Anchorage Daily News

What's a ski pole worth? More than $100, apparently.

Former Olympic nordic skier James Southam of Anchorage earned his second straight SuperTour win Sunday on a day that saw snow, wind, rain and sun during a 15-kilometer classical race at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt.

But victory seemed to slip away with about 4-K left in the race when Southam's pole came out of its grip, rendering it useless.

"It happened on a section of the course where there were no coaches or spectators, so for a brief moment panic set in," Southam wrote on his Web site. 'There is no way I am going to lose this race because my damn pole came off!' " he told himself.

A collegiate skier came by, and Flora offered him $50 for his pole. Laughter ensued.

"I told him I was serious, and he thought about it but said, 'No way.' I offered him $100. He still said no."

Eventually, a coach provided Southam a pole and he held off Anchorage's Lars Flora by 20 seconds to win in 44:17.6. All together, 172 skiers competed.

"The last few weeks I have been training really hard to peak at worlds, so to come out of that and be able to win is good to see," Southam said.

The nordic world championships begin Feb. 18 in Liberec, the Czech Republic.

In the women's race, former South High Skimeister Caitlin Patterson, now skiing for the University of Vermont, placed second. Her 35.22.5 time in the 10-K classic race left her more than 21 seconds behind victor Kristina Sandberg.

On Saturday, Southam and Flora had an identical first-second finish in the men's 10-K freestyle, with Southam prevailing in 26:36.6. Flora was 12 seconds back. Sandberg beat Patterson in the women's 5-K classical too.

Besh Cup series ends

Kinsey Loan of Anchorage and David Norris of Fairbanks each won Besh Cup trophies as the six-race cross-country skiing series concluded Sunday in Fairbanks at the Birch Hill Recreation Area.

At the same time, Cross Country Alaska named the skiers who will travel to Truckee, Calif., for the Junior Olympics beginning March 9.

2009 Alaska Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Team

J2 Girls -- Annie Liotta, Celia Haering, Mackenzie Kanady, Bree Mucha, Kryston McPhetres, Maranda Merkes, Hannah Boyer

J1/OJ Girls -- Jaime Bronga, Amy Glen, Caitlin Patterson, Becca Rorabaugh, Kinsey Loan, Kailey Mucha, Rachelle Kanady, Karina Packer, Alyson McPhetres, Christina Knapp, Rebecca Konieczny, Sarah Tegeler, Marisa Rorabaugh, Morgan Bender, Rebecca Mamrol, Lauren Hess, Esther Kennedy, Heather Edic, Greta Anderson, Erika Klaar

J2 Boys -- Logan Hanneman, Forrest Mahlen, Robert Hovda, Travis Semmens, Sam Dougherty, Isaac Lammers, Kyle Barnhart

J1/OJ Boys -- David Norris, Patrick Johnson, Tyler Kornfield, Andrew Dougherty, Scott Patterson, Alex Morris, Lex Treinen, Cole Talbot, Reese Hanneman, Erin Phillips, James Crimp, Werner Hoefler, Bobby Miller, Kelsey Boyer, Jordan Buetow, Aaron Fletcher, Neil Liotta, Silas Talbot, Erik Gorman, Don Haering, Wyatt Mayo, David Besh, Lars Arneson, Nils Kristen Sandtroen

Gimbel, Wolf prevail at Willow

Jeff Gimbel and Kristin Wolf each skied to victories on Sunday in the 25-mile VaMoose 25 ski race that was part of the Willow Winter Carnival.

VaMoose 25

Sunday in Willow

Men -- 1) Jeff Gimbel 2:45:04; 2) Anthony Berberich 2:55:44; 3) Kim Kittredge 3:23:39; 4) State Ryan 3:35:30; 5) Mark Gronewald 3:44:03; 6) Rick Dennis 3:47:02; 7) Dan McDonough 3:57:01; 8) Brian Garcia 4:07:56.

Women -- 1) Kristin Wolf 3:09:51; 2) Julie Berberich 3:16:52; 3) Jill Valerius 3:17:25; 4) Keri Dean 04:26:30.

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