Kachemak Nordic Ski Club will host their annual Ski for Women at Lookout Mountain on Ohlson Mountain Road on Sunday, Feb. 12. Registration starts on-site at 11:30 a.m. and the ski event starts at noon. The annual event has been taking place since 2004, modeled after the event in Anchorage. The race is open to anyone: women, men, kids, old, young, fast, slow. No dogs on the trail, though.

Organizer Kris Holderied has been coordinating the event as a volunteer since 2006 when she first came to Homer. There are two key components to the design of the race. The first is to raise awareness and funds to help combat domestic violence towards women in the state of Alaska. In Homer, funds raised from the event will be donated to the South Peninsula Haven House.

“Parallel to this and one of the reasons the ski club has always supported the event, is that getting outside and participating in outdoor events like skiing is a great way to empower all of us. You can think of winter as a dark dreary time or you can think of it as a magical time! Homer has amazing ski trails to enjoy,” Holderied said.

As coordinator, Holderied is encouraging new skiers to give the trails a try. This is not designed to be a competitive race; it is for everyone of any skill level. This is not a race that keeps track of time. It’s about costumes and fun: there are prizes for groups, pairs, individuals.

“We’ve had attached skiers dressed up as a fisherman and a fish or a team dressed up as a whole dogsled team,” she said. “Every year I get surprised by the creativity of the local community.”

Because the event takes place just a day after the Homer Winter Carnival parade, Holderied wants to remind people to recycle whatever costume they might be using for that community event.

The ski club has also named a trail at Lookout in honor of Ken Jones and there will be a recognition of his contributions to community ski trails in Homer at the beginning of the ceremony.

Emilie Springer can be reached at emilie.springer@homernews.com.