The Tour Of Anchorage is an annual ski/bike event established in 1989. This event is put on by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage. The first weekend of March is when the sun finally starts coming out and temperatures start to become bearable again. The Tour is a great celebration of spring! It has grown to be a big tradition in our city of Anchorage. The 50k ski trail begins up on the hill side and continues, uninterrupted, through the middle of town and ends at Kincaid Park. This event happens around the same time as the Fur Rondy and the Iditarod.
Nearly everyone in the Nordic Community gathers to cheer, volunteer, or race! Generations of local olympians show their support! This year, people from 6 to 83 raced. Every single person out there was a true inspiration to watch and to talk to.
I briefly said hello to on of our local celebrities, two time Olympian Holly Brooks. She was prepping for the 50k. Holly has been a role model to me since before I knew nordic skiing was a thing. It means a lot that I finally get to talk to her about this sport that we both love. She owns a busniess, Holly Brooks LLC, which provides “therapy and performance coaching for high achievers”.
This was a very rare and special moment that I got to be the one cheering while my coaches were the ones racing. Coach Jan has been helping me reach new levels in my skiing ability for a little over a year now. He is my high school ski coach at Service High and my year round head ski coach at Alaska Winter Stars. Jan constantly sets examples of putting his words into action. Two days before the Tour, Jan took second place in the 10k classic the Master Nordic Ski National Championships! He competed in the 50k Freestyle at the Tour where he placed first in his age group.
After a couple big weeks of stressful, and yet exciting racing, this was a great day to experience ski racing for the pure joy and love of our sport. The Tour of Anchorage is a beloved spring celebration and a great way to kick off the best part of the ski season! I look forward to welcoming longer days, the heat of the sun, and crust skiing galore!
THE TOUR PHOTO LINKS!