Oosik cross-country ski race set for Saturday

March 18, 2005

DAWN De BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

TALKEETNA - Although some parts of the Valley are bare of snow and magnificent-sized mud puddles have formed, the northern Mat-Su Borough contains sufficient snow to allow outdoor enthusiasts to continue engaging in winter activities.

Talkeetna, with its well-groomed ski trails, will host the fifth-annual Oosik Classic cross-country ski race this Saturday, beginning at noon. The event will be hosted by Denali Nordic Ski Club.

"It isn't 'How many inches of snow?' It's 'How many feet?'" said Ed Strable, the cross-country ski coach at Colony High School. "There's about three feet of snow. Even with the meltdown we've had, the trail's going to be in great shape."

The races, which are the brainchild of Olympic skier Adam Verrier, who now lives in Anchorage, will start and finish at the Talkeetna airstrip.

"I'm not sure which runway or which concourse people will be leaving from," Strable joked.

The airstrip is located off the spur road heading toward downtown Talkeetna.

There will be several categories for age groups. There will be 25-kilometer and 50-kilometer races. Twenty-five kilometers is about 15.5 miles and 50 kilometers is about 31 miles.

"It's a fun event. It uses the classic technique of cross-country skiing," said Strable, adding that representatives from Toko and Swix will be available to help people wax plastic skis.

The event will end with a party at the Don Sheldon Hangar, located in downtown Talkeetna.

Originally, the venue of the Oosik Classic ski races was near Sheep Creek Lodge, but the snow trails weren't up to par.

"The trails were groomed with an old bed frame and a couple wooden blocks. The trail wasn't that good," Strable said.

Skiers' poles would break through the snow because the trails weren't packed hard enough, he said.

Talkeetna has a good grooming machine. Also, volunteers of the Denali Nordic Ski Club have prepared the trails for Saturday's race and have brushed out a new trail around Talkeetna Lakes, allowing people to use the winter trail system at Talkeetna Lakes Park.

People interested in competing in this weekend's ski races may pick up or drop off entries at three Anchorage sites: Skinny Raven Sports, Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking or Barney's Sport's Chalet.

Entries may also be mailed to Adam Verrier, 3904 Arkansas Dr., Anchorage, AK 99517. The entry fee is $35.

Last-minute sign-up is welcome; however, there may be an additional surcharge over the $35 entry fee, Strable said.