Local skiers earn spots on Team Alaska for Junior Nationals

HATCHER PASS — Local skiers competed in the final Besh Cup race to compete for spots on the Junior National teams or to compete at the Arctic Winter Games.

The Besh Cups are used to determine which elite skiers will compete at Junior Nationals and offer an opportunity for the fastest skiers in the state to share the snow with one another. The sixth Besh Cup was hosted at the Government Peak Recreation Area on Sunday due to cold weather in Fairbanks. Despite the change of venue, Palmer High ski coach Mikey Evans believes that skiers are not as affected by home field advantage as other athletes are.

“They’re all experienced enough that no matter where they have to go to ski they’re going to give you their best,” said Evans.

Palmer’s Rosie Whittington-Evans completed her 5k race in a time of 17:45.2 seconds in the U16 division. Whittington-Evans finished seventh in the Besh standings and qualified to compete at Junior Nationals. Whittington-Evans’ teammate at Palmer High Aila Berrigan also earned the opportunity to compete at Junior Nationals, finishing ninth in the standings for U18.

“I brought [Alaska Nordic Racing] out here to the valley to support athletes year round so that they could have this success,” said Evans. “It just trickles down and success builds success like it does in any program. This year is a great year. It’s the result of a ton of time and energy put in by the athletes.”

Colony’s Garrett Streit earned the opportunity to ski for Team Alaska at the Junior Nationals with a 14th place overall finish in the U18 standings. Simeon Ramirez earned the opportunity to compete at the Arctic Winter Games. Palmer’s male skiers also enjoyed success. Joseph Walling earned a third place finish in the U20 standings and Kaj Taylor finished 10th in the U18 standings, both earning a spot on Team Alaska for the Junior Nationals. Taylor skied a 10k time of 30:20.7 and Walling was just over a minute ahead at 28:56.3. Evans thanked volunteers and coaches such as Dave Musgrave and Brent Taylor for contributing to skiing in the Valley.

“This is the result of community making skiing a priority and putting together a solid venue with GPRA and the trails development that has gone on there, so huge credit to the Mat-Su Ski Club for that. It’s just a cool time right now to be a Valley kid involved in skiing,” said Evans.