More on the Grizzly!

Tim Mowry, Logan's dad, picked up the story of our Grizzly for the News-Miner - you can read more here.

Another angle of the tracks

One Last Hurrah!

The Prep team had their end of the season ski trip this past weekend.  This year we opted to stay about 30 miles outside of town at Twin Bears Camp and head for a couple of day trips.  The lodging was nice and rustic with just a propane range and wood stoves for heat - no electricity or running water.  Sometimes that simplicity can create a great environment for this sort of thing.  Instead of plopping in front of the TV, the athletes interact with each other during their down time, whether it is playing soccer in rubber boots, infection (a great version of tag that I was introduced to this weekend), eating meals, toasting s'mores or playing cards.

Saturday we hiked in about a mile and then did a 14-mile ski to and from the Stiles Creek Cabin.  Despite low-snow and open patches near the trail head and on certain uphills and downhills, the conditions were the best skiing I've ever had on the trail with consistent kick from top to bottom on firm corn snow that gradually softened through the day.  The two highlights of the day were navigating downhills with open patches and seeing Grizzly tracks on top of our ski tracks from the morning as we made our way back to the trailhead!  Spring is here!

Sunday we met up with the Jr. Devo Team for an abortive ski up Angel Creek trail.  We skied at most 200 meters from the trailhead until the snow ran out, put on our rubber boots and then went for a hike.  On the bright side, it was great practice with klister (applying AND cleaning) for all the Prep teamers, and great to see them pitching in and helping the Jr. Devo kids with their boards.  After our short hike up the ridge we all went to Chena Hot Springs for a soak - quite a relaxing way to end the season!

Pictures from the trip:

The dark interior, wood tables and Nick's thoughtful look makes me feel like this picture could be from a mountain hut somewhere in Europe.

The approach on Saturday

Klistering up

Deriene and Nick reach the top of the ridge

It looks like something is calling Deriene

Checking out Joe's GPS

Nick went old school for the trip

The crew after seven miles of the Stiles Creek trail

Grizzly Tracks!

At the trail head with the Jr. Devo and Prep Teams Saturday morning.  30 min of waxing practice before 200 meters of skiing.

The end of the ski, and beginning of the hike.

Rocky IV has nothing on Eric and Ti

Ryan B and Emma J

Alex A-A

Pretty tired after a long weekend: Ti on the drive back to Fairbanks.

 

Sunday Funday!

We finished up the season (officially) on Sunday with the NSCF-FXC Slush Cup followed by a BBQ and a slideshow and some awards.  It was a great, festive way to end it all! 

Below is a collection of pictures courtesy of Karl Kowalski.  More photos can be found on his site

Musings from a Recon Day

As the crew in Finland wraps up their trip and starts the long journey home in the next couple of days, we're experiencing the best spring skiing I can remember in my 6 winters here. 

Today I scouted the mushing trails and UAF for training session that will be happening later this week in one awesome hour and a half ski from Creamers Field.  While I half expected it to be dirty and icy, mixed with sopping slow mashed potatoes, it was still quite fast.  While it is definitely melting, particularly near spots with dark ground or vegetation exposed to sunlight, there were still areas where the snow could only be described as dry and powdery.

As I pondered what the root of the dryer, colder areas was (heavier spruce vegetation blocking the sunlight? Permafrost underneath?  Neither?  Both?), I couldn't help but think of a line I read from a story by Ned Rozell in the Sunday News-Miner some weeks ago:

It endures today because, despite the illusion of Alaska's summers, cold is king here.

Good enough reason for me today, and a great reason to be a skier in this town.

A couple pictures from today's trail condition reconnaissance:

April 8, 2012 Race 3- Yllas, Finland

We got up early and drove the two hours north to Yllas, Finland. The cross-country area is right below the down-hill area and we got to watch the down-hilll skiers enjoy the slopes all day. The course was really challenging and makes Birch Hill look easy… The course had beautiful views the whole time and a 3.3Km climb. It was hard, but I felt very accomplished after the race. It was a sunny, hot day on the trails and we are all getting a bit of sun. I am excited for the last race tomorrow.

-Claire

The course was a bit challenging today, but it was an awesome experience. It felt difficult, but at the same time it was fun. I was glad after my race with my performance, and I was glad it was classic for the first race in the series. Im looking forward to tomorrow!

-Eliza

Well I have had better days, after a solid 4km up hill I crashed when going on a downhill with another skier.  We got a little tangled and I ended up in the snow bank.  I got up and my chest hurt. I was able to finish the race but it hurt really bad and it could have been the worst race of my season. But luckily there is still one more race so I’m moving on from today and hopefully tomorrow will go really super.  The sun was so warm today and it was nice to finally feel spring!

-Neill

The course today was incredibly challenging and rewarding. After the first km, I was already feeling burning in my arms and legs. The race felt like one giant uphill climb, and it took a lot to keep pushing up the hills and towards the finish. However, in the end, it was great to cross that line and collapse in the snow! Last race tomorrow and I can only hope the conditions will be as beautiful as they were today!

-Kira

The weather has been incredibly warm with each race! I think I am actually getting color on my face after not seeing the sun for 6 months. The race was pretty sweet but very challenging. It pretty much kept climbing upward for the first three kilometers, and then had some crazy downhill corners at the end.  It was definitely one of the hardest 5kms that I have done before that wasn’t at Birch Hill.

