FasterSkier

Tag: Fairbanks

  • Alaska Charter School Students Learning, Playing Through Skiing

    Alaska Charter School Students Learning, Playing Through Skiing

    Dave Merrill, teacher at the Watershed School in Fairbanks, Alaska, runs with his class on the school's new Nordic terrain park.
    Dave Merrill, a third grade teacher at the Watershed School in Fairbanks, Alaska, runs with his class on the school’s new Nordic terrain park. (Photo: John Carlson)

    During the winter months at a K-8 school in Fairbanks, Alaska, instead of swings, slides and monkey bars, snow is the playground. And the principal doubles as the groomer.

    Each of the Watershed School’s 200 students are required to own a pair of cross country skis and willingly use them as part of a learning-through-nature educational curriculum.

    John Carlson is the principal of the charter school that requires all teachers, including assistants and aides, to possess basic skiing ability. Carlson hired Pete Leonard, head coach of the Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC) junior racing program, as a consultant to help teachers develop lessons for life-skill recreation instruction.

    “We hired Pete as a consultant due to his competence to teach developmentally appropriate ski skills,” Carlson wrote in an e-mail. “In addition to working with elite athletes in highly competitive situations, he possesses a real talent for meeting kids at their level, both age and skill wise.”

    Recess at Watershed will be even more fun when the snow starts to fly, now that an underused pile of dirt on the school’s grounds has become the foundation for a Nordic terrain park, complete with snaking downhills, steeps, rollers, banked turns and enough width to set up a slalom course. Conversation between Carlson and Leonard sparked the terrain park idea.

    The terrain park, ready for some snow. (Photo: John Carlson)
    The terrain park, ready for some snow. (Photo: John Carlson)

    “Essentially, our goal was to provide a place for the kids to learn ski skills and technique in the school yard in an area of town that is quite flat, so the kids would be able to better develop their skills and be better prepared for going on hilly trails for periodic trips to other trail systems in town,” Leonard wrote, also in an e-mail. “Hopefully it is fun enough that a lot of kids head out there to play at recess and without even thinking about it are enhancing their skills.”

    Carlson said construction of the park cost around $15,000 dollars, partially funded through a grant from the Alaska Ski Education Foundation. The total would have been higher had some of the additional dirt not been donated. Benson Excavation and Landscape of Fairbanks hauled in 70 dump truck loads and formed the components of the park.

    A hoop to jump through, according to Carlson, came in the school district’s risk management department. The manmade hills aren’t big enough to build up too much speed, so the plans were approved without much resistance.

    “The goal with the design was to provide lots of different terrain features and challenges on it and to be able to use it in many different ways,” Leonard wrote. “So hopefully the kids will still find it fun and exhilarating from the time they first glide down a hill on skis until they’re linking ups and downs and bumps and banked turns and coming up with new and creative ways to utilize a snow-covered pile of dirt.”

    Watershed prides itself on complementing classroom learning with exploration. Situated in an already strong skiing community, the terrain park is just another way to keep the sport fun, while exposing students to functional learning opportunities.

    “I think we’re always trying to raise interest in the sport,” Leonard wrote. “The Norwegians are the best cross country skiing nation in the world, and if you look at some of their initiatives of late, they’re still looking on how to take the next step. We’re nowhere near that level, but there is always room for improvement. Our club (Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks) is dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of cross country skiing and this was a golden opportunity for us to help a school that has put a lot of pieces in place for that very mission.”

  • Junior Nationals Photo Gallery: ‘Best of’ Skate Sprints

    Junior Nationals Photo Gallery: ‘Best of’ Skate Sprints

    Some of our favorite shots from the 1-kilometer freestyle sprints on March 14 at the 2013 Cross Country Junior National Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska. Special thanks to Bert Boyer and his extensive photo coverage, all of which can be viewed at higher resolution and are available for purchase at bertboyer.zenfolio.com.  All proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

    Complete results

    Race reports (via jn2013fairbanks.us): OJ boys | J1/J2 boys | OJ/J1/J2 girls

  • Junior Nationals Photo Gallery: ‘Best of’ Classic Mass Starts

    Junior Nationals Photo Gallery: ‘Best of’ Classic Mass Starts

    Some of our favorite shots from the 2013 Cross Country Junior National Championships. Special thanks to Bert Boyer and his extensive photo coverage, all of which can be viewed at higher resolution and are available for purchase at bertboyer.zenfolio.com.  All proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

    Complete results

    Race reports (via jn2013fairbanks.us): OJ | J1 | J2

  • Junior Nationals: Americans Keep Norwegians from J1 Podium Sweeps

    Junior Nationals: Americans Keep Norwegians from J1 Podium Sweeps

    Norwegian twins Tiril and Lotta Weng on their way to another 1-2 finish at 2013 Junior Nationals on Saturday, this time in the J1 girls 10 k classic mass start in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    Norwegian twins Tiril and Lotta Weng on their way to another 1-2 finish at 2013 Junior Nationals on Saturday, this time in the J1 girls 10 k classic mass start in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)

    By Eric Troyer

    (Via jn2013fairbanks.us)

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Once again, the Norwegian skiers dominated the Junior 1 10 k classic mass starts in the 2013 Cross Country Junior Nationals on Saturday, but the American racers didn’t let their guests take all the podium spots.

    Keegan Swirbul (Aspen Valley SSC), the first American and third overall behind Norwegians Mattis Stenshagen and Sjur Slettom on Saturday in the J1 boys 10 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    Keegan Swirbul (Aspen Valley SSC), the first American and third overall behind Norwegians Mattis Stenshagen and Sjur Slettom on Saturday in the J1 boys 10 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    Keegan Swirbul of Rocky Mountain, took third overall in the boys race, which was good for the top American spot, and he finished just one second behind Norwegian and second-place finisher Sjur Slettom.

    “I was surprised I was that close,” Swirbul said.

    Far West’s Peter Holmes, taking fourth, and New England’s Jack Schrupp, in fifth, both finished ahead of Norwegian Martin Thon to take the second and third American places.

    “It’s fun. They’re fast,” said Holmes.

    In the girls race, Marion Woods of Alaska, reeled in Lisa Kvamme of Norway, to take third place and the top place for the Americans in the women’s race.

    “I’m so glad they’re out here,” Woods said, adding that they helped increase the overall competition.

    The Norwegian skiers also include twins Tiril and Lotta Weng, who took first and second, respectively, in the girls race, and Mattis Stenshagen, who took first in the boys race. The Norwegians are racing as guests as part of an effort to give American racers a taste of what’s possible with enough work and the right training and attitude.

    Intermountain’s Lizzie Gill, who took fifth overall and the second American spot, likes the competition.

    “My dad always tells me that I should try to be skiing like Jessie Diggins,” said Gill, smiling, “but now he tells me to ski like Norwegians.”

    The Norwegians are also learning from their experience over here, especially how to race on tight, curvy racecourses.

    “In Norway there are not so many corners,” said Stenshagen. “I like it.”

    Slettom agreed.

    “I like trying something else,” he said, “not just climbing and sitting on the downhills.”

    Woods Breaks Away to Take Third, U.S. Title in Girls J1 Race 

    The Norwegians looked to put the girls J1 10-kilometer race away early. They started strong, all three pulling slightly ahead of a group of American skiers, led by Marion Woods. Kvamme fell back a bit by the third kilometer but was still ahead of a large pack of Americans, still led by Woods, as they charged through the Stadium on to their second lap. Woods was less worried by the leaders than who was behind.

