F EBRUARY 2 018 , VOL .1 9, N O . 5 ALASKANS ROCK! PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DINNEEN PHOTOGRAPHY Anchorage ....... 2 Kachemak ...... 10 Eagle River ....... 6 Mat-Su. 7 U.S. NATIONALS, 8&9 WINTER OLYMPICS, 16 Fairbanks ....... 14 Statewide ...... 11 2 FEBRUARY 2018 203 W. 15th Ave., #204 Anchorage, Alaska, 99501 Phone — 276-7609 Fax — 258-7609 Anchorage Nordic Skier Hotline — 248-6667 [email protected] Newsletter Of The Nordic Skiing Association Of Anchorage, Inc. BOARD MEMBERS Big start to 2018 provides momentum for remainder of the season PRESIDENT Joey Caterinichio VICE PRESIDENT Sara Miller Message from NSAA’s Staff and Board of Directors SECRETARY Josh Niva Winter is upon us and what an awesome January. We’re well done; many of us were present to accept the resolu- TREASURER still coming down from the highs of the 2018 L.L.Bean U.S. tions. The amount of people coming together for Nationals Karl Garber MEMBERS Cross Country Ski National Champions at Kincaid Park. It made this honor possible. NSAA thanks the Municipality Molly Brown Alex Grumman was truly a community event and the buzz, the large and and its staff – special shout-out to the team at Kincaid Elizabeth Arnold enthusiastic crowds, the volunteers and the athletes and Park ¬– for the support. Mike Miller Tim Miller coaches made NSAA, Anchorage and the Nordic commu- For those who attended Nationals, it was a perfect nity around the nation proud. preview for the upcoming Olympics. Many Alaska athletes OFFICE STAFF NSAA’s new sound system and timing upgrades at are in line to represent our state and country, making Erin Beam, Business Manager Tamra Kornfield, Program Manager Kincaid Park made the larger success of the event pos- their dreams reality. Alaska’s Nordic community is proud Amber Adams, Office Manager sible, along with grants and donations from the Rasmuson of those skiers, as well as thankful for all who help and OPERATIONS STAFF Foundation and private donors, as well as many gener- inspire in so many ways. Craig Norman ous sponsors and countless amazing volunteers. The new And our favorite – and busiest – stretch of the season Bill Brion Peter Zug technology upgrades helped more than 88,000 online view- is coming up: Ski for Women, Ski 4 Kids, Ski Train, high Annette Brion ers watch Nationals live, along with live timing/results, school/junior High and community races, epic tours, and Matthew Pauli no matter where they lived. That elevated the event to a the list goes one … There’s still a chance to compete, to TRAILS world-class level. volunteer, to cheer and to be part of our special Nordic Mike Miller Soon after Nationals, NSAA was recognized by the community. COMMITTEE CHAIRS Anchorage Assembly and Mayor Ethan Berkowitz for a job ALASKA SKI FOR WOMEN Jenny Di Grappa AMH ANCHORAGE CUP to win a Trek Fat bike, being raffled in NSSA, and we thank you. Branden Fontana AROUND conjunction with Ski Train! The draw- Sincerely, BACKCOUNTRY TOURS ing happens on the train ride home Diane Crawford and family Patti Phillips, Mary Vavrik, Karlene Leeper THE BOWL and Ken DePalma from Curry. No need to be present to Ready for exploration? Ski Train: Snow in Curry, win, but why would you miss it? BIATHLON Attend an upcoming NSAA Marti Pausback and Catherine Kilby tickets remain, fat bike Want to buy Ski Train tickets, raffle backcountry tour tickets, conductor hats? Want more raffle, cool Find more information about NSAA HIGH SCHOOL RACING information on Ski Train? Call the John Christopherson swag and tours at anchoragenordicski.com/ NSAA office at 276-7609 or stop by. more! tours.htm. All tours are accompanied HOPE CABIN Learn more on the Ski Train Face- As snow by members of the Anchorage Nordic anchoragenordicski.com/cabin-rental continues to book page and at anchoragenordicski. Ski Patrol, who provide safety, trail JUNIOR NORDIC com/events/ski-train/. accumulate in sweep, and assist skiers with broken Shannon Donley Curry, preparations for this year’s Ski A community thank you to equipment or any other issues. If MIDDLE SCHOOL RACING Train are underway with volunteers NSAA staff and volunteers you have questions about tours or Diane Moxness and staff diligently working through To all the volunteers and staff of program or, contact one of the NSAA the details with excited sponsors and RACE CHAIRMAN NSAA, Touring leaders: Patti Phillips, Co- Tim Stone partners like the Alaska Railroad. This is a long overdue letter of chair: NSAA contact, (907) 240-3742, Plan to join the outdoor adventures SCHOLARSHIPS appreciation: As always, the orga- [email protected]; Mary Vavrik, Dan Rosenberg and train-ride family fun on Ski Train nization of NSAA has performed Co-chair: Nordic Ski Patrol contact, leaving the station on Saturday, SKAN 24 an amazing task of hosting the U.S. (907) 306-7686, [email protected]; Kar- March 24. Cassandra and Grant Stevenson Nationals at Kincaid Park the first lene Leeper, Co-chair: Denali View