Ski For Women sees 74 finishers

With the Wolf on the prowl, 74 finishers — even Little Red Riding Hood — stayed on the path and finished the 19th Annual Ski For Women on Sunday at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna.

The 5-kilometer event on Super Bowl Sunday is a parade of clever costumes, and Sunday’s award for best costume went to Sara Mahood, Sue Seggerman, Gigi Banas and Leslie Boyd. The four combined for a “Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf” theme.

Mahood said she already had a Wolf costume and a red cape for Little Red Riding Hood. Mahood dressed as the Wolf, while Boyd was Little Red Riding Hood. A Woodcutter costume was made for Seggerman, while Banas came up with a Grandma costume.

The four have a long history with the Ski For Women, but had never won best costume before. Boyd founded the event, originally known as She Can Ski, with Robin Nyce and Brenda Dale.

“It’s awesome,” Boyd said of the event. “It’s fun to ski because we’re not used to skiing it because we were organizing it.”

The four also are happy to see the continued popularity of the event. It had 34 in subzero cold in 2018, then 66 in 2019, 60 in 2020 and 90 in 2021 when everybody was looking to get out in the winter of the pandemic. Last year, 83 finished.

“There’s some awesome costumes out there,” said Julie Williams, a Tsalteshi Trails Association board member who organized the event. “A lot of ladies really embrace this event and dress up.”

The event originated as a way to bring awareness to domestic violence. The Tsalteshi Trails Association still takes the opportunity to raise money for a women’s cause.

This year’s event raised money for Beauty for Ashes Alaska. According to the organization’s website, the nonprofit “works with the individual to provide housing, accountability and life coaching. By creating a personalized plan, the individual is then able to move forward in their goals and future success.”

The organization has also started a thrift store at 517 Main Street in Kenai.

Amy Anderson won the 5-kilometer skate in 16 minutes, 35 seconds, while Kelli Boonstra was second at 16:55 and Libby Jensen was third at 16:56.

Anderson is a 2001 graduate of now-closed Skyview High School and her costume was a homage to the dominant Panthers ski teams of that era. Anderson wore a Skyview racing suit known as a “cow suit” for the way it looks.

She said Tsalteshi is an amazing organization and encourages the community to use the trail system and support events like Ski For Women.

“It’s for a good cause — for a charity in our small community — and there’s lot of friends out here,” Anderson said. “It’s just a fun thing to do.”

Julie Laker won the 5-kilometer classic at 28:13, while Molly Dischner was second at 28:40 and Banas was third at 29:02.

“You’ve got to stay in shape to be a grandma, let me tell you,” Banas, the Grandma, said of her finish. “To keep up with the grandkids.”

C.O. Rudstrom won the 5-kilometer drag race for men looking to support the cause. Rudstrom also won the award for the fiercest drag outfit.

19th Ski for Women

Sunday at Tsalteshi Trails

5-kilometer skate — 1. Amy Anderson, 16 minutes, 35 seconds; 2. Kelli Boonstra, 16:55; 3. Libby Jensen, 16:56; 4. Melissa Smith, 17:48; 5. Sierra Smith, 18:03; 6. Sonora Martin, 18:25; 7. Ronna Martin, 18:25; 8. Stephanie Lambe, 20:37; 9. Emma Blake, 23:25; 10. Joanna Shaw, 23:55; 11. Elise Spofford, 23:55; 12. Jenny Derks-Anderson, 25:19; 13. Olga Hippchen, 25:30; 14. Kristen Mitchell, 25:38; 15. Leslie Boyd, 30:35; 16. Sara Mahood, 30:35; 17. Olivia Rinke, 31:21; 18. DeAnne Martin, 34:38; 19. Courtney Abel, 35:17; 20. Natalia Makushi, 35:50; 21. Naomi Zichko, 38:03; 22. Sandi Crawford, 40:55; 23. Alice Marang, 41:13.

5-kilometer classic — 1. Julie Laker, 28:13; 2. Molly Dischner, 28:40; 3. Gigi Banas, 29:02; 4. Sue Seggerman, 29:04; 5. Shiloh Zichko, 31:28; 6. Becky Hart, 32:27; 7. Rachel Gilliland, 32:33; 8. Emily Knight, 34:38; 9. Heather Daniels, 35:25; 10. RaChelle Gruenberg, 35:40; 11. Jennifer Stubblefield, 35:40; 12. Cherie Taylor, 35:50; 13. April Erhardt, 35:50; 14. Chelsea Wingard, 35:50; 15. Kali Saxton, 36:53; 16. Amy Frapp, 37:20; 17. Katrina Cannava, 37:20; 18. Carrie Wawrzyk, 37:20; 19. Kylie Morris, 37:35; 20. Patti Berkhahn, 37:45; 21. Tara Ruffner, 37:45; 22. Shawn Haskin, 40:55; 23. Gina Smith, 41:13; 24. Nikiesha Richards, 41:13; 25. Nicole Atwood, 41:13.

26. Leanne Cragg, 41:34; 26. Kaitlynn Cafferty, 42:17; 27. Sarah Apsens, 42:17; 28. Andrea Kircher, 42:17; 29. Hope Derkevorkian, 44:42; 30. Mariesha Kazall, 44:42; 31. Rachel Grossl, 45:22; 32. Oriana Tomlin, 45:23; 33. Piper Bundy, 45:54; 34. Sara Bundy, 45:55; 35. Holly Lewis, 46:25; 36. Lindsay Jester, 46:30; 37. Denali Critchett, 46:30; 38. Alicia Driscoll, 47:05; 39. Kate Marang, 47:05; 40. Logan Simons, 47:36; 41. Tonya Benson, 47:36; 42. Clara Nelson, 52:26; 43. Angie Nelson, 52:26; 44. Heidi Rinke, 52:35; 45. Heather Rinke, 52:35.

5-kilometer drag race — 1. C.O. Rudstrom, 22:15; 2. Nicholas Depsky, 23:06; 3. Ben Wishnek, 38:30; 4. Tony, 40:55; 5. Nathan Nelson, 41:42; 6. Jamie Nelson, 41:42.