Statewide Anchorage Girdwood
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J ANUARY 2 017, VOL .18 , N O . 4 ANCHORAGE, EAGLE RIVER, FAIRBANKS, GIRDWOOD, HOMER, JUNEAU, KENAI, MAT-SU, SALCHA, SEWARD, SOLDOTNA, TALKEETNA AND VALDEZ GOOD TIMES, COOL TREES AT NSAA’S FIRST SOLSTICE TOUR OF TREES. PHOTOS BY SCOTT BROADWELL AND SARA MILLER Anchorage ............. 2 ANCHORAGE STATEWIDE GIRDWOOD Eagle River ............ 11 Solstice Tour of Trees UAA coach thanks New energy, ideas Fairbanks ............. 13 a new winter tradition supportive community could lead to new trails Girdwood ............. 12 Kachemak ............. 6 Mat-Su. 10 8 9 12 Statewide ............. 9 2 JANUARY 2017 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 NSAA’s impact, and story, continues to grow PRESIDENT Joey Caterinichio VICE PRESIDENT Sara Miller Message from the NSAA President / Joey Caterinichio SECRETARY Josh Niva Greetings NSAA Members and Anchorage community. have generated less revenue. In order to help in this area, TREASURER It is my pleasure to introduce myself as the new NSAA funds must continue to be raised through personal dona- Karl Garber MEMBERS President. I follow in the great footsteps of many amazing tions and corporate donations. To enhance this effort, Elizabeth Arnold past presidents and board members. Our board members NSAA began working with fundraising consultants. Mike Miller Dustin Shannon along with all of our volunteers make this organization Thank you to the Alaska Community Foundation’s Molly Brown what it is today. Thank you especially to Jeff Scott who led Strengthening Organization Grant, a grant that funded Alex Grumman this board for the past years. Jeff’s dedication, enthusi- professional experts to work with the NSAA staff and OFFICE STAFF asm, passion, ideas and thoughtfulness were innovative board members. New skills and methods were learned Erin Beam, Business Manager Tamra Kornfield, Program Manager and brought NSAA many great opportunities and pro- to reach new parts of the community and clearly tell the Amber Adams, Office Manager grams. I look forward to building off Jeff’s innovation. NSAA story. Areas such as utilizing public service an- OPERATIONS STAFF Our community is one of the best in the nation that em- nouncements, connecting with local businesses that want Ben Powell, Director bodies Nordic skiing. Emphasizing this was the movement to highlight the works of local nonprofits, and learning Craig Norman Bill Brion to save University of Alaska skiing. Every piece of our new ways of communication were all outcomes. Peter Zug puzzle is important for this community. The campaign to NSAA has approached many businesses in Anchorage Annette Brion Matthew Pauli save UA skiing was a microcosm of what this great com- that have never supported NSAA before; some are now Ricky Prince munity can do by working together. donors, but all now have a better idea of the impact NSAA COMMITTEE CHAIRS NSAA is currently managing snowmaking at Kincaid has on this community. Direct mailers have also been Park and grooming the various trails around Anchorage, sent to many Anchorage residents, including our holiday ALASKA SKI FOR WOMEN Jenny De Grappa including Hillside, Eagle River and Russian Jack. Quality appeal letter sent in late November. If you have heard trails in all areas of our city are some of the most impor- NSAA’s voice on the radio in the last few months, or your ANCHORAGE CUP RACING tant parts of our mission. Trails are directly funded by the business or employer received a request for support, or Raye Ann Neustel Meg and Bob Stehn community and individual donations and could not operate you have received a letter sharing a local skier’s story, you without the community. Trail support trends the past five have witnessed some of our new tools. BACKCOUNTRY TOURS Patti Phillips, Mary Vavrik, Karlene Leeper, years have been in a decline. Inclement weather yielded Please feel free to give feedback, enjoy the snow on Ken DePalma less participation in NSAA programs and NSAA events trails and look to volunteer at many upcoming events. BIATHLON Co-chairs — Catherine Kilby and Marti Pausback AROUND HIGH SCHOOL RACING THE BOWL John Christopherson HUTS Call NSAA office for reservations Ski Train — Curry with kids! JUMPING Karen Compton Alaska Superheroes, Ski Hoppers, Vivienne Murray Prairie Dogg Pound, Unicorns, Curry Mike Jokela, Coach with Kids and Cheesy Puffs … Ski JUNIOR NORDIC Train has a unique culture each year. Eric Egeland, Chair With these group names, all signs LANDS COMMITTEE indicate the 2017 trip – scheduled for Gordon Wetzel Saturday, March 11 – will exceed all MIDDLE SCHOOL RACING expectations. Dave Blanchet More than 200 remain available for this season’s Ski Train, with the RACE CHAIRMAN Tim Stone vacancy mostly in the family cars. Curry