‘Corduroy Crush’ held Sunday on fresh snow

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

The Kenai Mountain-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area and the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club held its third "Corduroy Crush" Sunday at the 5K course on a fresh inch of spring snow.

Ari Endestad won his second Crush 5k, male, age 19 and up. Endestad, a nationally-ranked sprinter who won in 2023, said the course felt like "Olympic conditions" with such soft snow. Endestad duked it out with fellow Alaska Pacific University racer Kai Meyers before pulling away in the last kilometer. Seth Downs placed third

"That was harder than I thought it would be," Endestad said at the finish line.

For the APU skiers Girdwood's 5k loop marked the start and end of a season of racing. After the race the two went out and skied another lap.

A full story will follow later this week.

The full list of race results can be found at the link: https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=347978&did=444532