5 things to do in the Mat-Su: Weekend of Aug. 4, 2017

Wasilla Centennial celebration: Valley Fitness Expo

Another Wasilla Centennial event floods the Curtis D. Menard Center — the Valley Fitness Expo, Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The event was founded on three principles, “eat well, play hard and your fitness.” It will be chock-full of educational and entertaining activities including seminars, cooking and fitness demonstrations, group classes, health screenings, contests, prizes, and resources for fitness professionals. Food trucks, a “fresh market” with local crops and more than 100 vendors will be on-site throughout the day.

According to the event website, all levels of fitness, from amateur to pro are welcome to attend the expo — from a Zumba Dance Party for all levels to try, to the Centennial Bodybuilding Show, where muscular contestants can “show off their hard work.” There will be a variety of activities to choose from with the mission to “enhance the overall health and the quality of life for the entire family through education.”

Tying in with the 100-year anniversary of Wasilla, there will be some historical components to the expo as well, like the H2 OH! Swimsuit Fashion Show. It will illustrate the history of swimsuits throughout the decades with some information what was going on in Wasilla at the time.

Former Anchorage Mayor Rick Mystrom will be the keynote speaker, and will have a book signing for the release of his third book. Mystrom is a “Nationally Acknowledged Expert on Healthy Eating,” according to the event website. He has written three books on healthy eating and avoiding or reversing Type 2 diabetes.

Mystrom, 73, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 20. He credits his good health to eating right and staying active. He has given himself more than 60,000 blood sugar tests to understand which foods will raise blood sugar the most and add the most weight and which foods will raise blood sugar the least and take weight off.

The expo concludes with the Centennial Bodybuilding show with seven categories: Wasilla Centennial High School Mr. & Miss fit, Fitness Class, Bikini Class, Figure Class, Women’s Physique Class, Men’s Physique Class and Men’s Bodybuilding Class.

The winners of each class will then move on to compete for the Overall Mr. & Ms. Wasilla Centennial.

REQUIRED: Athlete check in: Friday Aug 4, 6pm. Menard Center Meeting Room REQUIRED: Athlete meeting: Saturday Aug 5, 2pm. Menard Center Ladies’ and Mens’ Locker Rooms. Pre-Judging starts at 4pm – short intermission, followed by Finals.

Valley Fitness Expo Schedule:

TimeLocationEvent DetailsAll DayOutsideFood Truck AlleyAll DayTurfEXPOAll DayOutsideFresh Market AK9:00 amMain StageNational Anthem9:30 amMain StageZUMBA Dance Party10:30 amMain StageKeynote Speaker: Rick Mystrom talk about diabetes12:00 pmMain StageH2 OH! Swimsuit Fashion Show1:00 pmMain StageRick Mystrom, Q&A & Book Signing1:00 pm – 1:30 pmTurf – EXPORobot build time3:00 pm – 3:30 pmTurf – EXPOWasilla FrostByte and Eagle River Wolves compete4:00 pmMain StageWasilla Centennial Bodybuilding Show

Matanuska Peak Challenge

Saturday at 9 a.m. is the annual Matanuska Peak Challenge. This is a “strenuous,” 14-mile race that ascends Lazy Mountain, descends the backside of the mountain, then the course gains more elevation on the ridge connecting Lazy Mountain to Matanuska Peak. From there, a “primitive” trail descends into the Matanuska Peak Bowl where it joins the Matanuska Peak Trail (McRoberts Creek). The Matanuska Peak Trail is used to summit Matanuska Peak before the route is run in reverse. The race is hosted by the Alaska Mountain Runners, a non-profit organization based in Anchorage that has the goal of stimulating participation in mountain running events and trail maintenance projects, increasing the enjoyment and respect of natural resources and the environment, and educating with an “athletic and healthy lifestyle.”

According to the event website, “If you didn't get enough elevation gain traveling in one direction, don't worry! The return course is what you just conquered, in reverse.”

With 9,100-foot vertical gain, the race has been described as, “strenuous, technical, and often rocky.”

According to the event website, “This is a route to test your mettle on. Along the way, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views in addition to your sense of accomplishment.”

