A group of Kenai Central High School skiers teach lessons to youth skiers Saturday at the Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

A group of Kenai Central High School skiers teach lessons to youth skiers Saturday at the Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Cross-country skiers rally at Tsalteshi

The snow dump early last week provided the perfect setting for Saturday’s Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally, which organizers hope will be the first of many.

The event was hosted by the Kenai Central High School Nordic ski team at the Tsalteshi Trails behind Skyview Middle School, and provided skiers of all ages a day of lessons and racing on the recently groomed trails.

With youth and adult skiers divided into several groups based on skill level, high school skiers and staff from KCHS guided a grand total of 33 skiers signed up for a day designed to teach fundamentals of the sport. The event proceeds went to the Kenai Nordic Booster Club.

The consensus among the crowd that received lessons was the rare opportunity for the community to tune up technique and gain some valuable insight from those that have years of experience in the sport.

“It’s great to see our kids connect with the community,” said Kardinals head coach Brad Nyquist. “Just seeing all the people enjoy the opportunity to get some lessons and embrace winter.”

Nyquist said he has been trying to host an event like this for years, since he was an assistant coach, but the team’s race schedule combined with unpredictable weather has kept the program from doing it.

“I’ve always heard people in the community ask me, ‘When are you going to do ski lessons?’” Nyquist said. “There’s interest in the community, and it’s fun to see people out here.”

Now with one year under their belts, Nyquist said he hopes to see the event becomes an annual deal for the community to support and receive lessons from the high school team.

The skiers that showed up Saturday morning received over two hours of lessons from coaches, high school athletes and even a former Olympian, as Ninilchik’s Todd Boonstra came out with his wife, Kelli, to help out.

Following a short early afternoon break, the crowd lined up for two race distances, with a two-kilometer course taking novice skiers out on the Squirrel and Owl loops, and a 4K route taking more experienced racers out on the Wolf loop.

The efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the community.

“From one to 10, it’s a 10,” said Kenai’s Rusty Hippchen. “Great day, great weather, for a great purpose. It’s good to get the whole family out and support the ski team.”

Hippchen was out with his two youngest children, Alaska, 5, and Olga, 7, to learn something and to join their older brother, Tyler, who is a varsity skier on the high school team. Hippchen said his kids participate in the Tsalteshi Trails Youth Ski Program that begins in January, so Saturday’s event was a good warmup for that.

“It’s our first time coming out to ski for the season,” he said.

Another happy skier was Michelle Lee, who was out with her son to support the team while getting the chance to break out her skate skis.

“I got skate skis last winter … I’ve always been a classic skier,” Lee said. “I’m not very good at all at skate skiing, so I was super happy that they were offering adult lessons. You hardly ever get that.”

Lee said she strapped on her skate skis about “three or four times” last winter, and with no formal training, it proved to be a difficult task to tackle, but Lee said that was the draw of Saturday’s event.

“Just to be doing something a little bit different,” she said. “I love to be outside, and the winters can get long, so the more I can do outside, the better.”

Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally

Saturday at Tsalteshi Trails

(Results don’t include instructors from ski rally)

2K youth — 1. Tania Boonstra, 12:00; 2. Olivia Tews, 20:11; 3. Lucia Carson, 20:19; 4. Olga Hippchen, 25:17; 5. Sofia Tews, 26:12; 6. Alaska Hippchen, 37:53.

2K women — 1. Audrey McDonald, 13:30; 2. Sheilah-Margaret Pothast, 21:05; 3. Michelle Lee, 23:06; 4. Frances Jurek, 30:25.

2K men — 1. John Pothast, 21:07; 2. Mark Jurek, 24:40.

4K men — 1. Jeff Helminiak, 16:09; 2. Jason Parks, 22:37.

A group of youth skiers receive lessons Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo provided by Marcus Mueller)

A group of youth skiers receive lessons Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo provided by Marcus Mueller)

A group of skiers make their way along a trail behind Skyview High School, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

A group of skiers make their way along a trail behind Skyview High School, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Black Stone Axe Ridge Warm Up Rally at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

Kenai Central's Emma Beck attacks against Seward's Mikinley Williams and Robin Cronin on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Tracie, Emma Beck get national volleyball recognition

Tracie Beck, the head coach of the Kenai Central volleyball team, and… Continue reading

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Former local prep stars Ostrander, Seavey selected for Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame announced this week that former Kenai… Continue reading

tease
SoHi, Kenai hockey take losses on road

The host Palmer hockey team defeated Soldotna on Thursday in Northern Lights… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School Esports players Landon Dubber and Blake Gillis play against one another in the Alaska Fall 2023 semifinals for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Esports: Kenai advances to state final

In the first week of playoffs for fall esports in Alaska, Soldotna… Continue reading

tease
Years of Homer ‘Nutcracker’ magic

I am in the back row of “Nutcracker 2023” warmups on the… Continue reading

Kenai's Jason Parks, running on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Kenai, Alaska, wins the Kenai River Marathon on Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Parks, Deal post top-200 finishes at California International Marathon

Jason Parks, 35, of Kenai, finished 120th among men and 121st overall… Continue reading

tease
SoHi girls, boys wrestlers take 2nd at Grace as local squads tune up for conference tourneys

The Soldotna girls and boys wrestling teams each finished second at the… Continue reading

tease
Weekend prep hockey: SoHi takes 2 in Kodiak; Kards win twice at home

The visiting Soldotna hockey team defeated Kodiak 7-0 on Friday and 7-1… Continue reading

Most Read