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Nordic Ski Club Adapts Races for COVID-19 Safety

The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks has decided to go virtual with races scheduled through the end of the year. Club President Chris Puchner says the move, which will provide skiers the opportunity to time themselves on a groomed and marked course at the Birch Hill Ski Center, offers a low risk racing alternative.

…minimize the exposure.”

Puchner says the races, the first of which is scheduled for this weekend, will allow competitors to ski the course anytime Saturday through Sunday and submit their times, which will be published on the club’s website. NSCF chief of competition John Estle (ESS-tull) stresses that the details of the virtual race format are still being worked out.

…one or the other.”

Estle says the format and procedure will likely evolve depending on how the first race goes this weekend. The decision to go virtual means November and December’s Fairbanks town race series events will not offer International Ski Federation points as was originally planned. The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks will re-evaluate the virtual race format next month, with a possible return to normal events in the New Year.

Dan has been in public radio news in Alaska since 1993. He’s worked as a reporter, newscaster and talk show host at stations in McGrath, Valdez and Fairbanks. Dan’s experience includes coverage of a wide range of topics, from wolf control to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and dog mushing.