    An excited Marion Woods (Alaska Winter Stars) at the finish of Saturday's J1 girls 10 k classic mass start at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. Woods was the top American in third behind Norwegians Tiril and Lotta Weng. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    An excited Marion Woods (Alaska Winter Stars) at the finish of Saturday’s J1 girls 10 k classic mass start at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. Woods was the top American in third behind Norwegians Tiril and Lotta Weng. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    “Going from the bottom of Warm-up to the top of Tower, I knew that something was going to happen,” said Woods. “There was a pretty large pack of girls behind me. Having led for a couple of K I knew that they could make a breakaway at any moment.”

    During the second climb of South Tower, both Woods and Lizzie Gill were the ones to make a breakaway. They reeled in Kvamme and were ahead of her with less than three kilometers to go. Several more Americans caught Kvamme, but by the climb to Sidewinder, about 8.5 kilometers into the race, Kvamme had pulled back into fourth place.

    That’s when Tiril Weng made her move, pulling about 10 seconds ahead of her sister, Lotta, in less than a kilometer. Woods was still in third followed by Gill, but Kvamme was starting to gain on her. A pack of Americans, led by Amy Bianco, of Midwest, followed and Woods knew they were back there.

    “Going up the last hill. I never knew what was really behind me,” said Woods. “I knew that really at any moment they could come on and pass me.”

    That pack of Americans never caught Woods, but they started to gain on Gill coming up the Warm-up hill right before the finish.

    “I definitely died a little at the end, but they were right behind me and they kept me going, so, yeah, that was pretty fun,” said Gill.

    Tiril won the race in 33 minutes, 47.3 seconds, 16 seconds ahead of her sister, who finished in 34:03.7. Woods finished third at 34:26.9 and Kvamme finished fourth at 35:09.0, but it was close as Gill finished just under a second behind. Nicole Bathe, of Midwest, took sixth as the third American, just beating Bianco by less than two seconds.

    Swirbul Uses Sidewinder Move to Take American J1 Boys Title

    In the boys J1 1o k, the Norwegians also pulled ahead early, but several Americans including Cal Deline, of Rocky Mountain, Thomas O’Harra, of Alaska, and Peter Holmes, of Far West, were hot on their tail.

    Norway's Mattis Stenshagen on his way to winning the J1 boys 10 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals on Saturday. He beat teammate Sjur Slettom and Rocky Mountain's Keegan Swirbul. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    Norway’s Mattis Stenshagen on his way to winning the J1 boys 10 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals on Saturday. He beat teammate Sjur Slettom and Rocky Mountain’s Keegan Swirbul. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    By kilometer four, O’Harra and the three Norwegians were leading a pack that included Deline, Swirbul, and Eric Backstrum, of Alaska. As they climbed out of Warm-up into the Stadium for their second lap, Norwegians Stenshagen and Slettom had pulled ahead by a few seconds. Close on their tails was Swirbul, Deline, and Norwegian Thon. O’Harra had fallen back to about ninth place.

    Stenshagen really started to put the hammer down on the second climb of South Tower. He pulled about 10 seconds ahead of Slettom, who was followed closely by Swirbul and Holmes.

    “We knew the Norwegians were going to go in the second lap and they went right where I thought,” said Swirbul, “so I was just trying to conserve as much energy on the first lap and do a 5 k time trial.”

    Holmes said the hardest part of the race was increasing the pace up the second climb of South Tower. He wasn’t sure he could hang on.

    “I was a little iffy about it, but I’m glad I did,” he said.

    With about two kilometers to go, Stenshagen had increased his lead to about 20 seconds over Slettom, who was still followed closely by Swirbul, with Far West’s Holmes a little farther back.

    “We just skied together, me and the Far West guy, and then I tried to put a move on him on Sidewinder and it worked real well,” said Swirbul.

    Not too far behind was Jack Schrupp, of New England.

    Stenshagen increased that lead to about 30 seconds with a kilometer to go, while Swirbul had reeled in Slettom, with Holmes just a few seconds behind.

    Stenshagen easily won first by 30 seconds with a time of 29 minutes, 17 seconds. The race for second was much closer, but the last sprint to the finish proved decisive as Slettom pulled away, beating Swirbul by just one second.

    “He had a way better double pole than I do, but I was thankful to be that close to him,” said Swirbul.

    Swirbul, with a time of 29:49.7, took third overall and first for the Americans. Holmes came in about eight seconds later, taking the second American spot, with Schrupp about four seconds after that, wrapping up the third American spot. Thon finished about nine seconds later, taking sixth place overall.

    Complete results

    For more photos from 2013 Junior Nationals, visit bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

  • Junior Nationals: New England J2 Skiers Nab Three Podium Finishes

    Junior Nationals: New England J2 Skiers Nab Three Podium Finishes

    Lydia Blanchet (Alaska Pacific University) leading the J2 girls 5 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    Lydia Blanchet (Alaska Pacific University) leading New England’s Julia Kern (301) and Katharine Ogden and Rocky Mountain’s Hailey Swirbul in the J2 girls 5 k classic mass start on Saturday at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)

    By Eric Troyer

    (Via jn2013fairbanks.us)

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – New England took three of the top six spots in the Junior 2 boys and girls 5-kilometer classic races at the 2013 Cross Country Junior Nationals on Saturday. Julia Kern and Katharine Ogden finished one and two, while Koby Gordon took the J2 boys title.

    Kern said getting a podium finish with a friend is special.

    “It’s even better when you get to share the victory with your teammate and friend. It just makes it like the cherry on top,” she said.

    Kern, Ogden Finish 1-2 for New England

    Julia Kern (Cambridge Sports Union) en route to a 2.7-second win over New England teammate Katharine Ogden in Saturday's J2 girls 5 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    Julia Kern (Cambridge Sports Union) en route to a 2.7-second win over New England teammate Katharine Ogden in Saturday’s J2 girls 5 k classic mass start at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)

    Just a little over two kilometers into the J2 girls race, favorites Kern, Ogden, and Lydia Blanchet, of Alaska, were leading a large pack of racers. After the climb up East Ramp about 2.5 kilometers into the race, the lead pack dropped to five skiers, with Hailey Swirbul, of Rocky Mountain, and Leah Lange, of Intermountain, making up the rest of the pack.

    As the racers came out of White Bear with just over a kilometer to go, five skiers still battled it out with Kern leading, but Swirbul was challenging. Ogden had fallen back a bit and Blanchet and Lange had fallen back even further.

    “I saw the fourth place girl from Alaska, and she started fading up on what we call whoop-ass hill,” said Swirbul. “I got around her and went for it. Super-painful, but it’s all worth it now.”

    With less than a kilometer to go, the pack was starting to get spread out. Kern and Ogden led, followed by Swirbul, Blanchet, and Lange, each a couple of seconds behind the other.

    Kern clearly held the lead climbing out of Warm-Up into the Stadium, but she was followed closely by Ogden and a little farther back by Swirbul.

    Kern kept the lead and finished first in 16 minutes, 37.7 seconds.

    “I knew I was doing well, but I wasn’t for sure until I was in the finish straightaway,” she said.

    Ogden claimed second, just under three seconds behind.

    “I’m not a very strong double-poler, especially compared to her. I’m a little bit scrawnier,” Ogden said. “I would have had to be in front earlier.”

    Swirbul, whose brother won the J1 American men’s race, took third in 16:48.7.

    “It’s a good day for both of us,” she said.

    J2 Boys Start with Fast Pace, End with Close Finish

    New England's Koby Gordon (Stratton Mountain School) on his way to winning Saturday's J2 boys 5 k classic mass start at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    New England’s Koby Gordon (Stratton Mountain School) on his way to winning Saturday’s J2 boys 5 k classic mass start at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)

    With just five kilometers to race, the J2 boys started with a fast pace.