with kids would create a great SCHOLARSHIPS Dan Rosenberg family memory and NSAA is helping PHOTO BY ANDY KUBIC Ski Train is more fun with family. Georgia Kubic takes a moment to check in with to make it easy and fun! New opportu- her son, William, and her daughter, Helen, who is in the Chariot. SKI 4 KIDS nities for our young adventurists will Iain Miller be provided, including door prizes, New NSAA Trails Report link to make a donation, should you SKI TRAIN free hot dogs and goodie bags. In ad- keeps skiers informed feel the urge to further support the Sean Bolender sustentation of your awesome trails. If dition to the wondering polka band, In case you haven’t noticed, NSAA TRAILS travel games and drawings will keep has a rebranded its website — www. NSAA’s Operations staff has anything Mike Miller kids busy. Happy kids mean happy anchoragenordicski.com. On the to say, there’s a narrative section for TOUR OF ANCHORAGE parents! pages you will find information about news and information. Learn more Paul Stone Curry is ideal for any kind of rec- Breaking News and Upcoming Events about the trails, their conditions and the work of NSAA’s Operations team NSAA OFFICE HOURS reation not just skiing. Many come to with opportunities to Participate, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday snowshoe or sled, some bring chari- Support and Volunteer. You will also at www.anchoragenordicski.com/ ots, pull-alongs or split-boards. The trails/. BOARD MEETINGS find the new Trails Report. This page Fourth Thursday of the month, terrain varies from flat to rolling hills, is it for one-stop-shopping — www. 6 — 15 P.M. at BP Energy Center Tour of Anchorage — or NSAA office. Open to all. something for all comfort levels. Ski anchoragenordicski.com/trails/. Celebrating 100 years of lessons are available upon request for The site has trail maps for the Nordic skiing in Anchorage those interested to ease their Curry Anchorage area and more points of 2017 marks 100 years of cross-coun- experience. interest beyond. You’ll find informa- try ski racing in Anchorage! Celebrate To purchase Ski Train tickets or tion about how NSAA grooms, in six the landmark by setting a mark of learn more about the iconic Alaska easy steps, and you can learn every- your own at the Tour of Anchorage on event, visit www.anchoragenordic- thing you ever wanted to know about Sunday, March 5. Sign-up by Febru- ski.com/events/ski-train/. making snow. There’s even a quick See AROUND THE BOWL, Page 3 the ALASKA nordic skier JANUARY 2017 ANCHORAGE 3 February 18-20 — Sheep Mountain Lodge Saturday, January 14 — Junior Nordic AROUND THE BOWL the ALASKA Continued from Page 2 Enjoy two overnights at Sheep Mountain equipment pickup nordic skier Lodge in group cabins. Ski on 24 kilometers Saturday, January 14 — NSAA Backcountry ary 19 for early bird price discounts of groomed non-motorized trails or beyond on Tour — Center Ridge AT/Tele-ski, Turnagain Pass — NSAA member $75; non-member miles of multi-use trails at Sheep Mountain on Saturday, January 14 — ASD High School West EDITOR $85. New this season — Family pric- Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, ski out to Relay, Chugiak Josh Niva Matanuska Glacier along Caribou Creek. A $100 Saturday-Sunday, January 14-15 — ABA Race [email protected] ing! Use Tour of Anchorage Family deposit to hold a spot is required by January 15. Sunday, January 15 — AMH Anchorage Cup – Form for an Adult Price + $25 per Tour leaders — Patti Phillips, 240-3742, and Team Sprint child with a minimum of 2 children Ken DePalma, 440-1562. Tuesday, January 17 — Junior Nordic Session LAYOUT February 18-25 — Denali National Park, under the age 15. Sign up at www. #2 starts Kevin Powell Savage River to Kantishna. This unforgettable anchoragenordicski.com/races/ [email protected] ski tour through Denali Park is supported by Tuesday and Thursday, January 17 and 19 — tour-of-anchorage/. dog teams. Ski 7 to 17 miles per day and stay Ski Jumping Session #2 starts in historic Denali Patrol cabins while dog teams Wednesday, January 18 — ASD High School AD REPRESENTATIVE Get off the beaten trail with haul your gear. Start at Mountain Vista near West Relay – Bartlett Andre Lovett the Park Headquarters and end at Kantishna, NSAA Backcountry Tours Saturday, January 21 — Besh Cup #3 – Homer [email protected] where you will fly out to Healy. Great wholesome Below is a partial schedule of Sunday, January 22 — Besh Cup #4 – Homer [email protected] food, warm cabins, awesome guides! Cost Sunday, January 22 — Biathlon Race #5 upcoming NSAA Backcountry Tours. about $1,800 plus air charter out of Kantishna Stay up to date by visiting www. for about $150. Deposit of $900 required Thursday, January 26 — ASD Middle School Race, Kincaid Park LOCAL EDITORS anchoragenordicski.com/programs/ by January 1.