Race information:

Entry: $30

Mandatory gear: windbreaker top and bottom, long underwear top and bottom, hat, gloves, water bottle.

For more information, contact: Braun Kopsack at 746-5133 or Lance Kopsack at 745-5966.

Website: http://www.alaskamountainrunners.org/calendar.htm#mpc

Viking ax demonstration

Full-time Californian blacksmith, Jim Austin is visiting the Arctic Fires Bronze Studio to demonstrate how to forge traditional Viking style axes and how to craft blister steel. Saturday will be the axe demonstration and Sunday is the blister steel demonstration, an “old fashioned” way to add carbon to low carbon materials.

Austin will instruct students about the process and historical background as he crafts his products in live demonstrations. He travelled through Norway and Sweden to immerse in the history and technical details required to emulate the Viking process- to blacksmith as they did in their day. He said axes were made very differently than they are today. Most of the work was “making the hole.”

Vikings didn’t have the privilege of powered presses to punch holes through metal. Austin said the Viking ax is a “very basic ax” but forging it requires the working knowledge of how they were actually forged; otherwise, “you would never guess what the process is.”

“They actually formed the metal in this really complex way and wrapped it around and then welded it back to itself,” Austin said. “They left a gap there and the gap was carefully hammered out into the hole.”

He compared the process to chess; saying, “everything had to be planned out.”

“It shows strategy and skilled use with basic tools and how powerful they are, how they can get you around problems and create all new opportunities. That’s what blacksmithing is all about anyway,” Austin said.

Both demonstrations begin at 10 a.m. It cost $130 to take both courses. The Arctic Fires Bronze Studio is located at 15615 Outer Springer Loop.

For additional information, contact Pat Garley: 745-5527 / garleyp@gci.net

Local Filipino community hosts 6th Annual Summer Luau & Potluck

Say aloha Saturday to the annual Summer Barbeque, hosted by the Filipino-American Community of Mat-Su - Kabayan Inc. There will be a “famous Filipino roasted pig” that takes about six hours to prepare and was donated by Kabayan board members. There will also be other dishes provided by the group and an assortment of games to play, harkening to the “time of our youth.”

The Filipino-American Community of Mat-Su became an official nonprofit organization two years ago. It currently has about 13 members. According to the president and event coordinator, Lhing McNeal, they are always seeking more members, so they can unite, securing their traditions, values and sense of community to future generations.

According to the Kabayan website, their mission is, “to promote culture, tradition and unite every Filipino-American in Alaska so that we can provide effective program and services to every Alaskans regardless of race and ethnicity through cultural, charitable and educational services.”

The group has many events throughout the year, including Halloween and Christmas parties. The event is open to the public. They welcome any and all new faces to show up to one of these events and learn more about what they do. When one family member enrolls, McNeal explained, their entire surname is blanketed under them, so they all are members after just one registration.

“Filipinos love to party,” McNeal said. “We always help each other out.”

For more information about the luau potluck or the Filipino-American Community of Matsu-Kabayan Inc., call 907-322-9463

Visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/filipinoamericancommunityofmatsu/

Musk Ox Farm hosts 15th annual ‘Running with the Bulls’

The bulls are back for another race at the Musk Ox Farm.

Since 2002, every first Sunday of August, participating racers have the choice of a 10k run or the 5k run/walk, both alongside more than 82 musk oxen that occupy the farm. Racers will not be actually running with the musk oxen, rather they will be separated by fences and running through a “challenging” trail course, cutting through the pastures. There will also be a 1k Kids Fun-Run.

All proceeds fund the non-profit farm, helping the costs to care for the animals.

Spectators are more then welcome to come and watch the runners, listen to great live music, enjoy fabulous food, and take a chance at winning some incredible prizes. Kid’s Fun-Run begins at 1pm Sunday, August 3rd, with the other races following shortly after.

According to the website, the event is an “Alaskan one-of-a-kind race,” not to be missed. It was described as, “a way to share the delights of the farm and its animals with the local community through the enjoyment of running.”

Bib pick-up on the day of the race starts at 11 a.m.

The kids 1k fun run starts at 1 p.m. with other races following shortly after.

Bib pick up for pre-registered runners is Aug. 5 from 2-5:30 p.m.