Sports

Heather Renner and Tasha Reynolds run and fat bike to the finish during 2019 Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. (Courtesy photo)

Mouth to Mouth up and running

The monthlong run and fat bike challenge kicked off in person on Tuesday at South Kenai Beach.

Heather Renner and Tasha Reynolds run and fat bike to the finish during 2019 Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. (Courtesy photo)
Andrew Marley, the 2021 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament winner, at left, holds his prize winning 25.62-pound white king salmon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Helping him are his father, Jay Marley, center, and older brother Weston Marley, right. The family team included Erica Marley, not shown, all fishing on the Fly Dough. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

10-year-old takes home $87,000 for top fish in Homer tourney

‘Quite a bit of that is going to go to college tuition,’ dad says of son’s earnings

Andrew Marley, the 2021 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament winner, at left, holds his prize winning 25.62-pound white king salmon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Helping him are his father, Jay Marley, center, and older brother Weston Marley, right. The family team included Erica Marley, not shown, all fishing on the Fly Dough. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Clarion file

Voices of the Peninsula: Flawed decisions failed Ninilchik athletes

“There was so much that was wrong with the end of this game …”

Clarion file
The Kenai River Brown Bears celebrate the first-period goal of Logan Ritchie (far left) on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Voices of the Peninsula: Brown Bears are back and need your support

Our club will resume hockey operations at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex beginning April 16.

The Kenai River Brown Bears celebrate the first-period goal of Logan Ritchie (far left) on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan controls the puck early in the third period as 1,113 fans watch Friday, March 24, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears to return after council loosens sports center mitigation

The resolution increases the number of spectators allowed at events to 750

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan controls the puck early in the third period as 1,113 fans watch Friday, March 24, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to consider Brown Bears’ future Wednesday

The Kenai River Brown Bears want to resume games in Soldotna in March

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tour of Tsalteshi sees record turnout

In its fourth year at the trail system just outside of Soldotna, the Tour had record turnout of 136 finishers.

Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ben LaVigueur, 43, of Nikiski starts the Little Su 50K on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Big Lake, Alaska. LaVigueur won the run category in the event. (Photo by Andy Romang)

Back in the running

Niksiki’s LaVigueur wins Little Su 50K in return to ultramarathons

Ben LaVigueur, 43, of Nikiski starts the Little Su 50K on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Big Lake, Alaska. LaVigueur won the run category in the event. (Photo by Andy Romang)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears back in action Saturday

Team will release new season schedule any day now

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Time to be a beginner again’

Holt steps away from Tsalteshi after over 25 years of driving the expansion and refinement of trails

Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Fletcher Stevens, of Kenai, skis the Porcupine Loop on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ski gear flies off shelves of local retailers

Pandemic prompts surge in outdoor activity

Fletcher Stevens, of Kenai, skis the Porcupine Loop on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Peninsula Oilers play the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

From Cape Cod to Alaska, college leagues eye MLB changes

Collegiate summer leagues like the ABL were hit by another potential obstacle recently.

The Peninsula Oilers play the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Victor Rodriguez is awarded the Alaska Fighting Championship bantamweight title on Feb. 26, 2020, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Maria Bundy)

Hitting the big time

Soldotna’s Rodriguez signs 4-fight deal with UFC

Victor Rodriguez is awarded the Alaska Fighting Championship bantamweight title on Feb. 26, 2020, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Maria Bundy)
Kenai's Eric Thomason competes in the Moab 240 Endurance Run from Oct. 9 to 13, 2020, near Moab, Utah. (Photo by Eric Thomason)

Going long

Kenai’s Thomason finishes Moab 240 Endurance Run

Kenai's Eric Thomason competes in the Moab 240 Endurance Run from Oct. 9 to 13, 2020, near Moab, Utah. (Photo by Eric Thomason)
Football jamboree marks return of prep sports

Football jamboree marks return of prep sports

“We watch each day with our fingers crossed hoping there won’t be an explosion of cases.”

Football jamboree marks return of prep sports
Brown Bears prep for October launch

Brown Bears prep for October launch

General manager says team has many issues to address

Brown Bears prep for October launch
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Back to school? COVID cases to decide

“We are on a tightwire between a rock and a hard place.”

Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
photos by Megan Pacer / Homer News                                 A youth rider takes a turn riding a bull calf during the 60th annual Ninilchik Rodeo on Saturday, July 4 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik. The rodeo lasted throughout the July Fourth holiday and celebrated a return to the event’s roots.

Riding high in Ninilchik

Ninilchik Rodeo celebrates 60 years with events new and old.

photos by Megan Pacer / Homer News                                 A youth rider takes a turn riding a bull calf during the 60th annual Ninilchik Rodeo on Saturday, July 4 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik. The rodeo lasted throughout the July Fourth holiday and celebrated a return to the event’s roots.
Tsalteshi summer racing won’t be the same

Tsalteshi summer racing won’t be the same

Mountain bikes, Salmon Run Series get new formats

Tsalteshi summer racing won’t be the same
The three collegiate-size wrestling mats at the All American Training Center just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, take up about 7,000 square feet. Wrestlers from the Future of Champions camp use the facility Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The kids deserve it’

Wrestling devotee opens massive new training center

The three collegiate-size wrestling mats at the All American Training Center just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, take up about 7,000 square feet. Wrestlers from the Future of Champions camp use the facility Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)