-Mikayla

Tornio Race- by Mikayla

The course was extremely pleasant and easy to ski; it made it very fast and fun! The event was huge and exciting to see so many good competitors. I enjoyed the first day of a full weekend of racing on Easter break!

PELLO- RACE TWO

On the first race day the coaches and athletes were interview for the local Tornio paper. Our pictures were taken and the reporter showed up at the races today with 11 copies of the local Tornio News Paper for our group. The front page was a huge picture of our very own KIRA looking very intense and concentrated skating strong. There was a huge article in the paper about Team Alaska being from America and what we have done on our trip. There is also a picture of Neill racing with all of us girls cheering for him in the background. We have yet to figure out what the article actually says because it is in Finnish, but google translator will be helpful for that. It was really cool to be a part of these races and get recognized- Claire

Pello Race- by Mikayla

The course was challenging for the first few kilometers but then went by fast for the second half of the race. There were many fast downhills and a couple very steep inclines. The race was very competitive with the only two Japanese girls taking 1^st and 2^nd in my age group (N18).

Pello Race- By Kira

The race today was more challenging technically and strategically I thought. There were a couple really steep, long uphills but a lot of fast downs and rolling sections too. I had a good race despite the constant burning in my tired legs. Eliza started behind me and I lead the way for most of the course. I was super excited and was able to stick with her to the finish once she passed me. Anyways, all in all, a very good day for the US team! I think we all are starting to feel a bit tired and sore, but are looking forward to classic races tomorrow and Monday. Happy Easter!

Pello- by Claire

The race actually went pretty well today considering my pre-cautions. I worked on my breathing specifically and it worked out well for me. It was the best I have done on a super hilly course and I am positive about the next two days.

Pello- by Neill

If I compare my good race from yesterday I’m not super happy but all and all the race today went pretty well.  I was only pasted by a few people and apparently they were top 5 finishers yesterday.  The course today was a lot more challenging because of the steep hills but there were a lot of fun downhill’s to coast on and to regain some strength.  It’s exciting to see so many fast people in one place and thrilling to know I’ll be racing them tomorrow!!!

Pello- By Ema

To days race was one of the most fun fastest races I have had this year. It has been really fun to ski in such nice worm weather against so many fast people. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s classic race.

Pello-By Eliza

Today’s race was a sweet, hilly course, but not one that exactly played to my strengths. I just went out and tried to enjoy the course, playing with pacing off of Kira for a bit, who started 30 seconds in front of me, before picking it up and trying to focus on the speed of the course and its final downhills. I was pretty pleased with my result, and felt that it was an ok skate race. Excited for some classic races!

April 6, 2012 Race Day 2

Today was super exciting! Our first big race of the trip, and my first FIS race. We had an early morning and drove south to Tornio, Finland before the first racers went out so that we got an opportunity to ski the course. Then we drove back into town and were able to hang out in a café/shopping mall center for a few hours before our races. There were over 650 racers today so our start times weren’t until late afternoon. Everyone had an awesome race and had a lot of fun. I have been a bit out of sorts and feeling unwell, but pulled it together and had a blast out on the course. The snow was fast and it was sunny and warm. I earned my first ever FIS points and am told by Nick that they are pretty good (although I am slightly clueless to the system) so I am happy! There was a lot of good competition and I think we all performed our best. We were interviewed and photographed for the local newspaper, as they are running a story on our travels and skiing here in Lapland. We also saw Vahur Teppan, a former UAF skier from Estonia who is here for the races with his team.  It is awesome to be a part of the skiing community on such a large scale, and to feel so involved and welcomed. What a great exerience!!

               -Kira Leonard

We had an awesome day today! I raced well despite being the first to start in my age group since I didn’t have an FIS points but I tend to race better when I’m not pacing off on someone else so it was great to ski my own race and do pretty well.  I had to do two laps which was cool because I love 10k’s and this course really had all on my strengths in it.  The wax today was really good and the temperatures were well above frezzing.  Its exciting to finally get some FIS points and hopefully they will come in handy later in life if I ski in college.

               -Neill Toelle

Today was quite the experience. The snow was fast and our skis were faster-thanks to Nick. It was so warm, I love being able to just wear my spandex and not five layers underneath for the cold winters in Fairbanks. I met a girl from Finland who went to the J1 Scando Trip in Estonia- the one Kyle went on in february- and she had on a USA jacket and we talked about the race and Finland. She was really nice. The race went well and I am getting even more excited for the next three.

-Claire Ferree

I had a really fun race. The wax was awesome, Thanks Nick!! It was really warm and there was a lot of fast people to race against. I am excited about tomorrow’s race.

               -Ema Mayo

Today was my first race in Europe! It was exciting to see all the different people from across the world (a girl from Japan won the J1 girls race), and to race against the great competition. It was a fun race from the beginning, and it was very quick and sunny throughout the rest. I felt pretty good, getting back into the racing mindset, and had a pretty good finish. Kira and I crossed the line very close together, which was fun. Now, that there is one race down, im getting psyched for the other three!

-        Eliza Rorabaugh

We'll be in touch with Mikayla's race story tomorrow, as she is in the other room down the road.

Erica with the skier statue in Pello

Linky with the skis!

flags in the race venue

Ready to RACE!

Ema before the race.

Claire in the start

Mikayla's strong start

Ema coming into the finish

Kira and Eliza finishing

Linky at the finish

With Vahur Teppan!

The girls (minus Ema)

Neill skiing strong!