Let it snow

WASSILA — The only thing falling as steady as gasoline prices lately has been the snowfall that has consistently blanketed the Mat-Su Valley with fresh powder.

Nobody is happier about this snow the then local high school cross-country ski teams.

Over the last several winters, sporadic snowfalls have driven most local high school teams to the mountains of Hatcher Pass. Skiing every day at Hatcher not only strained teams to find transportation, but limited the types of training teams could do, Palmer head coach Darin Markwardt said.

But with this year’s snowfall, teams are coming down out of the mountains to ski in more local areas.

“So far it’s been great,” Markwardt said. “We can ski a lot closer to school, even at the school, which is rare.”

Skiing closer to the school has benefits such as saving on gas and travel.

“We don’t have to drive nearly as much,” Colony head coach Mark Strabel said. “Now we just have to walk out our back door.”

Markwardt said one of the top benefits of having more snow has been being able to train on many different types of terrain. The Palmer coach said Hatcher Pass is known for its hilly terrain, which has made Valley teams historically strong on courses that have hills.

But when it comes to flat level races, Markwardt said Valley skiers have been at a disadvantage.

“On uphill courses, we are a very good team, all the Valley schools are,” he said “But if you look at some of the bigger races, they’re on flat courses.”

Being able to train closer to home “just gives us some variety,” Strabel added.

Palmer junior Wylie Mangelsdorf said getting some variation in where the team skis has helped.

“Hatcher’s is just one big up-hill (climb),” he said. “Skiing at the Crevasse Moraine trails and at the school really lets us work on other techniques.”

Limited snowfalls in the past years have even affected the competition schedules for high school cross country skiers.

Colony, Palmer and Wasilla are all coming off strong showings at last week’s Lynx Loppot Pursuit, which is one of the state’s largest races, Markwardt said.

But last year the race was canceled for lack of snow.

“The snow makes it a lot less stressful,” Strabel said. “It makes it much easier for practicing and racing.”

While the snow is here now, Strabel said he is still worried that later in the season it might be gone. Colony is hosting a meet in January, and the thought of no snow keeps him worried.

“All we need is one wind storm or a meltdown, and poof, it’s gone,” he said.

But with snow in the forecast for next week, local skiers will continue to take advantage of it.

“It’s helping out a lot,” Magelsdorf said. “This is the best we’ve had in years.”

Contact Tyson Alger at sports@frontiersman.com or 352-2273.