Alaska Cup

Alaska Cup Weekend is in the books. Our first college races of the year, and our annual early-season showdown with the Nanooks from University of Alaska Fairbanks was contested this weekend in the Susitna Valley. We were pleased with our performance, considering that it's still early December. Our returning skiers are better skiers now than they have been in the past, and our new skiers are contributing and scoring points.  All is on track as we prepare for the racing season, and we were satisfied with the weekend. 

Saturday was an individual-start skate race; 10km for the men and 5km for the women. We raced at Government Peak Recreation Area.  

You can't go into a race weekend like this without a strategy. So on Friday we all got together in the UAA Ski Room and tried to come up with a good strategy.

The alpiners came out to Government Peak to support us, and we appreciated it!

When the alpiners weren't out beside the race trail screaming their lungs out for us, they were poking around in the woods, looking at nature and stuff. Nicole found this little vole someplace, and they became friends. Nicole is from Canadia. Last year, we had a different Canadian on our team. His name is Marcus Von Deuling and he's from the Yukon. When Marcus isn't ski racing, he's a hunting guide. It was great having Marcus around because he always spotted and pointed out interesting wildlife, even when the rest of us didn't notice. If Marcus was still on this team, and Nicole was not, this little vole would likely have been turned into little steaks or small hat or something. But Marcus has graduated, and Nicole is a freshman. For all I know, Marcus and Nicole might not even know each other, even though they're both from Canadia.  Sometimes, when I don't have anything more interesting to think about, I wonder what would happen if this little vole was noticed by Marcus and Nicole at the exact same time?  Would he (or she) become a little hat?  Or would the little vole make a new friend?  But that's a hypothetical question, and it probably isn't an efficient use of my time to think about that question for too much longer.

Here's Magnum.  He won both college races.

Corey

That's Jenna in the green. The Nanook in front is Mariel Pulles, the day's winner.

Trevor

Magnum won. JC was second. Espen was third.

Mariel Pulles won. Jenna was second. Anna was third.

The Alaska Cup is a college race.  But we allow extra skiers to race if they want, because why not?  So I should mention here that the men's overall winner, both days, was last year's World Junior Champion, Gus Schumacher. 

Sunday, it was time for mass-start classic races at Hatcher Pass.  15km for the men and 10km for the women. 

We had a shaky start to the day.  It had been snowing overnight, the road up Hatcher Pass hadn't been plowed, it was dark and snowing, and UAF's team van was unable to make it up the hill. By the time all the coaches had arrived at the start area, a serious discussion was needed to decide whether we could hold the race at all.  It was determined that, out of concern for safety on the road, we should tell the athletes not to attempt to drive up the hill.  We would cancel Day 2 of the Alaska Cup and we would all go back to Anchorage for some kind of a group workout or something... All the coaches loaded up and started heading down the hill, only to see the snowplows coming up, plowing and sanding!  The day was saved!  We all did a U-turn and drove the mile or so back up to the top of the pass, and it was game on!

This is a secret wax that I'm applying to this ski. So I can't tell you what it is. I'm sorry.

Marine was the starter for the men's race.

Hey, Look who came out to watch!  it's Dede Allen, Seawolf Associate Athletic Director!

The elevation at the finish was much higher elevation than the start. Head Coach Sparky made the trek up the hill, after the start, to catch the finish. It was a nice morning for a walk.

Natalie

Jenna is from Fairbanks. She likes to keep Fairbanksy things around to remind her of home. Remember how in the photo from yesterday's race, she was skiing with Mariel Pulles from Fairbanks?  She's doing it again here. It's just the way Jenna rolls. 

The Seawolf alpiners were out to support us.  You may have noticed that Nicole was supporting us yesterday, too, at Government Peak (and befriending voles). Today she geared up with a pair of skis. Here's a Canadian culture quiz for you:  Which of these Seawolves is from Calgary, and how can you tell?
(**answer below)

Natalie Hynes won the race today.

Here's Hannah, and Marine.

Hannah.  About 50 meters to go.

Post-race review.

There are a lot of people who set their alarms very early to come out, of their own free will, and help us stage the Alaska Cup this weekend.  I'm not going to try to name them all, but Bob Stehn was the timer, Ed Strabel had everything set up for us at Government Peak on Saturday when we arrived, Mark Strabel spent the early-morning driving around Hatcher Pass in a Pisten Bully 100, and a bunch of folks drove up to The Valley from Eagle River and Anchorage to help out. Thanks to all!

Next year, it'll be back to Fairbanks for the Alaska Cup.

(**answer:  Liam is from Calgary. You can tell because he wears jeans to go skiing. Calgary is full of cowboys.)