FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks Nordic skiing teams have announced their upcoming schedule for the 2024-25 season. Alaska is set to participate in two home races and six road competitions, including the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships and NCAA Championships. This season will see the opening of Alaska's new UAF Competition Ski Trails, made possible thanks to Usibelli Coal Mine.
The Nanooks kick their season off at home with the Alaska Nordic Cup on December 6-7. Alaska will look to pick up its fourth consecutive victory over Alaska Anchorage in the season-opener, which will see both teams compete in a 10k classic interval start and skate sprint at the UAF Competition Ski Trails. After the new year, the 'Nooks stay in-state and head to Anchorage for the US Nationals on January 2-7, hosted by UAA. The race will see the Nanooks Nordic skiing teams compete in the 10k freestyle individual skate (Jan. 4), classic sprint (Jan. 5), 20k classic mass start (Jan. 6) and skate sprint (Jan. 7). Ten days after the conclusion of the Nationals, Alaska is set to participate in the Utah Invite in Salt Lake City. The invite, hosted by the University of Utah, is scheduled to run from January 18-19, with a 7.5k classic individual and 15/20k freestyle mass start. The following weekend, the Blue and Gold travel to Bozeman, Mt., for the Montana State Invite, held by Montana State University on January 24-26. The three-day invite will have the Nordic ski teams race in a 20k freestyle mass start, freestyle sprint and 7.5k classic individual start. The Nanooks' final regular season road race comes February 8-9 in Minturn, Colo., where Alaska will compete in the Denver Invitational. Alaska will race in the 7.5k classic individual start and 10k freestyle pursuit during its two days at the Maloit Park Trails.
Alaska will return to Fairbanks for one final time on February 16-17 for the UAF Invitational. The invite opens with a classic sprint at the UAF Competition Ski Trails before ending with a 10k freestyle individual skate at Birch Hill.
Four days after the conclusion of the UAF Invite, the RMISA will hold its championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. Nordic ski will compete in the 7.5k classic individual and 20k freestyle mass start on February 21 and 22. Following the RMISA Championships, the NCAA holds its skiing championships in Hanover, N.H. Dartmouth College will host the championships on March 6 and 8, with Nordic ski racing in a 7.5k classic individual start and 20k freestyle mass start.
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