KMTA Classic Race Results Are Posted!

2022 RACE RESULTS

Join Us on February 27th in Girdwood!

Calling all Nordic skiers! We are thrilled to announce the inaugural KMTA Classic, a family friendly classic ski race on the 5k Nordic Loop in Girdwood, AK. Co-hosted by KMTA and the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, this event will celebrate the joy of Nordic skiing and the rich history of the region. Join us on February 27th for some fun in the snow! All proceeds will go to benefit the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club and Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area.

RACE OPTIONS

2k Course:

Short and sweet!

5k Timed Course:

Intermediate course
Start at the kiosk and follow the trail past the first cut off, take the next cut off to loop back to the kiosk for a victorious finish!
Race may be shortened if there is inclement weather that makes parts of the course dangerous.

2x2x2 Relay:

2 skiers ski two laps which are 2k each lap.
- Skier 1 skis the 2k, tags skier 2.
- Skier 2 skis the 2k, tags skier 1.
- Skier 1 skis the 2k, tags skier 2.
- Skier 2 skis the 2k and crosses the finish line!

RACE FEES & REGISTRATION

Only pay once per person and participate in 1, 2, or all 3 events. Registration fees below:
- Adult: $30
- Youth 13-18: $15
- Youth 12 and under: Free
No refunds are available.
Online Registration ends at 6 PM on February 26th. On-site registration will be available the morning of the race at 11 AM.

START TIME

The event will start at 12pm with the 2K race, followed by the 5K Race and then Relays.

BIB PICK UP

Bib pick up will be open at 10am on Race Day and be located right next to the 5K parking area at the end of Arlberg Road.

PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS

Thank you to all our donors for their awesome prizes and giveaways”

Alyeska Resort gift certificates, ski lift passes and a gift basket!
The Bake Shop gift certificates
The Ice Cream Shop gift certificates
The Powder Hound gift certificates

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING

The 5K Nordic loop is 45 minutes from Anchorage and right next to Alyeska Resort. Park at the paved Arlberg parking lot located at the end of Arlberg Road. This is a new road so it might not show up on older GPS units. Alternative parking is available in Parking Lot A, where you can then walk/ski to the Nordic Trailhead. You can find out more information about the trail and the location here and here.

SPECTATORS

Spectators, please join the fun on your skis and cheer at the finish or along the course! Space for standing will be limited near the start and in these pandemic times, being a ski length away can give others comfort and healthy distance. Thanks for coming to support your Nordic community!

WANT A KMTA CLASSIC SHIRT OR SWEATSHIRT?

KMTA Classic sweatshirts are available! Click here to check out the shirt options.

THE “WHY” BEHIND THE KMTA CLASSIC

Shirley Firth

One of KMTA’s greatest privileges is helping local partners bring the colorful histories of our heritage area communities to life. The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club (GNSC) is one such partner working to create interpretive signs for the 5K Nordic Loop through support from a KMTA grant. The goal of these interpretive signs is to highlight the legacy of the 1969 Junior National Ski Race and the 10K trail that was constructed for it and maintained for a decade thereafter. This trail– the first recreational-purpose trail built in Girdwood– helped bring tourism and ski racing to Alaska. In fact, the 1969 Junior National Ski Race was the first national race held by the Nordic Ski Club of Alaska. The remarkable Shirley Firth from Inuvik championed that race and, unbeknownst to many, went on to become one of the first Indigenous women to compete in international ski racing, eventually as an Olympian.

The Nordic 5K Loop we know and love today is actually built over a portion of that historic 10K trail, and boasts small handmade signs hidden throughout the forest that show the original route. The KMTA Classic will celebrate the significance of this place, its users, and its storied heritage.

FUNDRAISER FOR THE KMTA NHA

Race proceeds will benefit the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club and KMTA’s efforts to recognize, preserve, and interpret the historic, scenic, natural resources, and cultural landscape of the KMTA historic transportation corridor through our various community heritage programs.

KMTA deeply appreciates the leadership of our co-host the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club in developing and maintaining a world class Nordic trail system in the Girdwood Valley, and encouraging responsible use through advocacy, education and stewardship.