ASPA Race Across the Valley Results
February 13-16, 2004

Click to go to specific results:  Stage 1    Stage 2    Stage 3   Stage 4   Overall

Stage 1, February 13, 2004
Creamer's Field/ADMA Trails 
(8.4 miles (ASPA Pink Loop), 10º F)

Kriya Dunlap with Oban and Brahma after finishing the first stage (for the second time) of the 2004 Race Across the Valley. Photo by Dave Partee.

Sixteen skijorers and 33 dogs competed under beautiful sunny skies in an 8.4 mile skijor race which combined the trails at Creamer's Field with the Alaska Dog Mushers Association trails. Hard packed conditions made for record setting times. 

Jim Herriges completed the course in 27 minutes 23 seconds with his two dogs, Lily and Lena, 2 minutes and 44 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, Cindy Salmon. There was close competition for second place. Salmon & her three dogs (Chinook, Tex, & Coho) completed the course in 30:07, followed by Mike Malvick (Corky, Mons, Billie) in 30:18, and Andy Seitz (Yeller, Yeti) in 30:20.

Friday the 13th brought its traditional luck to Kriya Dunlap (Oban, Brahma) and Kristi Downing (Snuggles, Jake) who took a wrong turn on the course. The Friday the 13th prize, however, was awarded to Don Kiely who dropped his pole along the course and had to compete without it.  He wasn't too concerned about retrieving it until his friend, Carol Kleckner reported she'd picked it up while racing but had dropped it in another (unknown) location along the course!  In the tradition of Friday the 13th, Kiely received a pair of skis (sadly, completely crushed in the middle) and a set of Alaska Airlines coupons (which expired last July). Better luck next time, Don!

The Last But Not Least Award was earned by Joel Cladouhos and his dog Fischer, who completed the course in 52:25.  Joel wins by getting the longest workout!

Joel Cladouhos and Fischer after finishing the first stage of the 2004 Race Across the Valley. Photo by Dave Partee.

Thank-you to volunteers:

• Pat DeRuyter for grooming (hours!!!) before the race.
• Tom McGrane for coordinating the ADMA grooming on their trails
• ADMA's groomer, Ray, for doing such a great job
• Volunteer handlers/timers/go-fers: Peggy Raybeck, Iris Wood & AJ, Diane Darnall
• George and Cindy Salmon for organizing the race and creating the Day Prize awards

                              * Denotes Second Chance League Dog

Stage 2, February 14, 2004
Wickersham Dome Trail
(8 miles, 5º F)

Jim Herriges and Lily after finishing the second stage of the 2004 Race Across the Valley. Photo by Dave Partee.

The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association's 2004 Race Across the Valley Continues with Day 2. Today, 5 racers and 11 dogs competed in the White Mountains, running an 8 mile hilly course with head-on passes. Kriya Dunlap and her dogs Oban and Brahma brought in the fastest time of 28 minutes and 9 seconds for first place, followed by Cindy Salmon (Tex, Chinook & Sockeye) at 28:56, Mike Malvick (Corky, Billie, Ingrid) at 29:47. Jim Herriges (Lilly, Merlin) came in 4th with 30:01, and the Last But Not Least Award winner was Gail Davidson and her dog Tobi (45:57).

Herriges still commands the cumulative lead by 1 minute 39 seconds, with 2 stages remaining. The next stage is Sunday, where racers will compete on a 9.5 mile course at Chena Lakes, followed by Monday's 7 mile event at Two Rivers Nordic Ski Trails.

Many thanks to volunteers Andy Warwick, Peggy Raybeck and Dave Partee for driving out on the icy Elliott Highway to help put on the event, and to Pat DeRutyer for providing a snowmachine for grooming. Thanks, also, to George and Cindy Salmon for grooming the trail which had been drifted in by blowing snow during the past week. The Valentine's Day "Have A Heart Award" was given to Peggy Raybeck, who is volunteering on all four days.

Stage 3, February 15, 2004
Chena Lakes Recreation Area
(9.5 miles, 2º F)

The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association Race Across the Valley continued with Day 3 of skijoring competition, with 13 racers and 29 dogs completing the 9.5 mile course at Chena Lakes Recreation Area on the Mike Agbaba Mushing Trails.  New snow and immaculate grooming by the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Chena Lakes Staff made for a soft skiable trail throughout the course. Much thanks to Chris Jenkins, Bett Griffith, and Jack Studer of the FNSB Chena Lakes staff for their grooming and preparation work for this event.

