On the Ski for Women's Facebook page, a recent post extended thanks "to all our Fairy Godmothers, Snow Angels, and Good Witches of the North ... for the magical white dusting!"
Translation: Get your costumes ready -- Anchorage finally has some snow, just in time for Sunday's Ski for Women at Kincaid Park.
Costumes are the distinguishing feature of the Ski for Women, a ski race for girls and women held annually on Super Bowl Sunday. Fairy godmothers and snow angels are joined by giraffes, sled dogs, sunflowers, tortilla chips, giant vegetables, beer bottles, sock monkeys, vikings and even skiers. It's a dress-up day disguised as a ski race.
Sometimes, the ski racing is optional. In 2005, snow was so sparse the event turned into a walk instead of a ski. Last year, a mid-January heat wave turned Kincaid's stadium into an ice rink, but groomers magically transformed ice to something similar to snow, allowing the show to go on.
As recently as a week ago, snow was scarce at Kincaid. Then came the first measurable snowfall since October, ending talks of a Walk for Women or a Skate for Women.
"We have snow, it's cold, it's not raining. It's great," event director Fiona Peichel said Tuesday. "As of right now we're using the traditional 4-K loop. If there are any changes to be made, we'll make those changes on Saturday."
Besides being an excuse for girls and women to wear costumes and gather for a low-key race, the Ski for Women is a fundraiser for statewide charities that help stop the cycle of domestic abuse.
Now in its 19th year, the race has raised more than $1 million for such causes; last year's race funded $60,000 worth of grants.
Peichel said most participants sign up the week of the race, so she is hopeful the low-snow winter won't significantly impact fundraising.
"That's the biggest concern for the whole (race) committee," Peichel said. "When the weather is not encouraging people to get out and ski, the people who suffer are our grant recipients.
"Last year even though the weather wasn't great, we still had great registration and donations. What we noticed was people didn't necessarily come out on Sunday, but they wanted to donate. I know I did that one year when it was minus-20."
Ski for Women
Sunday at Kincaid Park
9-11 a.m. -- Bib pickup and party-wave registration
10:30 a.m. -- 4-K freestyle and duathlon start
11 a.m. -- 4-K classic start
12:15 p.m. -- Party-wave start (may start at noon, depending on weather)
Shuttle bus
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Catch at Kincaid Elementary and outer Kincaid Park parking lots
Waxing (classic skis)
Sunday 9 a.m. to noon, Kincaid stadium
Prerace registration/bib pickup
Thursday and Friday, noon to 7 p.m., REI
Online registration
anchoragenordicski.com
Donations accepted in lieu of entry fees. Suggested donation is $35.