5 things to do in the Mat-Su: Weekend of July 28, 2017

With only a couple weekends left before the kids start heading back to school, many of us may feel “robbed” by this summer’s weather. For many Alaskans (who don’t have to go back to school), summer isn’t really over until everything cools down in September. So, until we are snowed in, there are still windows of opportunity to chase the fleeting sun.

Alaska’s strongest compete in Palmer

PALMER — On Saturday, 15 strength athletes from across the state will compete in the 2017 Alaska Strongman Competition. This event is sanctioned by the Alaska chapter of the Strongman Corporation and will take place at the sponsor gym, Masters of Iron, located at 1100 S. Colony Way in Palmer. Set-up begins at 10 a.m. and the competition begins at 1 p.m. Food trucks will be on-site.

Men and women Strongman competitors will perform feats of strength like the keg toss and truck pull. The event is a national qualifier. According to Garry Lodoen, Strongman Corporation chairman for the Alaska division, the competition is an opportunity to “show off strength that you normally don’t see everyday.”

Strongman competitions have been around for centuries and rose in popularity once they were televised in 1970s. The World’s Strongest Man is the earliest and most famous example of televised strongman competitions.

According to Lodoen, there are two main federations for national strongman federations: the Strongman Corporation and the United States Strongman. They each have their own national competitions. Both federations operate in Alaska and Lodoen said that due to Alaska’s small population and limited access to compete, most strength athletes compete in both. He said that he tries to remain “neutral.”

“We’re too small to be splitting things up,” Lodoen said. “We have a really good representation of world-class athletes up here. We all need to work together.”

Lodoen said the first Alaskan Strongman competition was held in 2010 at the Alaska Fitness Expo in Anchorage. He also said that the competition moves to a different city every year.

Lodoen’s main duty is to make sure there is at least one event per year. He said that one year they had seven events. This year, there are four events total: Fairbanks, North Pole, Anchorage and Palmer. He said that the Masters of Iron gym is one of the few strongman-qualifying locations in the state.

According to Lodoen, Alaska has a “long tradition” of strength athletics. After all, “people already think we wrestle bears,” he quipped.

Lodeon said that the Strongman Corporation has Alaskan-themed strength events like the dog sled pull and 50-pound, silicone salmon toss. He mentioned that in 2005, an Alaskan strongman, Jesse Marunde, placed second in the World’s Strongest Man competition. He also said that in 2002, Marunde was the youngest American competitor to qualify. Marunde died a from a genetic heart defect, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which has been reported to be a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. His brother is mixed martial artist Bristol Marunde.

According to Lodoen, in 2015, Alaska had the largest representation of strongman competitors out of any state at North American Strongman Inc. (NAS) Nationals, “bar none.”

“Strength is a big part of Alaskan culture,” Lodoen said.

2017 Government Peak Music Festival

PALMER — On Saturday, the second annual Government Peak Music Festival livens up the Hatcher Pass area.

The festival is designed to rally support and raise funds for the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation’s mission to integrate networks of trails and parks around the Valley. It will be a day of food, festivities, craft beer, yoga, local music and environmental awareness. The stage will have an assortment of country, folk, funk and bluegrass tunes throughout the day. There will also be Yoga for Kids provided by Midnight Sun Yoga and face painting from Original Doodle Body Art.

At 3 p.m., Fiddle De Dee will start off the day with songs for the kids. The main stage bands will play from 4 to 10 p.m. The lineup includes Big Fat Buddha, Tim Easton & Junior and Hope Social Club.

Those arriving later can hop on a free shuttle bus that will be going to and from the parking lot of the alpine ski area that Hatcher Alpine Xperience is working on at Mile 10.7 of Palmer-Fishhook Road.

The festival is asking to “keep the music festival green.” According to the event page, “When you get to the event you will need either bring your favorite non-breakable pint you hit the trails with, the incredibly cool pint that you purchased last year, or purchase one of our exclusive stainless steel pints to enjoy the beers that have been donated by Arkose Brewery and Bearpaw River Brewing. $10 for a new pint. Only available on Site.”

The festival will be at the chalet, located at 10690 N. Mountain Trails Drive.

