Nordic ski opens 2021 season in Utah

January 13, 2021

The Alaska Nanook men and women's Nordic ski team takes off for the University of Utah this weekend. They will participate in FIS/RMISA collegiate races from Saturday, Jan. 16, through Monday, Jan. 18. This is the first official event for the Alaska squad.

You can get updates and race times on Summit Timing.

Location	Soldier Hollow Nordic Center – Midway, Utah
Dates & Times	Saturday, Jan. 16 7:00 a.m. AKT – M/W TBD, FIS Classic Sprint Qualifier 90 minute lunch break following first race After break, other gender races Sunday, Jan. 17 7:00 a.m. AKT – M/W TBD, 5k/10k Freestyle Individual Start (RMISA) 90 minute lunch break following first race After break, other gender races Monday, Jan. 18 7:00 a.m. AKT – M/W TBD, 15k/20k Classic Mass Start (RMISA) 90 minute lunch break following first race After break, other gender races RMISA Awards after final race on Monday
Live Updated Race Results	Summit Timing
Tuesday Preview Press Conference	YouTube Link Twitter Link Facebook Link

Opening day
This is the Nanooks first opportunity to compete in the 2020-2021 athletic schedule after not competing at all in the 2020 portion of the schedule due to COVID-19 protocol. The 'Nooks were last on the slopes at the 2020 NCAA Skiing Championships before having the Championships canceled due to COVID.

New faces
Head coach Eliska Albrigtsen has named Jennie Bender the acting head coach for the 2021 campaign. Bender, who joined the 'Nooks in 2019, will sub in for Albrigtsen, who is expecting. With the temporary position change, senior Logan Mowry felt she's been filling in great. "She's been killing it. I think it's never like an easy situation, getting a lot more responsibility like that and getting kind of tossed into that situation but it's been super smooth and I know the whole team has been vibing and really meshing well with her instruction."

Alongside the new acting head coach, the 'Nooks welcome one newcomer on the men's side of the slopes in Max Beiergrohslein and on the women's side they welcome Kendall Kramer .

Venue
The Soldier Hollow Nordic Center is just above the town of Midway, Utah, resting in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains. This venue is primarily known as an Olympic venue and has been the site of the U.S. Cross Country Skiing Championships at times. The Nanooks will race all three regular-season meets at Soldier Hollow and raced at this same venue once last season. Coach Bender explained why she's excited to see a lot of time at Soldier Hollow all season. "It's a great venue for us, it's at altitude, but it's not as high as some of our others…it allows for us to get repetition and know the course better and better."

Weather
Midway, Utah, forecasts show mid- to high 30's with some cloud coverage and sun breaks at times while the Nanooks are in town.

List of racers
The Nanooks will be sending 10 athletes to Utah this weekend.

Kendall Kramer
Mariel Pulles
Catherine Reed-Metayer
Rya Berrigan
Sage Robine
Christopher Kalev
Mike Ophoff
Logan Mowry
Lukash Platil
Patrick Marbacher

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Nordic Ski team, follow @AlaskaNanooksXC on Twitter or Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.