newsminer.com

Surely no one’s happy that the 21st Sonot Kkaazoot ski race has been moved off the Chena River for the fourth time in its history — but race director Nick Nugent says doing so was necessary due to poor ice conditions.

“I’d certainly like to see it go like it normally does, but I don’t feel bad about making an error on the side of safety and caution,” said Nugent, the director since 2004.

Nugent said he and groomers Tom Helmers and Russell Lizotte scouted the 10 kilometers between downtown and the alpine ski area on Fort Wainwright and found several problem areas, such as extensive areas of open water, a hole near the Wendell Street bridge the size of a snowmachine and snow bridges that could give way without warning.

Because they were concerned snowmachines towing grooming equipment or skiers could break through the ice, the decision was made to move Saturday’s event exclusively to Birch Hill Recreation Area.

“I didn’t want to turn it into a triathlon of ski-swim-run,” Nugent said Tuesday.

To give skiers advance warning, Nugent announced the move in an e-mail March 11.

The response has been mixed: some have expressed their agreement while traditionalists “aren’t really happy,” Nugent said.

“I think we’re still going to have a pretty good race,” Nugent said.

The event, a rite of spring in Fairbanks, normally has a 20-kilometer out-and-back race on the Chena River and a 50-kilometer race that travels 10 kilometers on the river, ties in to Birch Hill Recreation Area, then finishes by returning on the river.

On Saturday at 10 a.m., there will instead be a short race of about 15 kilometers that covers the entire White Bear Loop but avoids the more difficult trails at Birch Hill. The marathon will not be 50K but will instead go 42 kilometers, navigating White Bear twice and other Birch Hill trails once.

The river portion was most recently eliminated in 2003, while the race was also moved exclusively to Birch Hill in 1995 and 1998. Open water, slush and weak ice were the factors each time.

This year’s culprit for the poor Chena River conditions is the 40-plus-degree weather Fairbanks experienced in January and about 10 days ago, Nugent said.

The race has averaged about 320 participants the last five years but Nugent expects those numbers to be 15-20 percent lower this year.

“We’ll lose the people that are skiing with the youngest kids” in the 20K, he said.

Sonot organizers will also lose some skiers who believe the Sonot just isn’t the same without the Chena River.

Sonot co-founder Bob Baker said Tuesday he’s undecided but will likely participate unless he opts to go skiing at his family’s cabin 10 kilometers off the Parks Highway.

Baker, who directed the race with wife Sharon for 13 years and has done volunteer work for it since, said he respects Nugent’s decision but is saddened that participation will drop and the allure of the river will be lost this year.

“There are problems on the river. Are they bad enough to change it? You could go either way,” said Baker, who skied the river on Monday and Tuesday nights without incident. “It could be done on the river, but it’d definitely be safer at Birch Hill.”

But without the river portion, the Sonot is not much different than other races at Birch Hill.

“Birch Hill is its own little world,” Baker said. “It’s just nice to connect the city with the skiing. It’s just neat leaving downtown and coming back downtown.”

Bib pickup Thursday

Early signup ended Tuesday but skiers can still sign up at Thursday’s registration and bib pickup from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Pioneer Museum in Pioneer Park (not at the civic center as previously planned). The museum is located off the Moore Street entry (at the end of First Avenue) just inside the east end of the park, Nugent said.

The fee on Thursday remains $20 for individuals and $50 for families. It jumps to $50 for individuals and $125 for families on race day, he said.

Ski for Women

The fifth annual Fairbanks Ski for Women will be at 3 p.m. March 29 at Birch Hill. The 1- and 3-kilometer event is a fundraiser for the Interior Center for Non-Violent Living, and the entry fee is by donation. A potluck and prize drawings will follow. Registration is from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on race day. For more information, contact Sylvia Slotnick at jrnordics@nscfairbanks.net or 479-3148.