Thirty-one competitors enjoyed the cold, crisp air and beautiful trail conditions. Six skijorers traveled to Fairbanks from the Anchorage area to compete for International Federation of Sleddog Sports World Cup points this weekend.

The excitement started well before the first competitor raced as Cindy Salmon hit a big bump on Birch Hill Road and her dog trailer jumped off the trailer hitch and was dragged behind her truck by the safety chain. Fortunately all the dogs were fine and four competitors on their way to the race stopped and helped her hook the trailer back up to the truck so she could complete her drive to Birch Hill. Her race went more smoothly as she finished second in the Women's 2-dog 15K event with a time of 33:29. Kriya Dunlap (Oban, Brahma) won the Women's 15K event with a time of 29:39. Kriya's dog Oban ran the first mile with Ted Wu's (acting as volunteer dog handler) glove stuck under his collar. Oban was so fast off the start that he took Ted's glove with him. Kim Wells ( Cody , Callie) finished third with a time of 33:55.

In the Men's 15K 2-dog event Jim Herriges (Lily, Lena) posted the fastest time of the day with 29:08. Bud Rice (Arthur, Smoke) was second at 31:09 and Andy Seitz (Ed, Yeller) finished third at 32:05.

Lulie Williams (Hudson) won the Women's 10K 1-dog class with a time of 30:09. Julie Morse (Kai) came in second with a time of 33:09 just 16 seconds faster than Gail Davidson and Tobi who finished third.

Rick Reznak (Sami, Wings) won the 5K 2-dog Class with a time of 12:14. Sara El;zey (Shadow, Ayla) at 13:31 was second. Teresa Hollingsworth (Talisker, Rozette) was third in 14:33.

Sharon Baker (Mocha) won the 5K 1-dog class with a time of 15:25. Ted Wu (Taz finished second in 15:57. Lisa Baraff (Hope) was third in 16:23.

The final event of the day was the Relay. The Relay follows IFSS World Cup guidelines. Each team consists of three one-dog teams traveling a 3K course. The first member of each team starts in a mass start. The competitor must cross the finish line, hand the dog off to a handler, ski up to and tag the next team member in the relay exchange zone. Many of the dogs and all the competitors had already competed in an earlier event. Mike Malvick and Janet Smith were very happy with the short delay in the start of the relay event as they had finished the 15K event just moments earlier.

The Femme Fatals Team consisting of Teresa Hollingsworth (Lindyhop), Sara Elzey (Myst) and Gail Davidson (Tobi) won the relay with a time of 25:36. No Name #1 team of Janet Smith (Carmen) Dave Partee (Tex) and Nancy Cook (Saami) was second just 19 seconds later.

Many of the skijorers will compete in the North Pole Race on Sunday.

We thank the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks, the trail groomers and all the ASPA volunteers who made this event possible.  The ASPA volunteers were:

Organization: Jim Herriges.

Signage: Mike Malvick.

Trail Work Friday night: Jim Herriges, Mike Malvick, Cindy Salmon, Aaron Hawkins, Toni DeRuyter, Sara Elzey, Chuck Deehr, Tone Deehr, Pat DeRuyter.

Snowmachines provided by Chris DuBois and Pat DeRuyter.

Starting/timing/registration on Saturday: Toni DeRuyter, Clarice Dukeminier, Peggy Raybeck, Carol Davis, Pat DeRuyter.

Dog Handlers: Clarice Dukeminier, Cindy Salmon, and many of the competitors.

Relay dog catchers: Kris Razey, Diann Darnall and a third unidentified person.

Trail Cleanup: Mike Malvick, Jim Herriges, Toni DeRuyter, Pat DeRuyter.

Warming Hut cleanup: Clarice Dukeminier, Diane Darnall, Peggy Raybeck, Janet Smith, Luli Williams, Sara Elzey.

Parking area cleanup: Dave Partee and Cindy Salmon.