Ski For Women returns to snow

Last-minute ingenuity, quick thinking and rapid execution can make for clever costumes. But those qualities aren’t nearly as desired when it comes to organizing the annual Ski For Women put on by the Tsalteshi Trails Association each Super Bowl Sunday.

At the 13th annual event, everybody was glad the creativity was put back in the costumes, and not in trying to figure out how to have an event, as was the case last year when a low-snow, icy course led to the “Women’s Stud Run.”

“What a great day — a nice, sunny day with the eagles flying out here,” said Lauri Lingafelt, who helped organize the event for the trails association. “The snow is great and Bill Holt did a great job grooming the trails.

“It’s a fast course, and a good course for all abilities.”

The event, which measured 5 kilometers, isn’t as much about competitive skiing as it is about getting out and having a good time, with many augmenting that good time with costumes.

Homer’s Jane Handy, Kasilof’s Colleen Sinnott and Soldotna’s JoEllen Fowler got in that spirit by cooking up a clever get-up at the last minute.

Sinnott and Fowler decided Saturday to dress like eggs. They then tried to convince Handy to come up for the event. With a wonderful day forecast, Handy decided to make the drive north.

“Jane surprised us,” said Sinnott, who in past events has dressed as one in a flock of flamingos, one of the nuns called the bad habits and a flying pig meant to designate the swine flu. “She always does.

“It was a last-minute idea.”

Handy dressed as a chef, with a sign on the front reading “Le Chef” and a sign on the back reading “Le Chef’s Specialty?? Deviled Eggs.”

On the front of her waist, Handy hung a potato masher, strainer, ladle and whisk. Somewhat more daringly and signaling confidence in her balance, hanging from the back or her waist was another potato masher, various spoons, a butter brush and a grater.

Handy said her outfit was quick to put together, but then admitted to spending three hours folding and taping an elaborate chef’s hat. She said the costume came from ingenuity and not from any culinary passion.

“I made deviled eggs for the first time in my life last week,” Handy said. “I just cook for survival.”

Had Handy taken a spill on that grater, she would have been in good hands due to the heavy presence of yard gnomes … or, um, nurses … at the event.

Soldotna’s Patty Moran, a charge nurse on the medical surgery unit at Central Peninsula Hospital, made up 13 gnome costumes which were mostly donned by hospital employees and their family members.

Soldotna’s Amanda Taylor, a nurse at the hospital, used the suit to take third place in the race. Taylor said this was her first time doing the race because she usually has to work this Sunday, but added that she’s been skiing for six years now.

She was glad to be able to get out and take advantage of the conditions.

“It’s been a much better year for skiing,” Taylor said. “It’s been fun this year. The snow has come back and it just keeps getting better.”

Moran already had a bunch of beards from doing Santa Skis Free on Dec. 23 at Alyeska Resort. From there, the costumes came together quickly.

“It’s didn’t take very long,” Moran said. “I’m a pretty fast sewer.”

The fastest freestyle skier was Carly Reimer at 21 minutes, 39 seconds, while Jordan Ruffner was second at 22:26 and Taylor was third at 22:44. Amber Kraxberger-Linson won the classic race at 33:53, while Heidi Isernhagen was second at 34:12 and Katrina Cannava was third at 36:23.

2017 Ski For Women

Sunday

at Tsalteshi Trails

Five-kilometer freestyle

1. Carly Reimer, 21 minutes, 39 seconds; 2. Jordan Ruffner, 22:26; 3. Amanda Taylor, 24:44; 4. Jane Adkins, 27:57; 5. Kate Harris, 28:04; 6. Patty Moran, 28:05; 7. Simone Owens, 29:23; 8. Kim Lofquist, 29:31; . Madison McDonald, 33:02; 10. Anna Cannava, 36:13; 11. Audrey McDonald, 42:06; 12. Dana McDonald, 42:10; 13. Tara Ruffner, 45:04; 14. Taylor Ruffner, 45:28; 15. JoEllen Fowler, 47:29; 16. Regan Hunt, 56:20; 17. Lucia Carson, 59:02; 18. Kristin Davis, 1:00:49.

Five-kilometer classic

1. Amber Kraxberger-Linson, 33:53; 2. Heidi Isernhagen, 34:12; 3. Katrina Cannava, 36:23; 4. Julie Laker, 37:20; 5. Laurie Walters, 37:23; 6. Angelica Sulley, 38:56; 7. Amy Hogue, 42:19; 8. Karen VonBreyman, 42:32; 9. Marilyn Wilson, 42:44; 10. Candace Nakagawa, 43:05; 11. Melanie Hollon, 43:32; 12. Chisato Johnson, 44:53; 13. Jane Handy, 47:29; 14. Colleen Sinnott, 47:29; 15. Patti Berkhahn, 50:29; 16. Rachel Grossl, 50:35; 17. Mary King, 50:43; 18. Jenny Gates, 50:43; 19. Steph Hunt, 56:27; 20. Tiffany Wilkes, 58:14; 21. Sasha Fallon, 58:14; 22. Misty Peterkin, 58:14; 23. Rinna Carson, 59:06; 24. Ruby Davis, 1:00:49; 25. Nancy Carver, 1:01:36.