Alaska's Young Nordic Stars Shine Bright
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A PRIL /M A Y 2 016 , VOL .17, N O . 7 ANCHORAGE, EA GLE RIVER, FARB I ANKS, GIRDWOOD, HOMER, JUNEAU, KENAI, MAT-SU, SA LCHA, SEWD AR , SOLDOTNA, TA LKEETNA ADN VA LDEZ Alaska’s young Nordic stars shine bright Page 15 Anna Darnell skied her way three national titles – two individual, one team. Hunter Wonders Canyon Tobin worked hard dominated the U18 for his fifth-place finish in field with a handful the skate distance race. of titles. PHOTOS BY JIM JAGER Anchorage ............. 2 ANCHORAGE: STATEWIDE: STATEWIDE: Eagle River ............. 9 Snowmaking, skiing spirit Touring and traveling Alaskan bags American Fairbanks ............. 11 fuels successful season Alaska by skis Birkebeiner title Girdwood .............. 9 Kachemak ............. 8 Mat-Su. 10 2 6, 13 16 Statewide ............ 12 2 APRIL/MAY 2016 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. anchoragenordicski.com BOARD MEMBERS Successful ski season in a wacky winter PRESIDENT Jeff Scott VICE PRESIDENT Message from the NSAA President / Jeff Scott Sara Miller SECRETARY Elizabeth Arnold Challenging conditions is an snowmaking. challenges ahead? These are some of TREASURER understatement for another wacky Dick Mize and Fred Stutzer were the initiatives that I see as critical to Karl Garber MEMBERS winter. It’s not the middle of March two of the key influencers that helped NSAA’s success going into the next Kari Skinner and it is snowing like crazy on the move the snowmaking project to season: Mike Miller Josh Niva Hillside (though very little is falling at completion. We are grateful for their Snowmaking and operations – We Joey Caterinichio Kincaid). I guess we should be thank- foresight and perseverance to cre- are reviewing our options on how to Dustin Shannon ful for it no matter when or where it ate and finish this project. Another expand the snowmaking system and OFFICE STAFF comes down! The best skiing of the dedicated volunteer, Tim Brabets, has get maintenance facilities to properly Erin Beam, Business Manager Tamra Kornfield, Program Manager season in March! been a tremendous asset to the NSAA repair the equipment and snowmak- Amber Adams, Office Manager Despite all of the challenges of Operations crew in running the sys- ing fleet. The challenge is to get fund- OPERATIONS STAFF this winter, NSAA created another tem. There are many other volunteers ing for engineering and construction Ben Powell, Director successful ski season in Anchorage like Jack Porter, Mike Miller (also a in a more difficult financial scenario Craig Norman Bill Brion against all odds. We achieved our mis- board member), the Nordic Ski Patrol, for the state. Tom Ross sion of promoting Nordic skiing as a and more who have contributed to Volunteers: A growing concern is Peter Zug Annette Brion healthy activity for all. We held almost this successful season. recruiting and developing younger Matthew Pauli every race and event this season on This is a short list of just some of volunteers. Our Baby Boomer gen- Ricky Prince a course of manmade snow, ground- this season’s successes: eration, which makes up the bulk of COMMITTEE CHAIRS up ice and an occasional dusting of • We hosted the USA Youth and Junior Biathlon NSAA’s most consistent and engaged World Championships in December ADULT SKI LESSONS nature’s best. We had a safe venue for volunteers, will need to be replaced Raye Ann Neustel • The Junior Nordic program remains popular, outdoor winter recreation when most someday. though enrollment was down slightly ALASKA SKI FOR WOMEN of the city’s trails were treacherous, • Anchorage School District races were held with Fundraising: Now is the time to Fiona Peichel icy disasters. (Footnote: I know from good participation and great courses get serious about NSAA’s fund devel- personal experience as I had a hard • Ski for Women was a beautiful day with good opment plan and focus on our donor ANCHORAGE CUP RACING Raye Ann Neustel fall on the ice on my fat bike.) attendance base. We need to strengthen our rela- Meg and Bob Stehn I heard from many skiers how • The AMH race series had five races tionships with our current donors and BACKCOUNTRY TOURS amazed they were by the good ski • Ski 4 Kids was another great day on snow keep expanding our donor base. for hundreds of children from across the Patti Phillips, Mary Vavrik, Karlene Leeper, Ken DePalma conditions. I am very proud of our community. I heard stories of many kids Core mission: We need stay staff, volunteers and supporters for experiencing skiing for the first time and having focused on what activities and pro- BIATHLON making this season a success. fun – that is serving our mission! grams support our core mission and Co-chairs: Leslie Boughton and Mike Riesler