Last-minute snowfalls made for good skiing for the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club’s Wine and Cheese and Wooden Ski Tour on Sunday.
“We were really sweating bullets,” said organizer Kevin Walker. “Thursday it was glare ice. Then there was an inch (of snow) here, an inch there, three inches Saturday morning, three more inches Sunday morning, so it turned out to be really good conditions.”
The annual event serves as a fundraiser for the club, usually bringing in around $2,000 and attracting 75-100 skiers. This year, the crowd was a bit smaller.
“It’s primarily a fundraiser and a good way for everyone to get out and enjoy skiing and show off their old skis,” said Walker. “We had about 60 people. With the ski conditions, I’m just happy we got to cover our expenses.”
The event was held at Lookout Mountain Trails, with a three-mile course making its first stop at a structure built by the club and the second and last stop at the home of Cynthia Morelli and Taro Sasakura.
“There was new snow falling and a lot of people turned out,” said Morelli. “The snow conditions were perfect.”
In past years, prizes have been given to costumed skiers. That part of the event has dropped off in recent years, but Walker said it may be resurrected in the future.
“There were some great costumes. … After seeing what people came up with, I think we’ll have to start awarding those prizes again,” he said.
With trail conditions uncertain, the length of the trail was kept short, but more trails were groomed for those having too much fun to call an end to the day.
“We thought we might be shoveling with teaspoons to get enough snow, so each leg was about a mile,” said Kevin. “But then the trails were all groomed, about four or five miles of trails, so you could have skied more and some did.”
Saturday was the wrap-up of the club’s Junior Nordic program, with about 90 youngsters participating in a treasure hunt, campfire, hot dogs and games.
Coming up for KNSC:
Today: Backcountry Film Festival, Homer Theatre, 7 p.m.
March 8: Nordic Ski Marathon;
March 15: Homer Epic 100, a run, ski and fat tire event;
March 30: Sea to Ski.
For more information on the club and its activities, visit kachemaknordicskiclub.org.