    “The first hill the pace went out really fast. I was barely hanging on to the back of the lead group, but I knew I had to fight to stay with that lead group if I wanted to have a chance on the podium. That was really hard,” Gordon said.

    Halfway through the course a lead pack of seven skiers, led by Zak Ketterson of Midwest, Jake Bassett of Alaska, and Max Donaldson of Alaska, kept up a steady pace.

    The group also led at about kilometer 3, but by the climb out of White Bear at just over 3.5 kilometers into the race, the pack was down to four, Ketterson, Donaldson, Gordon and Bassett.

    “That’s when the race starts to get really tough with a lot of big climbs and a lot of tough transitions that you have to keep skiing strong,” Gordon said.

    Those four were close together as they headed down into the Warm-up Loop with less than a kilometer to go. The last climb out of Warm-Up was critical.

    “It was pretty tight the whole race, so it was decided in the last 400 meters,” Donaldson said.

    “Everyone was so dead and that’s such a hard hill. That was truly a test of manliness,” Ketterson said.

    Gordon was able to pull out the win with a time of 14 minutes, 50.4 seconds, just over one second ahead of Ketterson.

    “There was a ton of energy from all the fans coming into there. It was really empowering coming up that last hill,” Gordon said.

    But Ketterson isn’t sad about taking second place.

    “Based on my other races this week I was kind of down, so I wasn’t getting as high as I wanted to, but this is a great way to finish off the season. I’m really excited right now,” he said.

    Donaldson was also happy with his race, finishing third almost 6 seconds back with a time of 14:56.2.

    “I did what I could in that race. In the final 200 meters they had the sprinting left in them,” Donaldson said, adding that he doesn’t consider himself much of a sprinter. “I just did what I could to stay in third.”

    Bassett fell to fifth, being outsprinted by a half-second by Bill Harmeyer who finished fourth in 15:12.4.

    Complete results

    Zak Ketterson (Midwest/Loppet Nordic Racing) leads the J2 boys 5 k classic mass start on Saturday at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)
    Zak Ketterson (Midwest/Loppet Nordic Racing) leads the J2 boys 5 k classic mass start on Saturday at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)

    For more photos from 2013 Junior Nationals, visit bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

  • Junior Nationals: Gordon Overcomes Adversity in Boys J2 Sprint; J1 Winner O’Harra Inspired by Randall

    Junior Nationals: Gordon Overcomes Adversity in Boys J2 Sprint; J1 Winner O’Harra Inspired by Randall

    New England's Koby Gordon (Stratton Mountain School) leads Jake Bassett (Alaska Winter Stars) in Thursday's J2 boys freestyle sprint at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. All proceeds go to NNF)
    New England’s Koby Gordon (Stratton Mountain School) leads Jake Bassett (Alaska Winter Stars) in Thursday’s J2 boys freestyle sprint A-final at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. All proceeds go to NNF)

    (Via jn2013fairbanks.us)

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The J2 boys national championship sprint was only seconds old, and already Koby Gordon feared disaster had struck.

    “My pole grip came undone so I had to grab my pole and put it back on,” Gordon said. “Yeah it was (stressful). I was like ‘This could put me in last’ but I was able to keep pushing really hard with my legs.”

    Gordon, of Stratton Mountain School, quickly regained second place behind teammate Henry Harmeyer, the event’s defending champion. “I was comfortable there,” Gordon said.

    New England's Koby Gordon (r) of the Stratton Mountain School edges Jake Bassett (Alaska Winter Stars) by 0.22 seconds in Thursday's J2 boys freestyle sprint at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: facebook.com/pages/JN-2013-Fairbanks/153097771413595?fref=ts)
    New England’s Koby Gordon (r) of the Stratton Mountain School edges Jake Bassett (Alaska Winter Stars) by 0.22 seconds in Thursday’s J2 boys freestyle sprint at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: facebook.com/pages/JN-2013-Fairbanks/153097771413595?fref=ts)

    Then on the final hill of the winding 1-kilometer course Thursday evening at Birch Hill Recreation Area, Alaska’s Jake Bassett surged.

    “Jake came up and challenged on that hill and I just went for it so deep on that last climb,” Gordon said. “And I realized I was in front. I wasn’t planning on being in front. I wanted to come in second and get the slingshot (at the bottom of the final hill).”

    That set the stage for a frantic sprint to the tape decided by 0.22 seconds in Gordon’s favor.

    “I wasn’t sure who got first there until I saw my coach put up a big one (finger) in the air, so it was really exciting,” Gordon said.

    Afterwards his coach examined the Velcro on Gordon’s pole straps and delivered another message, telling him “You’re not using these poles again.”

    Bassett, meanwhile, won the qualifying round and coasted to first place in his quarterfinal and semifinal heats. But he expected a challenge in the final and got it.

    “Those guys went out hard and I was just doing my best to not get boxed out,” Bassett said.

    Bassett liked his position of second on the final downhill, but it didn’t spring him ahead.

    “I kind of caught a little bit of a slingshot, but it wasn’t fast enough to get (Gordon),” Bassett said. “He definitely is a fast skier and he definitely deserved (to win).”

    Harmeyer of New England took third 0.84 seconds after Gordon.

    Norway's Martin Thon (9) leads Thursday's J1 boys freestyle sprint A-final while New England's Thomas O'Harra (2), Jack Schrupp (10), Rocky Mountain's Cal Deline (6) and two other Norwegians chase at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo:
    Norway’s Martin Thon (9) leads Thursday’s J1 boys freestyle sprint A-final while New England’s Thomas O’Harra (2), Jack Schrupp (10), Rocky Mountain’s Cal Deline (6) and two other Norwegians chase at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    When the J2 qualifying round kicked off the third day of competition at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Nationals at 11:45 a.m., the temperature was 8 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind chill read minus 8. However, by the final J2 race shortly after 4 p.m., the temperature had risen into the teens, though the bluebird sunny day offered little warmth.

    In the J1 boys final, Alaskan Thomas O’Harra broke up a Norwegian sweep and claimed the U.S. national championship by placing third.

    “I wanted to stay in the mix the whole race and not lose contact with those guys, but I also didn’t want to push myself too hard in the beginning,” O’Harra said. “I knew I had to keep something in the tank for that second hill otherwise they were just going to leave us behind.”

    In the end, Norwegian Mattis Stenshagen got away and cruised to a 2.26-second win over teammate Sjur Slettom. O’Harra couldn’t quite outsprint Slettom but bested Norway’s Martin Thon.

    “(A sweep), that would have been very fun, but 1-2 is not bad either,” Slettom said.

    While O’Harra is impressed by the Norwegians and respects them, he didn’t sound intimidated.

    “They’re people too. They put their pants on one leg at a time,” O’Harra said, adding that he’s drawn inspiration from World Cup sprint champion Kikkan Randall. “If she can beat ‘em — Kikkan’s just an Anchorage girl born in Alaska — I think anybody can.”

     Complete results

    For more photos from 2013 Junior Nationals, visit bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

  • Junior Nationals: Miller Surprises Norwegians in J1 Sprint; Blanchet & Gesior Notch Gold

    Junior Nationals: Miller Surprises Norwegians in J1 Sprint; Blanchet & Gesior Notch Gold

    Annika Miller of Payette Lakes (r) takes on Lotta Weng (6) and her Norwegian teammates in Thursday's J1 girls freestyle sprint A-final at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo:
    Intermountain’s Annika Miller of Payette Lakes (r) takes on Lotta Weng (6) and her Norwegian teammates in Thursday’s J1 girls freestyle sprint A-final at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to NNF)

    (Via jn2013fairbanks.us)

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Spectators watching halfway through the Junior 1 national championship girls sprint race on Thursday must have wondered whether three Norwegians were on their way to a sweep.