The snowmaking system at Kin- • Tour of Anchorage transformed into a three- not waste resources on those that Eagle Eyes Coach: Tom Grenier event festival with ski, ski-cross and fat bike caid Park has now saved our Nordic racing don’t. HIGH SCHOOL RACING John Christopherson ski season for the third year. The • NSAA Ski Train and backcountry touring Thanks for supporting NSAA dur- NSAA Operations team worked hard remained popular and unique ing this wacky and successful season. HUTS all winter to make snow whenever the • NSAA board engagement reached new levels If you haven’t contributed yet, you still Call NSAA office for reservations temperatures and humidity were fa- as we had excellent work on financial review, have time! Have a great offseason and program support, volunteering and board JUMPING vorable. I don’t think anyone involved governance I am looking forward to a better ski Karen Compton with the project expected the Nordic season in the future! Vivienne Murray So, what do we do now given the Mike Jokela, Coach community to be this dependent on JUNIOR NORDIC Eric Egeland, Chair AROUND THE BOWL LANDS COMMITTEE Gordon Wetzel MIDDLE SCHOOL RACING NSAA Season in Review Dave Blanchet Anchorage Tour Festival an instant hit RACE CHAIRMAN Tim Stone The Anchorage Tour Festival was a delightfully fun and unique event! With the Tour of Anchorage cancelled due to SCHOLARSHIPS Dan Rosenberg lack of snow, NSAA rallied and utilized the amazing trails made by its Operations team and volunteers using snow- SKI 4 KIDS making infrastructure at Kincaid Park to host the first Alice Knapp combined ski, ski-cross, and fat bike festival. SKI TRAIN Sean Bolender See AROUND THE BOWL, Page 3 TRAILS Mike Miller TOUR OF ANCHORAGE Raye Ann Neustel NSAA OFFICE HOURS 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday BOARD MEETINGS Fourth Thursday of the month, 6:15 P.M. at BP Energy Center or NSAA office. Open to all. PHOTOS BY JAN HAZEN the ALKAS A nordic skier APRIL/MAY 2016 ANCHORAGE 3 AROUND THE BOWL Icy wings can’t ground the ALASKA Continued from Page 2 NSAA’s Jumping program nordic skier In addition to a competitive and fun racing atmosphere, Despite tough conditions this winter, the NSAA Ski the sun was out bright for racers, spectators and volun- Jumping/Nordic Combined program celebrated a success- EDITOR teers. A beer garden, portable hot tub and sauna were also ful season. Sixty kids and a handful of adult jumpers prac- Josh Niva present to add to the party vibe. ticed on the 10- and 20-meter jumps, which the program [email protected] Thank you to volunteers and this year’s top level spon- managed to keep open even with low snowfall and warm sors: ConocoPhillips, Alaska Airlines, Bear Tooth Theatre temperatures. LAYOUT Pub, Great Harvest Bread Co., Premier Alaska Tours, Team AK sent five athletes to competitions on the East Kevin Powell Orthopedic Physicians Alaska and The Alaska Club. Coast – one in Lake Placid, New York, the other at Junior [email protected] Find results at more at www.anchoragenordicski.com/tour_of_anchorage. Nationals in Salisbury, Connecticut. Alaska had two po- html. dium finishes: Hugo Compton took third place in the U-18 AD REPRESENTATIVE individual Nordic Combined event; and Nathan Shuttle- Christina Cober The kids are alright – Jr. Nordic jams worth and Hugo Compton also nabbed third place in the [email protected] even in weird weather U-18 Nordic Combined Team Sprint. Alexander Murray The 2015-2016 ski season has proven the hardiness of and Gus Compton narrowly missed the podium, taking LOCAL EDITORS NSAA Jr. Nordic skiers and coaches! Even during some fourth place in U-16 Nordic Combined Team Sprint. trying weather spells, more practices were held than the June kicks off the very first summer ski jumping season ANCHORAGE previous season, resulting in happier kids and happier Josh Niva in Alaska, with practices beginning on the 20- and 40-me- parents. [email protected] ter hills. Meanwhile, work continues to finish the 65-meter NSAA’s Jr. Nordic program relies heavily on the creativ- hill, with an expected completion date of late summer. EAGLE RIVER ity and resilience of its coaches, as well as the support of Stay up to date on NSAA Jumping/Nordic Combined news at www. Ros Singleton volunteer parents. Whether it was cruising the trails with anchoragenordicski.com/jumping_nordic.html. [email protected] ice grippers or playing giant games of Capture the Flag and Toilet Tag on skis, our Jr. Nordic skiers continued to FAIRBANKS Eric Troyer stay active and stay outdoors. [email protected] Jr. Nordic continues to use its primary teaching meth- od: fun. Even with spills, icy trails or an occasional lack of HOMER gummy bears, kids left the trails with smiling faces, while Marylou Burton all looked back on the season as a success.