Tickets are $40 can be purchased online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2948049, at the gate, or at local ticket outlets in Palmer that include Arkose Brewery, Active Soles and Lavender. Drink tickets are sold separately. Children under 15 are free.

For additional info, contact: info@matsutrails.org or call 907-746-8757.

NASCAR Oval Race at Alaska Raceway Park

PALMER — This Saturday, four types of race cars are going full throttle at the Alaska Raceway Park, the only NASCAR-sanctioned track in the state.

The race will showcase racing in late model, mini-stock, street stock, legends and baby grands classes on the oval. The largest size cars, the late model, are the “prettiest” the “fastest” and can reach speeds up to 100 miles an hour on the straightaway.

According to co-owner of Alaska Raceway Park, Karen Lackey, these are the kind of cars one would see at Daytona. The Thunder Stock cars were gutted and rebuilt for racing. The two smaller types of pre-made, 5’8 racecars are the legends and baby grands and have Yamaha motorcycle engines.

According to an Alaska Raceway Park press release, Alaska Raceway Park’s oval was one of three tracks to join NASCAR last year, and became part of NASCAR’s Whelen Series, a group of about 60 racetracks across North America.

“If you aren’t rubbing, you aren’t racing,” Lackey said.

Gates open at 3 p.m. Qualifying is at 5 p.m. Races start at 6 p.m.

General admission:

$20 adult

$15 seniors & active-duty military

$10 youth 11-15

FREE children 10 and under

Pit admission:

$20 with NASCAR/INEX membership

$30 without NASCAR/INEX membership

No one under 14 admitted in the pits

Frontline Mission’s Christmas in July Canned Food Drive

Frontline Mission has set its Christmas in July Food Drive for Saturday. Shoppers can purchase pre-filled grocery bags at checkout, then take them to the Frontline Mission van near the entrance. There will also be a raffle for a two-night stay in Homer (worth about $400). The food drive runs from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

According to the event page, “You won't have to wait until Christmas to get into the giving spirit! The hungry families in our community need your help. Frontline Mission is the connecting place between the compassionate and the less fortunate. This summer so far, the need has been greater than before. An average of 300 hot meals have been served and 150 food boxes distributed each week. This is possible because of generous and compassionate people like you. Be a part of helping our neighbors in the Mat-Su be able to feed their families during a difficult time.”

Those who can't make it to the event but wish to “join the fight against hunger” in the Mat-Su Valley can Text the word CONNECT to 50555 or Call 907-357-8600 for additional information.

Vintage Snowmobile Show

at Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry

WASILLA— On Saturday, the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry will host the Alaska Vintage Snowmobile Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. About 60 snowmobiles will be on display. The oldest model on display will be a 1963 Polaris and the most recent model will be a 1985 Ski-Do.

Three judges will evaluate the sleds based on six categories: Antique (Pre 1965), Pre 1970 (1965 – 1970), Consumer Sleds (1970 – 1974), Consumer Sleds (1975 – 1979), Consumer Sleds (1980 – 1985) Race Sleds (Purpose Built, All Years) and Factory/Sno-Pro Sleds Unrestored (All Years). There will be first, second and third place trophies for each category.

Alaska Vintage Sleds sanctions the event. Richard Knox and Victor Knott operate the group. The duo has been in the snowmobile racing circuit for decades. Knox said that their names — Knox and Knott — were often mixed up when they won trophies.

Knox said the event has two main purposes — to unite people under a “common denominator” and raise money for the museum. The goal is to reach $600. There will be a donation jar at the entrance and a raffle for a 1974 Scorpion Stinger snowmobile. All funds from the raffle will go toward the museum. There will also be door prizes like hats and cups provided by Vick’s company, Triton Trailers.

Knox said the event will be a nostalgic experience, where attendees can see a sled and the “stories just start flowing.” It will be a chance to swap tales, spanning three decades. There will also be an “unofficial” swap meet in the parking lot for those who want to buy and trade vintage sleds.

“It’s exciting to see some of this old stuff come out of the backyard,” Knox said.

Bear Naked BBQ will be on-site selling food.

Sign up is at 9 a.m, and awards will be handed out at 4 p.m.

For additional info, call: 907-982-3988.