Girdwood

Racing was on our docket for this past weekend, at the Government Peak ski trails about an hour north of town. But our recent snowstorm hit Anchorage and Girdwood, south of town. It missed the Mat-Su Valley north of town. So the Government Peak races were canceled due to a lack of snow. In their place, we got together with Alaska Pacific University and University of Alaska Fairbanks for a couple of time trials. Saturday was 8km classic in Girdwood. Sunday was 9km skating at Kincaid Park. 

In terms of competitive fields, Saturday's race in Girdwood might be the toughest race we'll do all year. On the men's side, several APU skiers are headed off to Europe tomorrow to spend their winter on the World Cup circuit, including Gus Schumacher (who was seeded first yesterday, with just a measly two FIS points). And on the women's side, it's tough to find a faster skier than Rosie Brennan, the top-seeded skier in Saturday's race.

Deb Essex is running the show at the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, and she's got tons of energy and enthusiasm. When we asked her if it would be OK if we had our time trial in Girdwood, she fired up the grooming equipment and set a classic track for us, and welcomed us with huge jugs of sport drink, hot cocoa, donut holes and pastries. She also brought Girdwood Nordic Ski Club hats for the podium finishers, and wool socks for everyone there that day. Deb and the Club went WAY above and beyond - she turned an early-season time trial into a bona fide ski race!  Thank you to the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club - it was a great way to start our racing season!

Check out some photos from Girdwood, below. Gunnar Knapp, the renowned (and retired) UAA economist, was out on the trails taking photos and he was kind enough to send a bunch of them to us.  All the good photos of our Skiwolves on the race course were taken by Gunnar. All of the blurry and poorly-framed ones were taken by me. 

That's Deb Essex on the right. She turned our little early season time trial into a bona fide ski race! Gus Schumacher is on the left.

Trond and Chase, waxing up the classic skis

Matt Seline. Ready to race!

Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, in case you were wondering where we were on Saturday.

Henry Skjønsfjell on the starting line.

Murphy Kimball

Ethan Eski

Hermod Bangstad

Parke Chapin

Erling Bjørnstad

Garrett Siever

Corbin Carpenter

Matt Seline

Henry

Hermod

Dashe McCabe

Hedda Halvari

Constance Lapointe

Alex Otto

Marit Flora

Marlie Molinaro

Here's APU Head Coach Erik Flora thanking Deb Essex for hosting us all in Girdwood. Thanks Deb!  And thanks to the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club!