‘Corduroy Crush’ Nordic Ski Races held with 85 athletes

By Jeff Samuels

TNews Contributor

The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club (GNSC) and Kenai Mountains- Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (KMTA) teamed up again this year to host the 3rd annual Corduroy Crush Nordic Skiing event on Sunday, April 7th at Girdwood’s 5K Nordic Loop.

About 85 athletes of all ages participated in three events: a 2K snowball biathlon, a 5K timed race, and a team relay. 

Nordic Ski Racers start the Relay Race (Photo credit: Jeff Samuels)

KMTA’s Executive Director, Rachel Blakeslee, and GNSC’s board member, Briana Sullivan, coordinated logistics and volunteers to manage the event. Participants were greeted by a bluebird spring day and warm temperatures, with a deep winter base of snow still covering the skiing trails. Families basked in the sunshine as the races took place.

Skiers were fueled by hot drinks and sweet rolls from the Alpenglow Coffee House and The Bake Shop.  

Kathy Trautner and Jacky Graham serve up Bake Shop sweet rolls to participants. (Photo Credit: Lucas Karp

“Every year we host this race I’m astounded by the selflessness of those who come out to support with their time, energy, and resources,” said Rachel. “This year, we had 33 volunteers from Girdwood, Anchorage, Seward, Moose Pass and more show up on the most beautiful, sunny Sunday to help out… We talk a lot about preserving and celebrating our living heritage in the KMTA. This is what it’s all about.”

As a fundraiser, about $2,000 was generated from registration fees to support KMTA’s youth outdoor school programming. 

KMTA’s Executive Director, Rachel Blakeslee, and GNSC’s board member, Briana Sullivan, coordinated logistics and volunteers. (Photo Credit: Jeff Samuels)

In addition to Alpenglow Coffee House and The Bake Shop, other sponsors included Powderhound Ski Shop, Birch & Alder, The Ice Cream Shop, Mooses Tooth, Girdwood Brewing, and Alyeska Resort.

For more information on The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, visit their website at:  https://skigirdwood.org/. For more information on the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, visit their site at: https://kmtacorridor.org/.

KMTA hosts additional race events each summer at the Spencer Whistlestop and on Hope's Palmer Creek Road. Find more information on upcoming events on their website.