    At that point, twins Tiril and Lotta Weng seemed in control, while fellow Norwegian Lisa Kvamme trailed slightly and American Annika Miller fought to stay close.

    The next time spectators in the Birch Hill Recreation Area stadium spotted the skiers one tough climb and several hundred meters later, many must have been shocked to see Miller en route to a clear win at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Nationals.

    “I really wanted to (win). I was like ‘You know, the U.S. needs to be on top today,’ ” said Miller of Team Intermountain, whose win was no fluke considering that she finished the qualifying round in first as well.

    But keeping up with the Norwegians, who competed as guests and are not eligible to claim U.S. Championship medals, was no easy task.

    “I was really worried coming up that first hill because they were just hammering,” Miller said.

    Miller, from McCall, Idaho, quietly stalked the Norwegians and then charged past them on the final East Ramp uphill.

    “I was kind of neck-and-neck with them coming up the last hill and then just off the top they just didn’t have enough left, I guess,” Miller said. “And so I hammered the top and hoped they didn’t have too much of a draft and just went for it.”

    It was a risky strategy that could have backfired had the Norwegians hopped in Miller’s slipstream and slingshotted past her at the bottom of the hill leading into the flat finishing stretch.

    Instead Miller won going away in 3 minutes, 4.14 seconds. Tiril Weng was runner-up a half-second behind, Lotta Weng placed third and Kvamme finished a distant fourth.

    The other two skiers in the A Final, Marion Woods of Alaska and Zoe Snow of New England, placed fifth and sixth, respectively, but won the U.S. silver and bronze medals.

    Hannah Halvorsen (Sugar Bowl Academy) leads New England's Julia Kern (1) and Alaska's Lydia Blanchet (2) in Thursday's J2 girls freestyle sprint A-final at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. Blanchet went on to win, Kern was second and Halvorsen placed third. (Photo:
    Hannah Halvorsen (Sugar Bowl Academy) leads New England’s Julia Kern (l) and Alaska’s Lydia Blanchet (r) in Thursday’s J2 girls freestyle sprint A-final at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. Blanchet went on to win, Kern was second and Halvorsen placed third. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    In the J2 girls race, Lydia Blanchet of Anchorage could hardly believe she won.

    “It just hadn’t crossed my mind that I could be a sprint champion,” said Blanchet, who considers herself more of a distance skier.

    That Blanchet, the 2013 Alaska High School Skimeister, would top Julie Kern of New England seemed improbable, given that Kern was the defending J2 sprint champion and won Thursday’s qualifying round.

    Blanchet grabbed the lead halfway through the 1-kilometer course with a nifty move on the inside of a tight corner. She held off Kern by 0.46 seconds and was never seriously threatened on the homestretch.

    “I knew (Kern) was there. It wasn’t until I looked around and didn’t see anyone’s shadow that I kind of started realizing that ‘Oh my gosh, I might be able to win this race,” Blanchet said. “To pull this one off is just a good confidence boost for me.”

    Hannah Halvorsen edged New England teammate Leah Lange to win bronze.

    In girls OJ, Felicia Gesior credited her fast skis.

    Clearly her talent had plenty to do with the decisive victory that gave Great Lakes its first gold medal of the championships.

    Gesior, who competes for Northern Michigan University, placed 11th in the same race a year ago at Soldier Hollow, Utah. This time she and Stephanie Kirk of Alaska, the top two qualifiers, broke away from the pack early on. Gesior bided her time just behind Kirk for half the race, then blew past her on the final climb of the 1.25-kilometer course.

    “Once I was gone, I kind of went,” Gesior said.

    As Gesior powered through a stiff headwind on the finishing straight, Kirk struggled home 5.75 seconds later. Celia Haering of Alaska took bronze.

    Complete results

    Felicia Gesior of Great Lakes leads Alaska's Stephanie Kirk in the OJ girls freestyle sprint A-final at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo:
    Felicia Gesior (Great Lakes) leads Alaska’s Stephanie Kirk in the OJ girls freestyle sprint A-final at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    For more photos from 2013 Junior Nationals, visit bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

  • Junior Nationals: Alaska, New England Dominate J2 Relays

    Junior Nationals: Alaska, New England Dominate J2 Relays

    Katharine Ogden (Stratton Mountain School) racing to a J2 girls victory in Monday's 5 k freestyle opener at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo:
    Katharine Ogden (Stratton Mountain School) racing to a J2 girls victory in Monday’s 5 k freestyle opener at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. The first leg of New England’s relay, Ogden went on to win gold with her team on Tuesday. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com. All proceeds go to NNF)

    (Via jn2013fairbanks.us)

    FAIRBANKS, AK — Not even a navigational gaffe could derail the New England J2 girls in Tuesday’s 3X3k classic relay at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Nationals.

    Katharine Ogden, the lead skier for New England, lost the substantial lead she’d gained on Rocky Mountain’s Hailey Swirbul after she accidentally skied into the finish lane instead of the lap lane — despite large signs that directed skiers — as she approached the end of the first leg. Ogden was thus forced to backtrack out of the finish lane and into the correct exchange lane.

    Instead of having a lead of perhaps 10 seconds, New England’s second skier, Leah Brams, inherited a 6-second deficit to Rocky Mountain.

    It wasn’t the first time Ogden made the error.

    “For the last qualifier me and Julie (Kern) and Katharine all went the wrong way,” Brams said. “We were like ‘It’s never happening again.’”

    But it happened again on another sunny day with temperatures in the teens at the Jim Whisenhant Trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area. The mistake added a little drama but wasn’t worth fretting about for New England.

    “I wasn’t that worried,” Brams said. “I was a little nervous, but I ski better when I have someone to pace off.”

    Brams proceeded to build a nearly insurmountable 26-second lead by outpacing RM’s Jordan Floyd. New England anchor Kern then coasted home to secure the national championship in 34 minutes, 1 second. The dominant victory was no surprise — Ogden, Kern and Brams swept the J2 podium in the 5K freestyle on Monday.

    Intermountain's J2 boys relay anchor Zach Williams finishing second with a team time of 30:30.4 in the 3x3.3 k, just 6.6 seconds behind Alaska's Max Donaldson, who notched his second victory in two days. (Photo: facebook.com/pages/JN-2013-Fairbanks/153097771413595)
    Intermountain’s J2 boys relay anchor Zach Williams finishing second in the 3×3.3 k, just 6.6 seconds behind Alaska’s Max Donaldson, who notched his second victory in two days. (Photo: facebook.com/pages/JN-2013-Fairbanks/153097771413595)

    Alaska anchor Lydia Blanchett, with the fastest third leg, rallied to win her team the silver-medal in 34:46 while Rocky Mountain slipped to third in 35:11.

    The boys J2 race also played out as expected, with Alaska’s Jake Bassett, Tristan Sayre and Max Donaldson leading from start to finish.

    “Yesterday we all got top four so we knew we were the favorite (team),” Sayre said.

    Bassett skied the scramble leg and tagged to Sayre with a 4.2-second lead over Intermountain’s Logan Diekmann.

    Sayre then busted the race open with the fastest second-leg to increase the gap to 18 seconds.

    “I was pretty frantic at the start … then I relaxed because that’s what everyone was telling me to do,” Sayre said.

