2009 National Masters Wraps Up

Tue, Mar  10, 2009 - By J.D. Downing

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A fantastic 2009 AXCS National Masters (NM2009) long weekend in Anchorage, Alaska was capped off Sunday with a picture-perfect Tour of Anchorage 50/40/25km fleet of races under ideal conditions. As the finale to the NM2009, the Tour of Anchorage served as the distance freestyle National Masters Championship with official distances for each masters age/gender category.

With a pad of fresh packed powder from a Thursday evening storm, skiers departing from three different start locations only challenge for the day was slightly chilly conditions (temps in the teens) as both the trail and weather held stable throughout the day. Storming across the city with a final 15km along the incomparable Anchorage Coastal Trail, all three distances ultimately wound up at the Kincaid Park stadium to a hero's welcome of friends, family, and prior finishers.

The NM2009 kicked off with a wild 10km classic evening race on Thursday that featured blizzard-like conditions and tricky waxing at Kincaid Park. On Friday evening the action continued under calm conditions with a 3 skier x 3 legs x 800m freestyle sprint relay around the Kincaid Park stadium.

The American XC Skiers (AXCS) would like to thank the wonderful hard-working team of Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage officials and volunteers headed up by Tim and Anne Stone for their efforts to put on a fantastic NM2009 event.

AXCS invites master skiers from coast-to-coast to start making plans now to attend the 2010 National Masters at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Vermont -- January 28-30, 2010. Tentative plans for the NM2010 will have activities begin with a Thursday (January 28) afternoon 10km freestyle race for all age/gender categories followed on Saturday (January 30) by the 800+ skier classic technique Craftsbury Ski Marathon. The AXCS Board of Directors will be determining official NM2010 age/gender category distances for the Craftsbury Marathon (both 50km and 25km are offered) later this spring.

Full information on the 2010 National Masters can be found on xcskiworld.com as well as throughout exclusive American XC Skiers (AXCS) membership media in the coming months.