By Yonah Lempert

Last year’s Kachemak Nordic Ski Club’s marathon was cancelled due to lack of snow, and skiers were happy to be back this year. 

There were three races put on by the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club last Saturday: a 42km, a 25km, and a 13km. Winners of the 42km women’s race category were Jessica Dullinger (first place) and Rachel Fadeley (second); winners of the 42km men’s were Vebjorn Flagstad (first), Pete Alexson (second) and William Criner (third). The Red Lantern winner, recognized for sheer determination to finish, was Curtis Jackson.

25km results were Stacey Buckelow (first), Lindsey Flagstad (second) and Stephanie Schmit (third), for the women’s category, and Beau Miller (first), Andrew Fisher (second) and Spencer Burnfield (third), for the men’s.

13km winners were Tara Schmidt (first), Laurie Orell (second) and Karen Marquardt (third), for the women’s category, and Kyle Lints (first), Derek Mueller (second) and Daniel Perry (third), for the men’s category.

The winners of the 13km for racers under 19 were Margaret Lints, for first in young women’s category, and Benjamin Lints (first) and Robert Orell (second) in the young men’s category.

In previous years, the marathon has started on Lookout Mountain and ended at the Baycrest trail system. However this year’s marathon started and ended on Lookout Mountain, due to a lack of adequate snow at lower elevations. It also coincided with the Oosik Classic Nordic ski marathon in Talkeetna this year, so skiers had a choice of going north to Talkeetna or south to Homer to race. A total of 31 skiers came to the Homer trails — 13 in the 42km, another 13 in the 25km, eight in the 13k and three in the under-age-18 13km.

According to Kenton Bloom, a longtime member of KNSC and one of the main designers of the course, Nordic ski marathons need to have certain percentages of the course that are uphill terrain, as well as downhill, and flat. There also needs to be pedestrian access that doesn’t cross the trails. Mr. Bloom has been involved with Nordic ski courses for about 30 years, and positive trail appraisals on his work from race participants reflected both the quality of the course due to its location, with expansive views of mountains and Kachemak Bay, and also due to the expertise and planning of the event coordinators.

Will Criner, who traveled from Anchorage to participate in the 42km, said he enjoyed the views of Kachemak Bay along the race’s route, and other racers had similar reviews. 

Jessi Dullinger, who also raced in the 42km, said “You can see across the inlet” as a main attraction to the race. She also said that, “It’s such a great cause.”

Funds raised by KNSC go to trail maintenance and running ski related programs in the area, including accessible skiing opportunities for kids. The organization was formed in the early 1980s, and its volunteers maintain three different trail systems around Homer: Lookout Mountain Recreation Area, Baycrest Trails, and McNeil Canyon Trails. Their work is supported by local businesses such as Cycle Logical, Bear Creek Winery and many others.

A team of three trail groomers, John Miles, Mike Byerly and Bill Worsfold, worked to keep the trail in good condition prior to the race. Equipment to maintain the trails, such as drags to tow behind snow-machines, along with outhouses, are the biggest expenses for KNSC, according to John Miles.

A few moose had been seen along the race by some of the skiers. Upon hearing the reports, the trail maintenance team discussed possible moose intervention plans and whether to try them, but the four footed non-skiers soon decided to amble elsewhere and the race had no delays.

Near the finish line is a sign for Lookout Trails, decorated with an aesthetic metal volcano and trees. The sign was made by Doug Schwiesow, a powerhouse of a skier who had been involved in the early days of the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club. His lasting influence is memorialized by the sign he made and a trail area named after him, Schwiesow’s Arena.

The KNSC mission is “to promote Nordic skiing in the Kachemak Bay area.” You can find out more about them and future events at their website, kachemaknordicskiclub.org.