The three dog team of Mike Malvick, Corky, Ingrid, and Mons, completed the 9 mile course in 32:56. The second fastest time of 33:08 was earned by the two dog team of Andy Seitz with Yeller and Yeti. Jim Herriges (Lena, Buoy) placed third in 33:53. The Last But Not Least Award was earned by Jim Altherr & Sophie who proved their endurance with a time of 1:25:01.

Many thanks go to George Salmon, Peggy Raybeck and Clarice Dukeminier for timing and starting, and dog handlers AJ Sutton, Pat DeRuyter and Andy Warwick.

The Stage Race event continues with four racers completing Days 1, 2, and 3. After day 3, Herriges still holds a strong lead of 1 minute 44 seconds, down from 2 minutes 44 seconds on Day 1. With today's win, Malvick moves up to second place with a 15 second advantage over Salmon, now in third place. Gail Davidson and her dog Tobi are in 4th. There have been three different winners on each of the three days, and relative to each other, Herriges, Malvick, and Salmon have all held 1st, 2nd, or 3rd position in the day races. Tomorrow's event at Two Rivers Nordic Ski Trails is technicially challenging with numerous hills and corners, which can provide ample opportunity for spills and chills along the course.

Day Four is at the Two Rivers Nordic Ski Area behind Two Rivers Elementary School at Milepost 18 Chena Hot Springs Road. Registration is 11-11:30, with the race beginning at Noon. Day racers and the public are welcomed to join in the race festivities which include a Crazy Hat Contest and a Potluck and Awards Ceremony after the race.  There will NOT be a temperature cut-off, so come on out whatever the weather.

                              * Denotes Second Chance League Dog

Stage 4, February 16, 2004
Two Rivers Nordic Ski Trails 
(12 km, 4º F)

Eight racers and twenty dogs competed in Day 4 of the Race Across the Valley. Sunday's snow and the grooming by Two Rivers groomers Brian Harris & Kay Kindt made perfect conditions for control on the hilly, windy course. This course asked for it all - endurance going up the hills, speed from the dogs going down, nordic and alpine ski skills from the racer, and to top it off - advanced command training to drive the team through the original start area to complete another full 6K loop.

The fastest day time was posted by Kriya Dunlap and her dogs Brahma and Oban in 27:38, followed by Jim Herriges (Lilly & Lena) 32 seconds later at 28:10. Cindy Salmon with Tex, Chinook, & Sockeye finished only five seconds after Herriges at 28:15. Yesterday's winner, Mike Malvick (Corky, Ingrid, Mons), finished fourth, a minute and 15 seconds after Salmon with 29:30.

Jim Herriges claimed the first place overall championship for the 4 day stage race, with a wide margin. Herriges set the precedent on Day 1 with a 2 minute 44 second win, which was trimmed to 2 minutes 4 seconds by Day 4. "It's not over until it's over" was demonstrated in the competition for 2nd place. Going into today's event, Mike Malvick's time placed him in second place by 15 seconds. After completion of the Two Rivers course, Cindy Salmon's team was able to pull back into second place with a 60 second overall margin. If you ask any skijorer who races, chances are they'll tell you this is why they do it - you never know how things might turn out :). Final standings were: 1) Jim Herriges, 2) Cindy Salmon, 3) Mike Malvick, and the Red Lantern went to Gail Davidson.

Carol Kleckner took the prize for the Crazy Hat Day contest with her Goofy Hat, complete with floppy ears. She reports finding the ears flopping in her face when racing to be a bit of a challenge. Now she knows what those pointer-cross dogs go through!

Special overall trophies were made by skijorers for skijorers this year. Matt Bray created hand-crafted oak and birch award plaques, which were engraved with the Race Across the Valley locations and held a photo of the winning team. Photographer Dave Partee provided pictures of the winning team for the picture frame of each plaque.

Many thanks to the day's volunteers:  George Salmon and Peggy Raybeck for timing and results and Janet Smith and Ami Gjestson for handling dogs at the starting line.

The next skijoring competition is The Alaska Dog Mushers Association Gold Run, a two-day, two-dog championship event on February 21 and 22.  The race draw is Friday, February 20, 7:00 p.m at Dog Mushers' Hall. 

On March 6th, the Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association will be having a skijoring race at Birch Hill.  Watch the Events Calendar on this website and the February newsletter for more details.

Overall Race Across the Valley Stage Race Results

Click to go to specific results:  Stage 1    Stage 2    Stage 3   Stage 4   Overall

ASPA Results Page

ASPA Home Page

This page was updated February 16, 2004
Please send corrections or comments to Mike Malvick.