at 715-560-0974, or contact them via e-mail at jessewilkinswi@gmail.com. Any public or private school ski programs, or home school families in the area who would like to participate but who have not received materials should also contact Jesse Wilkins at the above contact points, and request that materials be sent to them.
KINROSS Fort Knox is in their tenth season as the series sponsor. Interior Women’s Health, a new sponsor this season, is the presenting sponsor for this event. The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks also receives support from Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
16th Annual Sonot Kkaazoot Training Class: Registration Now Open!
16th Annual Sonot Training Class
5:45pm – 7:15pm, Tuesdays, Jan. 24 – March 21, 2022 at Birch Hill
Join coach Kristen Rozell for training sessions that will begin with drills that focus on skiing technique with some video analysis. The remainder of the class will be an interval workout where pacing and skiing efficiency will be emphasized. Skiers should be at least intermediate skate-ski skill level (familiarity with most skate techniques and when to use them). Training will be focused for the 50k Sonot, but anyone interested in an introductory training program is welcome to attend. Questions? E-Mail Coach Kristen Rozell at kbrozell@gmail.com
Space is limited! Don’t Wait! Classes start next week so register now!
Distance Series Race #1 Registration Open
The first race of the Frank Soos Memorial Distance Series, the Gundeloppet, will be held this Saturday, December 10, starting at 11am.
Registration is now open for the event. Early registration deadline for entries is midnight Thursday. Registration will still be available Friday and Saturday at higher rates.
https://register.chronotrack.com/r/71494
For more information on the race, see this page.
Apologies for the later-than-normal posting of the registration link. There were some technical glitches.
Sonot Early Registration Ends March 21
Online early registration for the Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot is open until Monday, March 21. Don’t wait to register!
Late registration ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022, but fees go up after the early registration deadline.
One race, three distances: 50K, 30K, and 10K. All up at Birch Hill. (Unfortunately, due to climate change, the Chena River ice has become too unpredictable.)
Course maps with course profiles are available for download at the “Courses (download)” tab at the top of the Sonot Kkaazoot home page. Thanks to John Estle for putting together these fantastic course maps.
Bad Bob Baker has made sure that all participants in the Sonot Kkaazoot will get their money’s worth. According to John’s software, the 50-kilometer Sonot Kkaazoot course is 50.728 kilometers and has 1,689 meters of total climb. (Remember, it’s about 3 feet for every meter, so that’s over 5,000 feet of climbing!) Those skiing the 30-kilometer course, will get 30.707 kilometers of trail with 1,035 meters of climb. Even the 10-kilometer skiers will get a little bonus, because the 10-kilometer course measures out at 10.231 kilometers with only 288 meters of climb.
Find it all here:
https://sonotkkaazoot.org/
Race Volunteers Needed
Also, a few more 2022 volunteers are needed to put on the race. If you can help, send an email to contact@sonotkkaazoot.org. Check out what slots are open here:
https://sonotkkaazoot.org/volunteers/
OTHER SKI EVENTS COMING
Interior Youth Festival (March 27):
https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/event-4743112
Ride and Glide (April 2):
Two-person relay race (no you can’t do it alone). Teams will be composed of either 2 skiers, or 1 skier and 1 fat biker. See the Facebook Event here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/468087498288335/
35th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot Early Registration is Live!
It’s time to think Sonot!
Online early registration for the 35th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot is live! And course maps are up! Everything is on the Sonot page.
One race, three distances: 50K, 30K, and 10K. All up at Birch Hill. (Unfortunately, due to climate change, the Chena River ice has become too unpredictable.)
Online early registration is open until Monday, March 21, 2022. Late registration ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022, so don’t wait too long.
Course maps with course profiles are available for download at the “Courses (download)” tab at the top of the Sonot Kkaazoot home page. Thanks to John Estle for putting together these fantastic course maps.
Bad Bob Baker has made sure that all participants in the Sonot Kkaazoot will get their money’s worth. According to John’s software, the 50-kilometer Sonot Kkaazoot course is 50.728 kilometers and has 1,689 meters of total climb. (Remember, it’s about 3 feet for every meter, so that’s over 5,000 feet of climbing!) Those skiing the 30-kilometer course, will get 30.707 kilometers of trail with 1,035 meters of climb. Even the 10-kilometer skiers will get a little bonus, because the 10-kilometer course measures out at 10.231 kilometers with only 288 meters of climb.