Less than 100 tickets are left as part of January. Nothing ever seems Chalet, (907) 440-0049, kbleeper@ SKI 4 KIDS of publication. If you haven’t gotten Erin Whitney Witmer too daunting to those who always alaska.net; and Ken DePalma, Co- yours, this is a great getaway for the bring excellence and professionalism, chair: AT and Tele-ski tours, 907-440- SKI JUMPING entire family! Kid pricing makes it Karen Compton and Vivienne Murray enthusiasm and friendliness to each 1562, [email protected]. affordable, family friendly cars make activity and event: high school, col- SKI TRAIN it fun! Plan to wear a superhero cape UPCOMING TOURS INCLUDE: lege, and masters races, Ski for Kids, Travis Taylor for the Incredibles car so you aren’t February 9 — Friday Night Fun Ski. Upper Ski for Women, Jr. Nordic, Tour of O’Malley Trailhead; Tour leader — Ken DePalma. SOLSTICE TREE TOUR left out! There are seven train cars Anchorage, Anchorage Cup, Biathlon, February 11 — Portage Lake and Pass; Tour Sara Miller with seven different themes, thanks and many more. leader — Patti Phillips. to our very cool sponsors. SPECIAL EVENTS AND RACING NSAA has hosted so many races February 17-19 — Two overnights at Manitoba Lauri Bassett Once onboard, look for the new Ski Huts – Tele/AT and touring options; Tour leaders and events, and very few have been Train swag: conductor hats complete — Michael Henrich, Karlene Leeper and Mary TOUR OF ANCHORAGE cancelled over the years, in spite Vavrik. Matias Saari with the new Ski Train logo, guaran- of very challenging conditions due March 2 — Friday Night Fun Ski. Glen Alps; Tour teed to properly equip you for your NSAA OFFICE HOURS to weather. Dedicated and tireless leader — Ken DePalma. Curry experience! 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday volunteers, as well as paid staff and March 2-4 — Denali View Chalet, two Only 50 tickets are left for a chance overnights, Peters Hills; Tour leader — Karlene coaches of all levels, continue to make BOARD MEETINGS Leeper. Fourth Thursday of the month, Nordic skiing the popular sport it has 6:15 P.M. at BP Energy Center March 10-18 — Denali National Park, fly-in or NSAA office. Open to all. been in Anchorage for all generations. and out of Kantishna, ski to mountain passes; Our annual membership towards see article in this month’s Nordic Skier for more trail maintenance and race organiz- information; Tour leader — Bob Sutherland. March 18 — Skookum Glacier, Turnagain Arm, ing is one donation from which our Kenai Peninsula; Tour leader — Patti Phillips. family has greatly benefitted for a March 30 — Friday Night Fun Ski. Prospect span of almost 50 years, including our Heights Trailhead; Tour leader — Ken DePalma. children and grandchildren. We are proud to be supporting members of See AROUND THE BOWL, Page 3 the ALASKA nordic skier FEBRUARY 2018 ANCHORAGE 3 Ski 4 Kids arrives February 24 nordicthe ALASKA skier Our community develops the next generation of EDITOR Josh Niva champions and happy recreational skiers [email protected] BY CARLA BEAM In early January, thousands of Anchorage residents LAYOUT watched their hometown heroes dominate at the 2018 Kevin Powell L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships [email protected] at Kincaid Park. On February 24, hundreds of Anchorage kids will come out to the 21st annual Ski 4 Kids to explore AD REPRESENTATIVE the same trails and tracks where the country’s best skiers Andre Lovett challenged themselves and one another. Thanks to the [email protected] work of many committed people in our community, one or [email protected] more of those kids might one day compete in a national championship, a World Cup event, or even the Olympics. LOCAL EDITORS Many more will develop a lifelong love of cross-country ANCHORAGE skiing. PHOTO BY TWISTED BRANCH PHOTOGRAPHY Josh Niva It’s through the partnership and cooperation of many [email protected] organizations and people that Anchorage has grown to Community donors – businesses, individuals and foun- be a vibrant winter city with a flourishing community of dations – are also important partners and help provide EAGLE RIVER Ros Singleton skiers, and a powerhouse in the world of Nordic skiing. Ac- funds for the event and for the equipment grants adminis- [email protected] cording to Margaret Timmerman, outreach skiing coordi- tered by Ski 4 Kids. nator for Anchorage Parks and Recreation, these partner- LaTouche Pediatrics is one donor that sees support of FAIRBANKS ships have also created the fun and successful annual Ski Ski 4 Kids as strongly connected to its business mission. Kate Carey 4 Kids program. In turn, Ski 4 Kids has helped provide According to LaTouche’s Angi Titus, “We want to encour- [email protected] encouragement, equipment and access to the sport for age kids of all ages to be happy and healthy; it’s what we KACHEMAK countless kids, many of whom would not otherwise be are about.” Jeannie Woodring exposed to cross-country skiing.