    Sayre, from Fairbanks, made up some of his ground on the seemingly interminable “Sidewinder” hill, the second of two major climbs on the 3.3-kilometer course.

    Donaldson, Monday’s runaway winner, had the honor of clinching the gold medal on his hometown trails.

    While Donaldson was able to ski without anyone threatening him, he would have welcomed more pressure.

    “It would have been nice to ski behind someone and maybe pass them in the end,” Donaldson said.

    Intermountain held on for second place in 30:30 while New England won bronze in 30:41.

    Complete results

  • Junior Nationals: Norwegian Boys Sweep J1 Division; Alaskans Hanneman and Donaldson Win at Home

    Junior Nationals: Norwegian Boys Sweep J1 Division; Alaskans Hanneman and Donaldson Win at Home

    Norwegian Mattis Stenshagen (NTG Lillehammer) on his way to winning Monday's J1/OJ boys 10-kilometer freestyle race at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com/f490643483. All proceeds go to NNF)
    Norwegian Mattis Stenshagen (NTG Lillehammer) on his way to winning Monday’s J1/OJ boys 10-kilometer freestyle race at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com/f490643483. All proceeds go to NNF)

    (Via www.jn2013fairbanks.us)

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Norwegians got flowers and glory for sweeping the podium of the Junior 1 division on Monday.

    They won’t get medals, however, nor will they get points in the team standings at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Nationals, since those are reserved for American skiers.

    In the 10K interval-start freestyle race that kicked off the competition at Birch Hill Recreation Area on Monday, Mattis Stenshagen, Martin Thon and Sjur Slettom — all members of the NTG Lillehammer Club — claimed the top three spots in J1.

    Stenshagen, 16, even bested all the Older Junior competitors (ages 17-19) with time of 26 minutes, 34.2 seconds.

    Logan Hanneman, representing Team Alaska, won the OJ and placed second overall 3.2 seconds after Stenshagen.

    “We hoped (for a sweep), but it’s a little bit surprising,” Stenshagen said. “The first 8K was very good but the last 2K was not so good.”

    Stenshagen, as a B-seeded skier, raced without the benefit of getting splits, unlike the 30 skiers in the top-seeded A group. Thon was seeded in the C group and Slettom started even earlier in the D group.

    Stenshagen said the seeding did not matter. “I just think about myself,” he said.

    Team Norway head coach Per Ola Gasmann explained that juniors and seniors generally race together in Norway, making it tougher to place high and gather a favorable FIS ranking.

    “It is much easier to get low FIS points in the U.S. than in Norway,” Gasmann said.

    Six Norwegians — all J1s — are competing at the Junior Nationals as part of an exchange with the American National Nordic Foundation after a dozen U.S. skiers participated recently at the Norwegian junior championships in the Olympic town of Lillehammer.

    Logan Hanneman (Alaska Pacific University) racing to silver in Monday's 10 k freestyle at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)
    Logan Hanneman (University of Alaska-Fairbanks) racing to second overall in Monday’s 10 k freestyle at the 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    Hanneman welcomed the extra competition.

    “I think it’s really awesome. We’re getting an international racing experience without going anywhere,” he said.

    Hanneman, a sophomore skier at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, only returned from the NCAA Championships in Vermont at 11 p.m. Sunday. He didn’t fall asleep until 2 a.m. and got maybe six hours of rest before Monday’s competition.

    Hanneman, 19, said he felt “pretty terrible” but managed to pull off a solid race by not starting too aggressively. He skied a slightly faster second of two loops than Stenshagen but was not quite able to erase a seven-second deficit from the midway point.

    “If you go out too fast it bites you in the second lap,” he said. “The race doesn’t start until the second time going up Tower Direct.”

    Ben Saxton of Midwest was the runner-up OJ and fourth overall while Eli Hoenig of New England completed the OJ podium.

    In J1, due to the Norwegians’ domination, Ian Torchia of New England missed out on the flower ceremony podium but will collect a gold medal for being the top American.

    With relatively slow snow and a temperature in the teens, skiers were challenged by a course that featured 290 feet of climbing per lap, much of it on the Black Funk and Tower Direct ascents.

    But they were also required to execute high-speed cornering on a black-diamond downhill in the opening kilometer. More than a few racers were unable to negotiate a sharp left-hand turn and crashed. Organizers even added padding to a ditch where several skiers wound up. Two skiers broke pole handles and another made a dramatic recovery after losing his balance on the turn, only to wipe out on an ensuing downhill. The area was popular with spectators seeking entertainment.

    Max Donaldson (NSCF-FXC) en route to winning the J2 boys 5 k freestyle race on Monday at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo:
    Max Donaldson (NSCF-FXC) en route to winning the J2 boys 5 k freestyle race on Monday at 2013 Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com)

    J2 winner Max Donaldson of Team Alaska managed to emerge unscathed.

    “It’s not worth it to crash or take it too quick,” Donaldson said. “Otherwise you can be in the woods and lose 30 seconds.”

    Boosted by cheering fans on his home trails, Donaldson, the recent Alaska High School Skimeister, powered his slight frame to a convincing 5-kilometer win in 13:30.

    “I’ve never raced these guys. I was definitely hoping for top three,” Donaldson said.

    Koby Gordon of New England placed second in 13:47 while Jake Bassett of Alaska notched third in 13:57.

    With six of the top seven spots in J2 going to skiers from Alaska and New England, those teams are perhaps setting up a showdown in the 3X3-kilometer relay on Tuesday.

    In the Alaska Cup team competition, Alaska is also looking to unseat New England, the four-time defending champion.

    Results | Girls recap

    For more photos from 2013 Junior Nationals, visit bertboyer.zenfolio.com. Proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).

  • Weekly Roundup: Season Kickoffs

    Liz Stephen (l) with Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Russia’s Yulia Tchekaleva (r) on the podium on Sunday in Muonio, Finland. Kowalczyk won the FIS 10 k skate race by 4.46 seconds over Stephen. (Holly Brooks courtesy photo)

    After months of training and anticipation, the nordic sports opened their seasons around the world this weekend with races around the world. Established veterans had several dominating performances, but there were new faces on the podiums as well, signaling that when World Cup racing starts next weekend, things could be pretty interesting.

    In Bruksvallarna, Sweden, the Swedish, Canadian, and Slovenian national teams butted heads in a three-day race series. One of the biggest surprises was Swedish 23-year-old Emma Wiken taking a 2.4-second win over Charlotte Kalla on the first day of racing. But otherwise, Sweden’s top stars prevailed, with Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, Teodor Peterson, and Ida Ingemarsdotter taking wins and Kalla returning to completely decimate the women’s field in the 10 k skate. Canada had strong performances as well, with Alex Harvey placing fourth in the 10 k classic, Ivan Babikov third in the 15 k skate, and Chandra Crawford second in the skate sprint. Katja Visnar of Slovenia also stepped on the podium in the sprint.

    To the northeast in Muonio, Finland, even more national teams tried out their racing legs. Finland was joined by Russia, the United States, the Czech Republic, Poland, Kazakhstan, Japan, and Germany in a three-race series. Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland swept the women’s competitions, and was at her most dominant in a 29-second win in Saturday’s 5 k classic. For the men, Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan took two victories before Matti Heikkinen of Finland bested the field in the 15 k skate. The U.S. had several top performances, headlined by Liz Stephen‘s second-place finish in the 10 k skate, just 4.6 seconds down on Kowalczyk; Holly Brooks and Jessie Diggins also made the top ten. But Kris Freeman also placed fourth in the men’s classic race, and Andy Newell and Ida Sargent both made the sprint finals.

