Skiers compete in Besh Cup

Cross-country skiers from around Alaska converged in Anchorage during the weekend to compete in the first two series of Besh Cup races at Kincaid Park.

Skiers from most of the Valley schools competed in the two-day event of freestyle skiing Dec. 22 and classic style skiing Dec. 23.

The Besh Cup is a series of races that take place throughout Alaska for skiers to compete and accumulate points to individually qualify for the Junior Olympic team and the Arctic Winter Games.

Skiers compete in age groups, with the Besh Cup using the best four results out of the first six races counting towards qualification.

"This was a great experience on a challenging course," said Ed Strabel. "The kids from the Valley skied well."

In the freestyle race Saturday, Colony's Ross Wise finished seventh in the junior boys' two division, with Peter Doner finishing 38th and Nick Wise 42nd.

The Colony crew of Jeff Warner, Preston Pickett and Kerry Klauder finished 11th, 26th and 35th respectfully in the junior boys' one division. Palmer's Ryan Ford finished 37th.

Former Colony skiers Eric and Mark Strabel finished second and sixth in the senior men division.

Su Valley's Tazlina Mannix won the freestyle junior girls' two division, with teammate Melissa Ostermick finishing 17th.

Su Valley's Renae Moore took eighth place in the junior girls' one division and Wasilla's Atali Smith finishing 33rd.

Former Colony skier Diana Heimerl finished 11th in the older junior girls' division.

On Sunday during classic style races, Ross Wise took ninth in the junior boys' two division, Doner finished 22nd and Nick Wise 31st.

Warner, Pickett, Ford and Klauder finished 23rd, 29th, 31st and 35th in the junior boys' one division.

Eric Strabel won the senior men division and Mark Strabel finished third. Another former Colony skier, John Heimerl, took eighth in the race.

Mannix finished second in the junior girls' two classic race and Ostermick finished 19th.

Moore took ninth in the junior girls' one division. Diana Heimerl finished ninth in the older junior girls' race.

The next Besh Cup series will take place Jan. 19 and 20 on the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna.