AMH Anchorage Cup

The AMH Anchorage Cup Citizen Races are five ski events brought to you by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage and sponsored by Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome. The goal is to have fun, ski on well-groomed trails, and enjoy the amazing Anchorage ski community. All of our races feature the Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, a valued partner in keeping all skiers safe!

This series is for people of all ages and abilities. Choose a distance, line up on the starting line, and go! Whether you prefer the warmth of wool or the speed of spandex, whether you want to go as fast as you can or ski with friends, it’s a great way to get outside on a Sunday and enjoy the winter!

GENERAL INFO

Race Conditions

Anchorage Cup races will not be held when weather or trail conditions pose a safety risk to participants. When weather or trail conditions are marginal we may encourage participants to enter the shorter distance events. There is no specific minimum air temperature that races will be held. The determination of whether the race can be safely held will be based on multiple factors including temperature, wind, precipitation and course conditions.

The Race Director will make a final determination regarding the acceptability of racing conditions as soon as possible, but no later than 10am the morning of the race. Any cancellations or updates will be posted to the top of this website and to the NSAA Facebook page. A race that cannot be held due to unsafe conditions will be rescheduled and if there are no available dates it will be cancelled. Registration fees will not be refunded.

Pricing

Youth (11 & Under) -$10.00
NSAA Member Student (12-24) -$20.00
NSAA Member Adult (25+)-$30.00
Non Member (12+)-$40.00

*NSAA Member Adults: Register by Dec. 11th for all 5 races and receive a $25 registration discount!

RACES

Hello Racers! We’re STOKED to announce our integration of Zone4 timing software into the AMH Anchorage Cup series this season! As we all become more comfortable with new software, we’ve got some specific race day instructions for setting up your relay team(s) for next week’s race.

1) Register! You can register on the NSAA webpage, or even on race day! (Cash not accepted)

2) Get your bib at the bunker

3) Use posted QR codes to set up your team. You will need to know your bib # AND your partner’s bib #. Only one racer per team needs to do this

4) If you are doing multiple races you will need to submit one form per each race

5) Get a timing chip when you head to the start line. This should be done just before heading into the start lanes

6) Race day volunteers will remove timing chips at the finish line

We hope you have a great time at the first race and we’ll see you at the start line!

Race #1

AMH Anchorage Cup Race #1

December 11, 2022

Freestyle

2x2km

The 2 (skiers) x 2Km x 2 Laps is a family friendly relay event. In this race, skiers will partner up with a friend, family member, or brand new race day pal to ski a 2km lap twice over. Skiers can opt to race with either racers of their own gender, in a mixed gender event, or even in both under the same race-day registration.

That’s right, that means two races for the price of one! That’s a 2(2x2x2) for all you mathematicians out there. For younger, new skiers, we will also offer a youth 2 x 2km x 1 lap option. Racers will finalize their relay partners at bib pickup on race day.

Please register ahead of time in order to get the series discount. If registering the day of, please show up to the wax bunker at least 30 mins before your race starts.

Start Times:

Men’s Race 12pm
Women’s 12:45pm
Youth 1 leg 1:30pm
Mixed Gender 2:15pm
Awards 3:00pm

Race Map

Race Day Sponsor: Alaska Winter Stars

Volunteer Sign Up

Race #2

AMH Anchorage Cup Race #2

January 8, 2023

Hickok Skiathlon & Classic

The Hickok Skiathlon combines the two techniques of cross country skiing into one rad event! Skiers who choose to race in the skiathlon format will race their classic leg first, and then transition into skate gear in the stadium. Nervous about doubling down on a dual technique race? Don’t worry! We will have a classic only option for folks who are still perfecting their skate technique.

Race Start Time:

12:00 10k skiathlon

12:20 5k skiathlon and 5k classic

12:25 3k classic

Distances: Overall, 3K Classic, 5K Classic, 5K Skiathlon, 10K Skiathlon

Race Day Sponsor: Alaska Pacific University

Volunteer Sign Up

Race #3

AMH Anchorage Cup Race #3

January 22, 2023

Kincaid Classic & Wooden Ski

The Kincaid Classic is a return to a simpler skiing time. A time when “skating” referred to a thing you do on ice with much pointier boots, not a powerhouse of V2. The Kincaid Classic will host a number of different events, all sponsored by the Anchorage chapter of Sons of Norway.

The Kincaid Classic part of the day will entail a traditional classic ski race, with a long, intermediate, and short distance option. There will also be a wooden ski specific race, where all racers will be encouraged to don their very finest knickers, wool sweaters, leather boots, and freshly pine-tarred wooden skis. Keep on the lookout, legend has it there be trolls afoot here! Be sure to look your finest, we will also be awarding a “best dressed” category at our traditional waffle feed award ceremony!

Kincaid Classic Special Features

Pine Tar Waxing: 8:30-10:30

Wake up to the aroma of pine tar bright and early! Sons of Norway will be offering a free pine tar wax clinic on the morning of race day. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get your old school wooden skis prepped for the wooden ski classic race!

Wooden Ski Classic

Our last but certainly not least race for the day will be the Wooden Ski Classic race. This is a short distance race and is a chance to prove your commitment to the three-pin lifestyle. Competitors who enter this event will received a limited-edition wooden ski medal hand made on race day!

Best Dressed

It wouldn’t be the Kincaid Classic & Wooden ski without a best-dressed contest!

Celebrate traditional Scandinavian flair by coming dressed to impress in your woolen trousers, knit sweaters, and the thickest most-scratchiest socks under the sun! Compete either solo or in a group!

Waffle-thon

Our post-race celebration will feature…waffles!! Yippee! Join fellow competitors, friends, and family in the bunker following the race for waffles and fun! Following the conclusion of all races we will also be holding a brief awards ceremony, during which we will crown the best-dressed!

Distances: 3K, 5K, 10K, 15K

Race Start Times:

15K-12pm

10K-12:15pm

5K-12:30pm

Wooden Ski 3K-1:15pm

Awards-2pm

Race Day Sponsor: Sons of Norway

Volunteer Sign Up

Race #4

AMH Anchorage Cup Race #4

February 12, 2023

Freestyle (Criterium)

The AMH Anchorage Cup is stoked to announce the addition of a brand-new race style to it’s repertoire of events, the Criterium. Criteriums are commonly found in the world of bike racing and provide an exciting lap-based race format that sees skiers racing against a clock for most laps completed. Criteriums are heavy on “pack mentality” that paces this lap based event.

We will feature 3 different options for racing this day – a 40 minute race for serious competitors, a 30 min option for open category adults, and a 20 min run for youth athletes. When the time limit is up, racers will need to complete a final lap, with the first athlete across the line taking the win. Looking for even more excitement?? The criterium will also feature randomly placed preme (pron. “preem”) laps, that will be announced loudly via bell (and gong!) At the sound of the gong, the first lead racer to cross the line will receive a prize for their sprint to the front. Be sure to pace yourself!!

For beginner racers, polar cubs, and families out for a quick fun-run, check out the new Polar Dash option! The Polar Dash will be a single lap, timed race around the criterium course, without the pressure of needing to race multiple laps. Parents that want to join young skiers in their early racing career should feel free to join in without timing chip at no cost

Race Start Time:

12pm- one lap polar dash for the little kids

12:30pm-12:50pm-twenty minute junior race for older kids

1:00pm-1:40pm- Elite Crit

1:10pm-1:40pm-Open Crit

Course Map Here

Distances: Jr Criterium, Open Criterium, Elite Criterium

Race Day Sponsor: Junior Nordic

Volunteer Sign Up

Race #5: The Sven Johansson Memorial Race

AMH Anchorage Cup Race #5

February 19, 2023

Freestyle

The Sven Johansson Memorial race is the capstone of the Anchorage Cup series, and provides a distance option for athletes to put all their hard work from the season to the test.

The 30km Sven features challenging climbs and skillful descents through some of the toughest terrain that Kincaid Park has to offer. An aid station with small snacks and water will be located at the halfway point of the course. Tamer options will also be available for athletes and families who are stoked to race, but in a bit more of a relaxed fashion. 15km & 5km options are encouraged for racers who want to take a more relaxed approach, and a 3km option is available for youth athletes. Skiers who race in distance options will also be able to use their times to qualify for faster seeded heats at the Tour of Anchorage, which takes place a few short weeks later.

Race Start Times:

1.15pm – 30k

2.00pm – 15k

2.30pm – 5k

2.35pm – 3k

Course Map

Distances: 3K, 5K, 15K, 30K

Race Day Sponsors: Moose’s Tooth and The Hoarding Marmot

Volunteer Sign Up

SCORING

Anchorage Cup points will be awarded to everyone who finishes a race. Points are calculated by taking your race time and dividing by the average time of the top 3 finishers in your race. For the longest race course the result will be multiplied by 100. For shorter races, the result will be multiplied by the ratio of your race distance divided by the distance of the longest race. Men and women points will be calculated separately. For determining overall end-of-season Anchorage Cup winners, each person’s top 3 point values out of 4 races will be totaled.

Points = ATTT/Time x Dist/MaxDist x 100

Points = Anchorage Cup Race Points

ATTT = Average time of the top 3 finishers in your race

Time = Your time

Dist = Your Course distance

MaxDist = The maximum course distance

Men’s points: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J1ZTelqsvLdhE2UfCOPVKX4jtWLzrukgi_0WYIh_PvA/edit?usp=sharing

Women’s points: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jxeLEuEg5Xs9ot1Jby2kkbCA7z0_eB8-ppIono6T24g/edit?usp=sharing

The NSAA will introduce Zone4 chip timing to this year’s AMH Anchorage Cup races. Racers will get their chips at the start line and the finish crew will re-collect them. Be prepared for instant results and an award ceremony after the race!