    Meanwhile, Beitostolen, Norway, was hosting the opening races for both skiers and biathletes. The women’s races were characterized by familiar Norwegian faces on top of the podium: Maiken Caspersen Falla in the sprint, Therese Johaug in the two distance races, and Tora Berger dominating the biathlon competitions. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Marit Bjørgen‘s two losses to Johaug, including a 50-second blowout in the classic race. Petter Northug won on Friday before falling in the sprint final, leaving Anders Glørsen to take the win, while Chris Andre Jespersen skied to a huge victory on Sunday. World Champion Martin Fourcade of France won Saturday’s biathlon sprint, before sitting out Sunday’s mass start and leaving the victory to Erlen Bjøntegaard.

    Finally, the U.S. race season began in Fairbanks with the Tour de Ski Fairbanks, a three-day series culminating in pursuit races on Sunday. Designed to be a meet for University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks skiers, the weekend consisted of prologues on Friday, classic mass starts on Saturday, which included sprint preems, and then skate pursuits on Sunday. Logan Hanneman and Raphaela Sieber, both from UAF, picked up the overall titles, although Viktor Braenmaark and Marine Dusser (UAA) had the fastest ski times on Sunday and Rebecca Konieczny (UAF) won the women’s prologue.

    Elsewhere on the site, we previewed the upcoming race seasons – nordic combined, biathlon, the U.S. and Canadian World Cup squads – and conditions and potential start lists for on upcoming races at West Yellowstone and Canmore. Finally, we checked in with Canadian biathlete Nathan Smith as his team made their final World Cup preparations, interviewed APU coach Erik Flora, reviewed the history of Olympic anti-doping efforts, and examined why U.S. skiers no longer have free phone service in Europe.

    Here’s a roundup of race reports and results.

    Bruksvallarna, Sweden: Friday 5/10 k classic | Saturday 10/15 k skate | Sunday skate sprints | results

    Muonio, Finland: Friday classic sprints | Saturday 5/10 k classic | Sunday 10/15 k skate | results: here from race organizers (scroll down for earlier races), eventually here on FIS

    Beitostolen, Norway: Friday 10k skate & 15k skate | Saturday classic sprints | Saturday biathlon sprints | Sunday 10/15 k classic | Sunday biathlon mass starts | biathlon results | ski results

    Fairbanks, Alaska: Friday blog post  |  Saturday blog post  | Sunday blog post  | results will eventually be posted here.

     

  • Fairbanks Training Camp and First Tracks Ski Camp – APU Report

    Fairbanks Training Camp and First Tracks Ski Camp – APU Report

    Fairbanks Training Camp. Photo: Logan Hanneman.

    With barely an inch on the ground, it would have been hard to scrape up enough to make a snowball. And yet there it was, 30k of remarkably groomed trails.

    The crazy thing about the Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Area in Fairbanks, Alaska is how little snow accumulation it takes for the skiing to be great. The trail surfaces are very smooth, and mostly covered with organic peat, so skis really only need a heavy frost to glide. This is why it is the perfect late-fall training zone.

    The APU Nordic Ski Team just returned from an incredible early-season training camp in Fairbanks, where they took advantage of the incredible trail prep and grooming that the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks provided to hundreds of early season skiers.

    In addition to being able to train 4-5 hrs a day on race-worthy trails, the athletes helped as volunteer coaches for the first ever First Tracks Ski Camp hosted by Challenge Life. The idea behind this inaugural event was to get a huge group of Alaska’s high school skiers together for a massive ski-season kickoff training camp. The camp was the brainchild of Mike Hajdukovich of Challenge Life; he imagined a setting where the kids could train a lot together, chill out in between sessions, and have a good time as a group without all of the stresses that accompany most ski trips because of the racing aspect.

    The event was a huge success. There was a huge group of kids that came from all over the state to enjoy the awesome skiing opportunities and a chance to train alongside some of the best cross-country skiers in the country and the world. Olympic stars Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks, along with local standouts Reese Hanneman and Becca Rorabaugh and about ten of their APU teammates handled the coaching duties, while APU director Erik Flora lead the whole thing. All of the coaches did a great job of keeping the training advice simple yet effective, and everyone was constantly having fun.

    One other benefit of the training camp was getting a first-hand tour of the brand new race courses designed by mastermind John Estle. Many of the tough courses used during the 2008 and 2009 Spring Nationals have been refined and tweaked to offer some world-class and FIS homologation-pending trails. Flora and his team got to ski on the new courses, which will be featured heavily in the Fairbanks Mini-Tour, which are North America’s first FIS races of the year on November 18th-20th.

    The APU Nordic Ski Center would like to extend a special thanks to Challenge Life for hosting a great event, and to the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks and John Estle for their amazing grooming, trail work, and hospitality.

  • Two FAST Guys: David Norris and Reese Hanneman

    When it’s -15 F outside, most lower-48 skiers resign themselves to an afternoon in the weight room or even on the couch. But temperatures like those don’t faze Reese Hanneman and David Norris, two members of the Fairbanks Alaska Ski Team who contend with bone-chilling cold for much of the winter.

    With readings hovering around the -25 mark, FasterSkier met Norris and Hanneman last week for an interview inside the lodge at their home venue, Birch Hill Recreation Area. Just a week after each had a fourth-place finish at Nationals in Anchorage, Norris and Hanneman offer accounts of those races, as well as some background on skiing in the cold, summer training with the U.S. Ski Team in Utah, and Lindsay Williams’ taste in music.

    Both are now in Germany preparing to compete in the U-23 and World Junior Championships–visit FasterSkier this week for live coverage from those races!

    [podcast]http://images.fasterskier.com/2010/01/FASTPart1-11.mp3[/podcast]

    [podcast]http://images.fasterskier.com/2010/01/Fast-Part-2-11.mp3[/podcast]

    Men's Quarterfinal - Reese Hanneman (FAST) #16, Tim Reynolds (Green Racing Project) #26, Brayton Osgood (XC-Oregon/Fischer) #25, Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) in the lead
    Reese Hanneman (16) duking it out in his quarterfinal heat at the U.S. Nationals classic sprint
    David Norris racing in a local race in Alaska early this winter
    David Norris racing in a local race in Alaska early this winter

    A quick note—don’t be intimidated by the audio. It looks fancy, but all you have to do is press play. FasterSkier plans to bring readers (or listeners!) more multimedia features like this one throughout the course of the winter.

  • 5400 Kilometers Skied in the 5th Annual Fairbanks Wells Fargo Ski Your Age in Kilometers

    Two hundred nineteen skiers participated, 115 skied their age, more than 5400 kilometers were skied in the 5th annual Wells Fargo Ski Your Age in Kilometers, presented by Banner Health. The event was a fund-raiser for the Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC) ski program, the year-round junior training program of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks.

    Skiers brought Christmas leftovers to share with other “Ski-Your-Age” participants during breaks between skiing sessions. Fifty-eight of the participants were 50 years of age or older, 95 were under 20, and the remainder (74 skiers) were between 20 and 49.

    This year had, by far, the highest number of participants in the event with the previous record being last year’s 144.

    No entry fee was charged to any participant, but all were encouraged to donate to FXC, or to join the “Friends of FXC” boosters group. The goal of the event was to get as many people as possible onto the trails at Birch Hill to enjoy a fine day of skiing with family and friends, to celebrate the holidays and good health, and to burn off any excess calories consumed the prior day at dinner! The event is non-competitive (for the most part).

