Anchorage Daily News

Apparently, a little brisk weather isn't enough to deter U.S. Ski Association officials.

On Thursday, USSA announced the national championships in cross-country skiing that precede selecting the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Team will begin the day after New Year's at Kincaid Park.

This will be the second consecutive year Kincaid has hosted the national championships. Last season's event was marred by temperatures well below zero that forced the cancellation of all but two races in the week-long event.

"There is much excitement surrounding our return to Anchorage for the U.S. Championships," U.S. Nordic Program Director John Farra said in a press release. "A large population of skiers dream of a chance to qualify for the Vancouver Games and performing well in Anchorage will go a long way to achieving that goal."

Races are Jan. 2-8 on alternate days, about a month before the Winter Games start in Vancouver. And the series begins with a bang.

Saturday's opener is a freestyle sprint, a specialty of hometown hero Kikkan Randall, America's top nordic skier, who is all but assured of a berth on her third consecutive Olympic team.

"For me, it's nice because I get to spend a little bit more time at home and relax going into the Olympics. I think it's pretty much the best option I could ask for," Randall, a silver medalist at last year's world championships, said in a press release. "On one hand, it's good for me being in Alaska. But at the same time it's cool for the community that's supported me to this point to be able to experience this with me. At home I can share it a bit more."

In the championships nine months ago, brutally cold January weather gripped Anchorage for more than a week, with temperatures plummeting as low as minus 15. National championships adhere to international racing rules, which state races can't start when it's colder than minus 4 on any part of the trail.

Through the years, though, a more-frequent worry has been bouts of unseasonably warm weather that turn trails to mush.

Diane Moxness, executive director of the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage, said preparations leading up to the 2010 championships will include preparing a solid snow base, stockpiling snow and being ready to truck it to Kincaid. Volunteers respond when weather threatens championships, she said, adding that nearly 200 volunteers a day showed up last year.

"It's something that could happen anywhere," she said of the inclement weather. "That's just one of the variables of putting on a ski race."

A program of building and improving sports facilities at Kincaid that was approved by the Anchorage Assembly last year includes the installation of snow-making equipment -- but it won't be ready for the championships.

Moxness said a well has been built and pipes are in the ground, but the connections have not been completed.

Regardless, the skiers will be ready. Moxness thought as many as 100 Alaskans could sign up for the rare chance to ski in what is essentially an Olympic Trials race.

Until last year, Anchorage hadn't hosted cross-country skiing's national championships since 1994.

Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.

Nordic nationals schedule

Saturday, Jan. 2: Freestyle sprint qualification and finals. Monday, Jan. 4: Women's 10-K freestyle; men's 15-K freestyle Wednesday, Jan. 6: Women's 20-K class; men's 30-K classic Friday, Jan. 8: Classic sprint qualification and finals

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