Tyger Korndog was seen this morning using a new training mode from East Anchoristan.

Greatest off-season training mode since the rollerski?

Though not widely known, this training mode is considered by some to be the latest and greatest off-season training tool to hit the sport of skiing since the rollerski.

Unseasonable warm weather in Fairbanks this past week gave us the opportunity to run a second 3000 meter time trial on the track on Saturday. We also use this data to help name the travel squad for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships on October 24.
Among our 27 skiers and runners who hit the track, we had 15 student-athletes set PRs and another two set season best marks. The best female senior (ages 20+) skier ran a 10:37 while the best female junior (under 20 years old) skier posted a 10:58. The best male skier also happened to be a junior; his time was 9:22.

Senior captain Julie (Coulter) Pierson (left) and senior Anna Coulter shed layers.

On Sunday we got off campus for a group hike/recovery session in the White Mountains north of Fairbanks. We enjoyed a three hour jaunt in true wilderness.

Nanook runners and skiers at the top of Wickersham Dome in the White Mountains of Alaska.

Good recovery from a hard run.

But, with the Red Sox playing game three of the ALDS, assistant coach Matt Dunlap had to receive inning updates via text message from a college-buddy who was in the stands at Fenway some 3,200 miles away. Joy turned to agony for Matt as the Red Sox blew the lead in the ninth inning and were eliminated from the post-season. Then, the Patriots lost in overtime! What day to be a Boston sports fan! But, the hike was amazing! — SJ

In Fairbanks the snow comes when the cranes and geese leave…

….we hope (First flakes outside ski room; Sept. 22)

Meanwhile, we train.

Explore.

Discover new species (Apple Ridge, Hawaii)

Race

And Win. (Theresia Schnurr, Apple Ridge)

We’ve been tightening up the slack.

Working together

Becoming a stronger team.

And we are looking good… (I dunno about the old guy in the middle though?)

So eat lots (Eric, our champion foodie on the team)

Volunteer….

… at your local trails

Make sure the freshman know where they stand on the food-chain.
(Tyler Kornfield demonstrating a caribou’s eating habits. )

And make it happen.

-Ian Wilkinson
(Photo credit Scott Jerome; Matt Dunlap and Rebecca Konieczny)