Homer Alaska - Letters

I think you missed a titanium opportunity.

On a recent weekend nearly a thousand people came to Homer from out of town for the Besh Cup races. Sprint races were held Saturday at McNeil Canyon, and Sunday the races were at the Lookout Mountain trail system — a state of the art system 10 years in the making.

I find your coverage of this event mediocre, at best. The photo you included could have been anywhere — in someone's back yard. There was no banner on the front page. May I suggest your reporters get out of their chairs, off their screens, put their noses to the ground and get involved in this community and its happenings. Explore the fact that skiing (in Alaska!) is the least funded of local sports. Give us a photograph of these premiere stadium viewing trails peopled with thousands, cars stretching a mile, competitive, Olympic-style skiing where spectators can view the majority of the action.

How did these hundreds and hundreds of visitors impact our local economy? Where did they stay? What did they eat? Where were they from? Who organized and prepared for this tremendous gathering?

Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, check with the experts: Kenton Bloom and Doug Schwiesow. While you're at it seek out some of the local past Olympians and get their perspective and opinions.

Recently there was a five-school, middle school ski race at Lookout Mountain trails. Teams came from Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Ninilchik. Don't take my word for it, interview some of these young and upcoming athletes. Get their stories. Make us want to buy and read this paper.

Debi Poore, one who barely skis