Mat-Su Ski Club hosting UAA, UAF ski teams at the Government Peak Recreation Area

PALMER — The initial vision for the Government Peak Recreation Area during the winter months was fairly simple. Give Valley residents another place to cross-country ski on groomed trails.

But now, the recreation area is attracting more than just the locals. Government Peak, and the Hatcher Pass area in general, has become a destination for Nordic skiers across Southcentral Alaska. It’s also become a venue for major skiing events. The latest is the Alaska Nordic Cup, hosted by the Mat-Su Ski Club Saturday and Sunday. The UAA Seawolves and UAF Nanooks will hit the trails for two days worth of collegiate competition.

“In the early days we were trying to get people skiing,” Mat-Su Ski Club board vice president Dave Musgrave said of GPRA. “We’ve come a long way since then.”

The weekend races will not be the first major races hosted at GPRA, but the facility has become more than just the home trails for local prep, youth and recreational skiers.

“I think these events are building on each other,” Musgrave said.

Musgrave said the evolution of the recreation area has allowed the recreation area to be used for major skiing events.

“When the borough originally put in the trails, it was sort of an intermediate level,” Musgrave said. “Now that we have the new Denali Loop competition loop we can attract races like this.”

Musgrave said GPRA has trails that meet the standards of the governing body for skiing, the International Ski Federation.

Last year, the Mat-Su Ski Club had the opportunity to host the Besch Cup, races that help skiers qualify for junior nationals and better their seeds as the U.S. National Championships and other international races. Both youth and adult skiers compete. Musgrave said hundreds of skiers hit the trials over two days. GPRA was the backup venue for Besch Cup in December of 2018. The races were moved from Kincaid Park in Anchorage due to poor conditions in the municipality. Musgrave said GPRA is the backup venue again this year, but the Mat-Su Ski Club is hoping to host the race in the upcoming year.

Saturday and Sunday the Seawolves and Nanooks will be at the center of attention of spectators.

“We’re pretty proud to have them here,” Musgrave said. “I’m really excited. I hope people turn out.”

Skiers will hit the trail at 10:30 a.m. each day. UAF features a pair of athletes who skied at Palmer High School, Josiah Alverts and Grace Miller.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.