    Part of the thought behind the event is to create an opportunity for people to ski where all participants can have the opportunity to achieve their goals, and where speed is not an issue. Skiers have basically all day to ski their goal in kilometers. In addition to the categories listed below, skiers can achieve bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels of kilometers for their respective ages, total kilometers in various parent-child categories are tracked, as well as siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc. There is also a “Sunup-to-Sundown Challenge” in which skiers attempt to ski 50Km or their age (whichever is greater) between sunup (10:58AM) and sundown (2:44PM). No one met that objective this year, although Mike Kramer and Harald Aas came close.

    Temperatures were in the comfortable single digits during most of the day, cooling a little and dropping slightly below zero later in the day. Conditions were excellent for classic skiing, but the freshly-fallen inch of overnight/early-morning snow made skating a bit of a chore.

    John Shook skied the most Km among men, with 84, one more than Bad Bob Baker, who had hoped to ski 50Km classic and 50Km skating, but ended up with 50+33=83. Bob’s daughter Davya Flaharty also got edged out for the most K’s among women, with 69 – Megan Corazza of Homer skied 70Km.

    Other noteworthy performances: 64-year-old Tom Wickwire skied his age in Km; 62-year-old Andy Blossy skied 70Km. Libby Burgess (age 55) and Norma Haubenstock (age 54) were the two oldest women to ski their ages.

    The Del Alba-Strehl family had the most participants (8) and the Kerndt-Mayo family had six particpants.

    Tania and Tobben Spurkland and their son Jan and Megan Corazza achieved a “Quadruple Century” totaling more than 400 in years and Kilometers skied.

    The more one looks at the data, the more interesting performances one sees.

    FXC and the NSCF would like to thank the title sponsor Wells Fargo, the presenting sponsor Banner Health, and all the FXC parents and supporters who helped out with the event.

    Below are lists of:

    * skiers who skied their ages,

    * skiers who achieved the “Century” award (total of age in years + kilometers skied = 100 or greater)

    * skiers who achieved the 50-50 standard (50 years old or older and skied 50Km or more)

    * families of 3 (ranked by total kilometers skied)

    * families of 4 or more (ranked by total kilometers skied)

    * couples (ranked by total kilometers skied)

    * “Double Century” rankings (total of ages in years + total of kilometers skied by a couple = 200 or more [all couples listed, even if under 200Km])

    Results in the many other categories will be available tomorrow on the NSCF’s website.

    ============================================

    Skiers who skied their ages, listed from oldest to youngest (age in parentheses) – 115 achieved this standard:

    Tom Wickwire (64)

    Andrew Blossy (62)

    Kes Woodward (57)

    Libby Burgess (55)

    Norma Haubenstock (54)

    Gary Knuepfer (52)

    Will Putman (51)

    David Edic (51)

    Kent Karns (50)

    Roger Sayre (50)

    Donovan Granger (50)

    Bad Bob Baker (50)

    Sharon Baker (50)

    Corrine Leistikow (49)

    Susan Faulkner (49)

    Tim Prusak (49)

    Susan Kerndt (49)

    Jim Herriges (48)

    Eric Troyer (48)

    Darren Rorabaugh (48)

    Tina Devine (47)

    Gary Holton (44)

    Christine Matson (43)

    Cathy Weeg (41)

    Mike Kramer (40)

    Martin Truffer (40)

    Sergei Streltsov (39)

    Dorte Dissing (39)

    Peter Fix (38)

    Ed Plumb (37)

    Eugenie Euskizchen (37)

    Ann Farris (37)

    Max Kaufman (37)

    John Shook (36)

    Erik Brunner (35)

    Chris Garber-Slaght (33)

    Steffan Oppel (33)

    Robbin Garber-Slaght (33)

    Matthew Klick (32)

    Lalida Crawford (31)

    Jan Spurkland (30)

    Megan Corazza (30)

    Mary Brunner (29)

    Harald Aas (28)

    Brandy Reeves (25)

    Laura Gutierrez (25)

    Davya Baker Flaharty (23)

    Connor Cole (23)

    Adele Mery (21)

    Nick Ferree (21)

    Brett Broda (21)

    Olivia Karns (19)

    Reese Hanneman (19)

    Erica Blake (19)

    Jordan Buetow (18)

    Willie Via (18)

    Anna Deveraux (18)

    Coty Mayo (18)

    David Durst (18)

    David Norris (18)

    Josh Branham (18)

    Ian Wilkinson (18)

    Stephanie Whisenhant (17)

    Jacob Remington (17)

    Carl Richmond (17)

    Marisa Rorabaugh (17)

    Keith Hoza (17)

    Wyatt Mayo (16)

    Matt Stoller (16)

    Mary Strehl (16)

    Logan Hanneman (15)

    Kipp Wilkinson (15)

    Patrick Nugent (15)

    Michelle Strehl (15)

    Mason Anderson (15)

    Elizabeth Whisenhant (15)

    Hannah Boyer (15)

    Simon Viavant (15)

    Sarah King (15)

    Nina Ruckhaus (15)

    Eliza Rorabaugh (15)

    Ema Mayo (14)

    Sarah Jackson (14)

    Kieran O’Neil (14)

    Kyle Hanson (14)

    Claire Ferree (14)

    Mikayla Hamlin (14)

    Flora Kielland (14)

    Helen Walker (14)

    Maura Barry-Garland (14)

    Maya French (14)

    Sydney Stone (14)

    Riley Troyer (14)

    Nichole Rood (14)

    Aven Bross (14)

    Mikko Sayre (13)

    Alicia Lenze (13)

    Cory Johnson (13)

    Mason Strehl (12)

    Tristan Sayre (11)

    Kiana Hamlin (11)

    Joe Bue (11)

    Amber Lenze (10)

    Logan Mowry (10)

    Matthew Strehl (10)

    Jenna DiFolco (9)

    Maya Yoshikawa (9)

    Quinn Vinlove (9)

    Else Mayo (8)

    Emma Jerome (8)

    Eric DiFolco (6)

    Christine Del Alba (6)

    Alden Jerome (6)

    Lars Vinlove (5)

    Florin Del Alba (4)

     

    ============================================

     

    CENTURY (Age + Kilometers Skied >= 100) – 34 achieved this (name, age/km)

    Don Lokken, 71/33

    Tobben Spurkland, 68/35

    Tom Wickwire, 64/64

    Bob Perkins, 63/42

    Andrew Blossy, 62/70

    Tania Spurkland, 60/44

    James Mery, 58/44

    Frank Soos, 58/42

    Kes Woodward, 57/61

    Jerome Jackson, 57/45

    Libby Burgess, 55/55

    Terry Schmidt, 55/50

    Chris Puchner, 55/45

    Eric Buetow, 55/45

    Norma Haubenstock, 54/55

    Gary Knuepfer, 52/55

    Will Putman, 51/56

    David Edic, 51/51

    Kent Karns, 50/57

    Roger Sayre, 50/51

    Donovan Granger, 50/51

    Bad Bob Baker, 50/50

    Sharon Baker, 50/50

    Corrine Leistikow, 49/51

    Susan Faulkner, 49/51

    Jim Herriges, 48/60

    Eric Troyer, 48/52

    Tina Devine, 47/53

    Gary Holton, 44/57

    Peter Fix, 38/63

    Ed Plumb, 37/63

    John Shook, 36/84

    Jan Spurkland, 30/70

    Megan Corazza, 30/70

     

    ===============================

     

    50-50 (Over 50 years old, 50 Kilometers or more skied) – 14 achieved this (name, age/km):

