Ever wondered what it's like to race in the Tesoro Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic? That's the annual race, held in the Hoodoo Mountains near Summit, in which skiers and snowboarders start at the top of a 5,800-foot summit, grab a tow on the go from a snowmachine-riding partner waiting at the bottom, and catch a ride up another summit before letting go and making a final run. Thanks to the magic of helmet cam technology, now you can go along for the ride.
Arctic Man competitor Jonny Hammond recorded his complete run in this year's men's snowboard division. And when we say complete, we mean complete -- Hammond's video spans nearly nine minutes, from the moment he straps on his helmet to the moment he takes it off. If all you want is the action, skip to 2:27, when Hammond starts his run. He hooks up with partner Larry Levine around 4:25, when things really start to pick up speed, and lets go of the tow rope to start his final downhill at 7:00. Hammond and Levine took third place in their division with a finishing time of 5:36.24; their top speed was 75 mph, according to the official race results.
While "Sarah Palin's Alaska" has finished its eight-week run on TLC, Alaska Dispatch continues to take a look at the Last Frontier as it's experienced by residents across the state -- urban and rural, young and old, from all walks of life. You've seen "Sarah Palin's Alaska" -- now welcome to Our Alaska.