Tour of Anchorage racer Jenna Difolco. Photo by Jen Aist

Jenna DiFolco has had quite a month of racing ski marathons.

The former University of Alaska Anchorage skier placed near the front in four consecutive weekends, starting with the Tour of Anchorage 50-kilometer event, continuing with the Kachemak Bay Ski Marathon in Homer and the Oosik Classic in Talkeetna, and concluding with her hometown Sonot Kkaazoot in Fairbanks.

The Sonot Kkaazoot — an Athabascan term that roughly translates to “sliding your feet across the snow in springtime — is now arguably Alaska’s toughest ski marathon, particularly since for safety reasons it replaced 20 kilometers of flat river skiing with additional terrain at the Birch Hill Recreation Area. The route now climbs 5,541 feet in total.

A pair of University of Alaska Fairbanks skiers won the signature 50-kilometer event on March 25. Christopher Kalev edged teammate Philipp Moosmayer by 0.3 seconds to win the overall in 2 hours and 19 minutes. Mariel Pulles, a 2022 Olympian representing Estonia, won the women’s race and placed eighth overall in 2:41:08. Difolco took third in 2:51:11.

Dermot Cole, age 70, won the Red Lantern in 6:13:44.

Dermot Cole after finishing the Sonot Kkaazoot.

The 30K race saw Basile Plattet (1:34:14) prevail for the men while Anja Maijala (1:41:14) was the first woman.

Full results of the 36th annual event here.

The old-school Kachemak Bay Ski Marathon on March 18 featured a true cross-country course created specifically for race day. Difolco won the women’s 42K event in 2:30:17 while Magnus Noroey was the top overall skier in 2:15:29. Gavin Kentch and Stephanie Schmit were the top 25K racers.

Full results here.

The Oosik Classic, held on March 11 in Talkeetna, offered 50K, 25K and 10K courses and a party vibe that is as much a touring celebration as it is a race. The men’s 50K race featured a double-pole fest won by Forrest Mahlen, who edged Galen Johnston by 11 seconds in 2:39:10. Olympian Rosie Frankowski won for the women in 2:58:12 while DiFolco strided to a runner-up result in 3:14.

A total of 434 skiers completed the 25K, led by Tor Christopherson (1:32:48) for the men and Aurelie Barnel (1:45:25) for the women.

Oosik Classic (Photo by Charlie Earnshaw)

The week after the Oosik saw the fat bike equivalent with the Trio Fatbike World Championships in Talkeetna.

Nicholas Straka won the 30-mile race for the men in 2:42:30 with Dave Moore exactly a minute behind. Laura Fox took the women’s race in 3:04:05.

Complete results here.

Alaska’s largest Nordic ski event, the Tour of Anchorage on March 5 saw more than 1,000 finishers in 50K, 40K and 25K races.

Thomas O’Harra of Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center took top honors with a dominating performance in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 4 seconds while Rosie Frankowski led the women in 2:23:09.

The 50K TOA fat bike race uses the same course several hours after the skiers start. Will Ross won again in 1:56:10, three seconds ahead of David Arteaga. Elizabeth Arteaga took the women’s top spot in 2:45:05.

The top “Tour Double” performers — a 50K ski followed by a 50K bike — were Kenny Brewer in a combined time of 4:42 and Briana Sullivan in 6:17.

Full results here.

For those still looking to race, the season is not over. The finale of the Anchorage Tuesday Night Ski Racing Series will be a Spring Relay April 4 at Kincaid Park. Details here.

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