Local ‘world-class’ venue impresses high-caliber skiers

GOVERNMENT PEAK — At least one thing is certain after the relocation of the first two Besh Cup races. The Matanuska Valley has something special to offer the nation’s top skiers.

“This is definitely a national-class, if not world-class venue,” said Alaska Winter Stars skier Marion Woods of Government Peak Recreation Area in Hatcher Pass. “It’s just incredible.”

Woods placed 10th overall in the women’s 5-kilometer freestyle on Sunday, after getting, “a few cobwebs out of the system,” she said, in Saturday’s snowy 10k classic.

Conditions improved for Sunday’s races, with Saturday’s snowfall packed and groomed for the nearly 350 skiers who took to the trails on day two.

Alaska Pacific University’s Jessica Yeaton, who skipped Saturday’s race but won Sunday’s, expressed her thanks to the likes of Mat-Su Ski Club and Cross Country Alaska for putting on a top-notch event.

“I’m really impressed with the organizers,” she said, before taking the podium on Sunday. “They could host like World Cup racing here, it’s awesome.”

Lydia Blanchet, who previously raced for APU and now skis for Dartmouth College, said she was glad to be able to challenge herself while home for the holidays.

“I never raced these courses before, and they’re, they’re impressive. They’re hard, but they’re really fun,” she said, after placing fourth overall in both Sunday’s 5k and Saturday’s 10k classic.

Hunter Wonders, who took third overall in the men’s 15k classic on Saturday and in the 10k freestyle on Sunday (and also won the Senior division both days), was equally impressed with the course and the competition. Having raced in Montana and British Columbia the two weekends before, Wonders also said it was good to be home.

“Getting to race back in my home competition was pretty awesome. Being on the road, you’re racing people from different states and different clubs and stuff, and it’s good to get back to mostly Alaskans, it’s really fun. It’s really competitive here,” Wonders said.

Wonders said he would compete in future Besh Cup races this season if not for his plans to race at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Vermont in January in the hopes of qualifying for a race in Finland. Yeaton likewise said she plans to be racing at the national competition and in Europe.

Valley skiers

Although Anchorage skiers dominated the competition, the Valley was well represented. In the men’s races, three former Valley residents placed in the top 25. Dawson Knopp, a Colony High graduate currently skiing for APU, took 13th in the 15k classic and 19th in the 10k freestyle. His brother, Tracen Knopp, who now skis for University of Alaska Anchorage, took 18th and 27th, respectively. Palmer High graduate Cody Priest, representing Alaska Nordic Racing on Sunday, came in 25th.

Josiah Alverts, another more recent Palmer graduate, came in 29th in the 15k classic and 34th in the 10k freestyle. Palmer High’s Joseph Walling, representing ANR, came in 37th and 33rd. Colony High senior Gavin Block, racing unaffiliated, placed 52nd and 49th. Palmer’s Kaj Taylor, racing for ANR, placed 51st both days, and his Palmer teammate, Thomas Merritt, came in 71st both days. Jakob Rogers, wearing Palmer colors, came in 75th in Saturday’s 15k classic.

In the younger divisions, Colony High’s Noah Hanestad took seventh in the 5k classic and ninth in the 5k freestyle. On Saturday he was followed by teammate Simeon Ramirez, who took 17th in the 5k classic. Next was Colony Middle’s Coby Marvin, in 37th and 11th place, respectively. Palmer Junior Middle’s Keenan Berrigan, representing ANR, followed in 47th and 20th, respectively.

On the women’s side, APU’s Annika Hanestad, who used to ski for Colony High, came in 16th in the 15k classic and 20th in the 10k freestyle. Grace Miller, who used to ski for Palmer and competed at the 2018 Paralympics in PyeongChang, came in 41st and 40th, respectively.

In the younger divisions, Palmer’s Katey Houser, racing for ANR, took the lead with a sixth-place finish in the 5k classic and a second-place finish in the 5k freestyle. Five of her Palmer teammates, most representing ANR, also competed: Lilian Rose Whittington-Evans (16th, 22nd), Aila Berrigan (17th, 15th), Scarlet Mueller (37th, 34th), Brittyn Werner (38th, 39th) and Mykennan Rinella (39th, 40th). For Colony, Nicole Bell took 22nd and 21st and Ava Straub took 33rd and 36th.

For complete results and points lists, visit www.crosscountryalaska.org/2016/01/24/besh-cup-results-2/