    Tom Wickwire, 64/64

    Andrew Blossy, 62/70

    Kes Woodward, 57/61

    Libby Burgess, 55/55

    Terry Schmidt, 55/50

    Norma Haubenstock, 54/55

    Gary Knuepfer, 52/55

    Will Putman, 51/56

    David Edic, 51/51

    Kent Karns, 50/57

    Roger Sayre, 50/51

    Donovan Granger, 50/51

    Bad Bob Baker, 50/50

    Sharon Baker, 50/50

     

    =================================

     

    Family of 3 (ranked by total Kilometers skied)

    Rank/Family Name/Number of family members/Total Km Skied/Family Member and Km Skied

    1. Baker, 202 (Bob 83, Davya 69, Sharon 50)

    2. Spurkland, 149 (Jan 70, Tania 44, Tobben 35)

    3. Mery, 101 (Jim 44, Adele 42, Rikke 15)

    4. Schmidt, 74 (Terry 50, Jennifer 17, Ingrid 7)

    4. Carter-Cole, 74 (Connor 32, Dermot 25, Debbie Carter 17)

    6. French-Allen, 71 (Jim 35, Claudia 21, Maya 15)

    7. Ruckhaus, 63 (Mike 43, Nina 15, Thea 5)

    7. Granger, 63 (Donavan 51, Dorian 8, Claire 4)

    9. Ferree, 59 (Nick 31, Claire 16, Diane 12)

    10. DiFolco, 49 (Donna 10, Jenna 10, Eric 6)

    11. Hajdukovich, 30 (Mike 30, Steffan, Jade)

    12. Paskvan, 26 (Adam 10, Jacob 10, Susan 6)

    13. Vinlove, 25 (Dirk 10, Quinn 10, Lars 5)

    14. Chiu-Yoshikawa, 20 (Maya 10, Kent 5, Arva Chiu 5)

    15. O’Brien-Wooler (Matt, Owen, Diane)

     

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    Family of 4 or more (ranked by total Kilometers skied)

    Rank/Family Name/Number of family members/Total Km Skied/Family Member and Km Skied

    1. Kerndt-Mayo (6 family members), 143 (Susan 50, Wyatt 37, Ema 22, Coty 18, Eric 8, Else 8)

    2. Faulkner-Rorabaugh (4), 137 (Darren 51, Susan 51, Marisa 20, Eliza 15)

    3. Sayre (4), 123 (Roger 51, Tamara 32, Mikko 22, Tristan 18)

    4. Leistikow-Troyer (4), 122 (Eric 52, Corrine 51, Riley 14, Montana 5)

    6. Hanneman (4), 110 (Karl 28, Nancy 28, Reese 27, Logan 27)

    6. Wilkinson (4), 98 (Bob 28, Deb 27, Kipp 25, Ian 18)

    7. Hamlin (5), 76 (Ginger 30, Mikayla 15, Jeff 14, Kiana 14, Ethan 3)

    8. Del Alba-Strehl (8), 76 (Michelle 16, Mary 16, Mason 13, Matthew 10, Dorin 6, Christine 6, Lisa 5, Florin 4)

     

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    Couple (total Kilometers skied)

    1. Megan Corazza (70) Jan Spurkland (70) 140

    2. John Shook (84) Tina Devine (53) 137

    3. Bad Bob Baker (83) Sharon Baker (50) 133

    4. Peter Fix (63) Eugenie Euskirchen (57) 120

    5. Eric Troyer (52) Corrine Leistikow (51) 103

    6. Susan Faulkner (51) Darren Rorabaugh (51) 102

    7. Gary Knuepfer (55) MaryKatherine Romberg (43) 98

    8. Davya Baker Flaharty (69) Tyson Flaharty (19) 88

    9. Roger Sayre (51) Tamara Sayre (32) 83

    10. Bjarke Bennedsen (40) Dorte Dissing (40) 80

    11. Tania Spurkland (44) Tobben Spurkland (35) 79

    12. Chris Garber-Slaght (45) Robbin Garber-Slaght (33) 78

    13. Norma Haubenstock (55) John Estle (21) 76

    14. Erik Brunner (36) Mary Brunner (36) 72

    15. Terry Schmidt (50) Jennifer Schmidt (17) 67

    16. Matthew Klick (32) Lalida Crawford (32) 64

    17. Jim Gillis (30) Karin Gillis (30) 60

    18. James Mery (44) Rikke Mery (15) 59

    19. Susan Kerndt (50) Eric Mayo (8) 58

    20. Jim Allen (35) Claudia French (21) 56

    20. Nancy Hanneman (28) Karl Hanneman (28) 56

    20. Don Lokken (33) Carol Lokken (23) 56

    23. Robert Wilkinson (28) Deb Wilkinson (27) 55

    24. Tom DeLong (30) Ann DeLong (20) 50

    25. Daniel Johnson (25) Margaret Brophy (21) 46

    26. Ginger Hamlin (30) Jeff Hamlin (14) 44

    27. Dermot Cole (25) Debbie Carter (17) 42

    28. Owen Q Hanley (27) Anne Hanley (10) 37

    29. Lynn Ballam (15) James Ballam (15) 30

    30. Dorin Del Alba (6) Lisa Del Alba (5) 11

     

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    Double Century (Ages of couple plus kilometers skied by couple = 200)

    1. Bad Bob Baker (50/83) Sharon Baker (50/50) 233

    2. John Shook (36/84) Tina Devine (47/53) 220

    3. Tania Spurkland (60/44) Tobben Spurkland (68/35) 207

    4. Gary Knuepfer (52/55) MaryKatherine Romberg (50/43) 200

    4. Eric Troyer (48/52) Corrine Leistikow (49/51) 200

    4. Megan Corazza (30/70) Jan Spurkland (30/70) 200

     

    The couples below did not meet the Double Century standard, but are listed in order of Km skied:

    7. Susan Faulkner (49/51) Darren Rorabaugh (48/51) 199

    8. Peter Fix (38/63) Eugenie Euskirchen (37/57) 195

    9. Norma Haubenstock (54/55) John Estle (56/21) 186

    10. Terry Schmidt (55/50) Jennifer Schmidt (58/17) 180

    11. Roger Sayre (50/51) Tamara Sayre (46/32) 179

    12. Don Lokken (71/33) Carol Lokken (51/23) 178

    13. Dorte Dissing (39/40) Bjarke Bennedsen (41/40) 160

    13. Owen Q Hanley (65/27) Anne Hanley (62/10) 160

    13. James Mery (58/44) Rikke Mery (53/15) 160

    13. Robert Wilkinson (52/28) Deb Wilkinson (53/27) 160

    17. Karin Gillis (47/30) Jim Gillis (50/30) 157

    18. Jim Allen (51/35) Claudia French (49/21) 156

    18. Karl Hanneman (50/28) Nancy Hanneman (50/28) 156

    20. Daniel Johnson (55/25) Margaret Brophy (54/21) 155

    21. Susan Kerndt (49/50) Eric Mayo (45/8) 152

    22. Dermot Cole (55/25) Debbie Carter (53/17) 150

    23. Tom DeLong (48/30) Ann DeLong (48/20) 146

    24. James Ballam (59/15) Lynn Ballam (55/15) 144

    24. Chris Garber-Slaght (33/45) Robbin Garber-Slaght (33/33) 144

    26. Mary Brunner (29/36) Erik Brunner (35/36) 136

    27. Davya Baker Flaharty (23/69) Tyson Flaharty (23/19) 134

    28. Ginger Hamlin (41/30) Jeff Hamlin (43/14) 128

    29. Matthew Klick (32/32) Lalida Crawford (31/32) 127

    30. Dorin Del Alba (50/6) Lisa Del Alba (42/5) 103