It’s called Snow Rondi for good cause, as was clear to anyone who stepped outside in Anchor Point on Saturday afternoon. There was lots of snow. Big, wet flakes. So much snow that at times it was hard to see across the Sterling Highway.
That didn’t dampen the four-day annual celebration organized by the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce, however.
“I think it absolutely went wonderful,” said Jennifer Henley, a member of the chamber’s board of directors.
Chris Story’s actioneering style set the festivities in action the evening of Feb. 21.
“I would go to any of his functions because he has such a personality and makes it so fun,” said Henley.
Entrants in the Rondi’s pool tournament were among what was being auctioned. Feeling confident in his abilities –he won the 2012 Snow Rondi pool tournament — Brian Hickey bid on himself and it’s a good thing he did. On Friday, Hickey took first place among 21 tournament contestants.
The Anchor Point Senior Center got Saturday morning off to a hot start with their all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon. That was followed by a parade along the Sterling Highway, led by an honor guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10221.
The rest of the day was filled with ski and snowshoe races, archery and hockey slap-shot competitions, the pinewood derby and the Mountain Man Classic. Rather than ribbons or trophies, entrants in the Mountain Man Classic were awarded with the very thing mountain men value: meat.
“Prizes were roasts, steaks and first place was a package of London broil,” said organizer Tom Hagberg.
Recognizing they didn’t have to be experts to join in the fun, rondi-ers strapped on skis and snowshoes, and picked up hockey sticks and bows.
“I checked out the archery and didn’t win anything. The only thing I got back was that they’d find my arrow in the spring, after the snow melted,” said a laughing Henley.
The seniors were back in the kitchen Sunday morning, serving another hot breakfast. Snomads took over from there with the 120 races for young racers. The popular dog show, a fundraiser for the Homer Animal Shelter, filled the remainder of the afternoon and the VFW wrapped up the rondi with a late-afternoon fish fry.
It was easy to identify who was part of the fun. Some wore Snow Rondi pins designed by Chapman School sixth-grader Luciano Fasulo. Others wore bright orange sweatshirts designed especially for the event.
“If anybody wants a hoodie, we still have them for sale,” said Henley.
The $35 hooded sweatshirts can be purchased at the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce and from area businesses.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.

Snow Rondi winners
* Parade float winner: 4H Trailblazers
* Pool tournament winner: Brian Hickey
* Snow Rondi winning pin number: Pat Russell
* 50-50 drawing of $283: Theresa Bicondova
* Pinewood derby fastest car: Gary Drake
* Dog show judges’ choice: No-name Siberian Husky with Sandy Lambert of Wuffda Kennels
* Dog show people’s choice: Apple with Kya Stokes and Clarence with Mya Houglum
* Mountain Man calendar shoot, first place: Marvin Peters
* Mountain Man rifle shoot, first place: Bill Whittaker
* Mountain Man cap-and-ball revolver shoot, first place: Bill Whittaker
* Snowshoe biathlon, first place (four age groups): Heather Shea, Zack Martin, Colten Morris and Ethan Koch
* Snowshoe race, first place (four age groups): Zack Martin, Hunter Harrington, Erick Paulsrud and Chase Jackson
* Ski race, first place (two age groups): Zack Martin and Isabella Koch
* Two-man sled pull race, first place (one age group): Hunter Harrington and Chase Jackson
* Ski biathlon, first place (one age category): Zack Martin