Find it all here:
https://sonotkkaazoot.org/
ASAA State High School Championships — IMPORTANT SPECTATOR INFO
The State High School Championships are coming to town! They will be happening Feb 24-26 at Birch Hill Recreation Area.
The ski stadium of the Jim Whisenhant Trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area is one of the best places in the world to watch ski races. That’s not an exaggeration! A spectator can stay in the stadium or walk 100m-200m and see competitors multiple times over the duration of the competition. Because the course comes and goes so frequently to and from the stadium, and because spectators are so close to the action our spectator policy is this:
SPECTATING IS ALLOWED ON FOOT ONLY – SPECTATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON SKIS.
This is to ensure the safety of the competitors, as well as to ensure a fair competition for all.
We know that many of our local skiers and parents are accustomed to spectating on skis at club races. However, at a big race like the ASAA Championships, spectators on skis have cause several problems in prior years. We appreciate our NSCF members’ and local skiers’ adherence to this policy.
Tucker, McGovern Win 30K Unpleasantry
FXC Head Coach Jeff Tucker and Maggie McGovern were the winners of 30-kilometer The Unpleasantry, the third race in the Frank Soos Memorial Distance Series, Sunday at Birch Hill.
With fresh snow, perfect tracks and sunny skies with temperatures between -1F and +5F, the conditions could have been a little warmer, but not much better.
Tucker beat men’s runner-up Alex Morris by 12 minutes. McGovern had almost the same winning margin over second place Kristen Rozell. In the 10-kilometer race, Kieran Kaufman and Sheena Cummings took the wins.
For the first time the NSCF’s timing crew used their new RapidCam photofinish camera. All lap timing was done with the camera. The camera also provided backup timing for the finish. You can view the results at the links below.
Results by distance and gender:
https://zone4.ca/race/2022-02-
Results by class:
https://zone4.ca/race/2022-02-
This was the final event in the 2021-22 Distance Series. The series will return next December with its annual kickoff event, the Gundeloppet.
Next on the NSCF racing calendar is the ASAA State High School Ski Championships, beginning Thursday, February 24th with the interval start free technique event. Friday’s race is the mass start classic technique event. The Championships conclude on Saturday with the mixed technique (CL-CL-FR-FR) relays.
Races start at 11AM and 2PM each of the three days of the event.
Come on out and watch or better yet volunteer! If you do want to volunteer, call Norma at norma.haubenstock (at) gmail.com.
Final Distance Series Race Happens Sunday
The final race of the Frank Soos Memorial Distance Series, the Unpleasantry, is Sunday at Birch Hill. Distances are 30Km and 10Km. The 30Km is three laps of the 10Km White Bear loop. Early registration fees have been extended by one day — the new early registration deadline is midnight Friday night, February 18, so sign up now!
The series is named after Frank Soos, who rarely missed the opportunity to race in a Distance Series event, and who was a regular volunteer with the NSCF race crew. Frank died in a cycling accident this summer in Maine. Post-race refreshments include homemade ginger snaps, Frank’s favorite cookie!
The online registration link is:
https://register.chronotrack.c
The race will start and finish in the Birch Hill Ski Stadium. Bib pickup begins at 9:45AM in Rikke’s Roadhouse. The race starts at 11:00AM.
Find course maps, etc. at:
https://www.nscfairbanks.org/p
3/
West Valley Wins Regionals, Lathrop, Valdez Second
Congratulations to the West Valley Boys and West Valley Girls for winning the Region VI High School Cross Country Ski Racing Championships at Birch Hill on Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12 at Birch Hill. Lathrop were the runners-up in the girls race and Valdez the runners-up in the boys race.
Friday’s race was one of those rarest of occurrences of the 2021-22 season — a race held with a temperature above 0F! Saturday’s race was back to our standard form for this winter, with temperatures between -5F and -9F.
Below are links to results:
Friday’s Mass Start Classic Race:
https://zone4.ca/race/2022-02-
Saturday’s 4x3Km Relays in Free Technique
https://zone4.ca/race/2022-02-
To see lap times or relay leg times, on the right side of the results screen, click on the small “Time” button with the small down arrow and select “All Times”.
PDF Results File (includes mass start, relay, relay legs and two-day team totals:
https://www.nscfairbanks.org/w
ist_results.pdf