A week of high-level cross country ski racing wrapped up in Fairbanks yesterday (April 2) with women’s and men’s marathons. The races, including three National Championship events, showcased the nation’s top Nordic skiers, including numerous Alaskans.
U.S. Ski team star Jessie Diggins of Minnesota swept the individual races at the Birch Hill Recreation Area, capping the week by winning the women’s 30-kilometer skate technique race Sunday.
It was the end of very long racing season, and Diggins, who ranked 6th in the world this year, said being back in the United States and racing among friends enabled her to muster a little extra energy.
”And just focus on having fun instead of putting pressure on my self,” Diggins said. “And then it was easier to go fast again, I think.”
As she did throughout the races in Fairbanks, Diggins bested teammate Kikkan Randall of Anchorage in Sunday’s 30K. Randall is a former World Cup champion who is coming back strong after having a baby.
”I didn’t have any expectations and overall, I think it went really well but, it’s amazing,” Randall said. “I could feel almost every couple of weeks, my body changing and getting slowly back to normal. I’m really excited to feel back to 100 percent.”
Randall’s home club, Alaska Pacific University placed several athletes atop the standings over the week-long four-race series. On Sunday Chelsea Holmes was 3rd, Rosie Frankowski was 5th, and Becca Rorabaugh was 12th. Rorabaugh, who grew up in Fairbanks, says it was great to finish the season in her hometown, describing her pre-Olympic year as solid.
”I think this was one of the more consistent seasons I’ve had but very few spectacular performances,” Rorabaugh said. “Hoping to kinda get that high end going next year.”
APU skiers also crowded the top in the men’s 50K. Scott Patterson of Anchorage broke away to take the top spot, just like he did in last week’s opening day skiathlon. Patterson says he’s feeling good about making the 2018 Olympic team.
”I got quite a few World Cup points through the season and then finished off real strong here,” Patterson said. “So I think I put myself, definitely, as one of the big names up there for next year, and make it happen next year.”
Minnesota’s Brian Gregg was 3rd in Sunday’s 50K. With the race season complete, Gregg said he’s ready for a break, and that starts this week leading a group of athletes to the North Slope Village of Pt. Hope to teach skiing.
”Work with the entire school and the entire community to come and ski and it’s a big party,” Gregg said. “We’re basically skiing eight in the morning to eight or nine at night, and I love it.”
Gregg was followed in yesterday’s race, by APU skier Erik Packer of Anchorage, who’s podium finish capped his return to racing after suffering a concussion in a January car accident.
”Now that I’m allowed to race and come back here, I just really wanted to make it count,” Packer said. “And it was a blast.”
Another APU skier, Tyler Kornfield of Anchorage, was 4th in the men’s 50 K. Alaska will again be the venue major ski races next year, with Anchorage scheduled to host pre-Olympic national championships in January.
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
