In Alaska, the question is not: “To ski or not to ski?” Rather it is: “Where do I ski, what style, and how often?”
In Alaska, skiing is a way of life. It is a rare Alaska child who has never been on skis, and adults of all ages, sizes and levels of physical fitness get out there and swish. Never has a sport been so much a part of a community as skiing is in Alaska.
The thing about skiing is that the possibilities are endless. You’ve got downhill skiing for the adrenaline crowd, Nordic for the folks who like a good workout in the fresh air, snowboarding for thrill-seekers, telemarking for backcountry adventurers, skate skiing for competitive folks — the list goes on. So, if skiing is on your list of to-do activities, relax, scroll down the list and find a place that sounds interesting. No matter what, you won’t need to worry about being alone.
SOUTHCENTRAL
For those who prefer the luxury of ski resorts, there is no better place to tip your skis than Alyeska Resort, located a half hour drive south of Anchorage in the quaint ski town of Girdwood. The resort offers winterlong skiing and snowboarding lessons, and countless runs to sample from beginner to advanced.
Alyeska boasts some 1,000 skiable acres, nine ski lifts and 68 runs, so there is truly something for everyone here. Half of the runs are designed for intermediate skiers, but more than 10 percent of them are suited for beginners. Advanced skiers can keep themselves occupied on nearly 40 percent of the runs and never tire of the fun. Snowboarders especially enjoy the half-pipe and park.
In Anchorage, there are two other downhill skiing and snowboarding options, at Hilltop Ski Area and Alpenglow at Arctic Valley. The former is on the south end of town and includes a ski school and a decent downhill skiing area for youngsters to learn and refine their skills. Its in-town location is convenient and affordable, and lessons range from group to individual settings. Volunteers of the Anchorage Ski Club run alpenglow at Arctic Valley, on the north end of town. There is a T-bar, one lift and another in the process of being revamped for the 2003 season. In 2001, volunteers installed a terrain park, which is proving popular among the more daring snowboarders.
Cross-country skiing can be had, too. Kincaid Park instructors, teaching through the Anchorage Parks and Recreation division, can help fine-tune cross-country skiing skills from classical to skate skiing. There are roughly 1,500 acres of parkland criss-crossed by more than 60 kilometers of trails for skate- and cross-country skiing. There are two classical-only trails for those who get intimidated by the faster skiers.
Anchorage’s Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, part of which is in Kincaid Park, is a popular place to start because access is easy and you can ski as far or as short a distance as you like. Groomers maintain tracks for classical skiers, and there’s plenty of room for the speedier skate skiers to whiz past. It’s a good place for beginners, too, with relatively few hills until you get near Kincaid Park, which is best left for those who are more experienced.
Two other fun and free Anchorage trail systems to check out: Russian Jack Springs Park, which offers classical-only skiing on terrain suited for beginners; and, the Hillside Trail System near Service High School.
Across Prince William Sound, there is Valdez, perhaps the snowiest place in Alaska and a true gem of a skiing destination. While there is no resort to cater to pampered skiers, there are countless events that attract ski-loving spectators.
According to Sharon Crisp, director of the Valdez Convention and Visitors Bureau, snowboarding championships draw hundreds of the world’s best snowboarders, and free-skiing events attract a crowd, too.
“One of the big ones is the Alaska Big Mountain Master Extreme Snowboard Competition, or ‘King of the Hill,’ which is what everyone calls it,” Crisp said. “It is more like a free-skiing event where people come from all over. It’s amazing to watch.”
INTERIOR
While the downhill crowd can find what they want further south, go north for some ultra-impressive cross-country skiing.
“We’ve got some great cross-country skiing here,” said Katie Orth of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In fact, the 2003 Junior Olympic cross-country ski championship is in March, and the trails will be ready.” The newly built Birch Hills Recreation Area — site of the Junior Olympics — promises to be popular, and a trail system at the University of Alaska Fairbanks also is heavily used. But perhaps the most popular method of cross-country skiing involves just going out the door and hitting the most readily available wild spot.
“We’re so plunked down in the wilderness that a lot of us just head out and do our own thing,” Orth said. “There’s just a lot of space.”
Downhill skiers needn’t fret, though. Speed can be had at a few locations in the Fairbanks area. Moose Mountain Ski Area, off Murphy Dome Road, offers more than 1,250 feet of vertical slop on the sunny — and warmer — side of the mountain. There are bunny slopes and the North Slope for the more experienced, and ski and snowboard lessons available for all.
Mount Aurora Skiland is another option, with slopes for the beginner to advanced, a double-chair lift and day lodge. Ski and snowboard lessons are available, as well.
SOUTHEAST
Juneau, surrounded as it is by steep mountains, is the perfect place for a mini snow resort. It’s much smaller than Alyeska, but the Eaglecrest Ski Area offers Southeast residents — and visitors — a great place to carve snow.
“They’ve got Nordic skiing, downhill, and they’ve even got tubing hills, which are very cool,” said Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau employee Jennifer Lockwood. “And they have lots of snowboarding up there, too, of course.”
Lockwood said the ski area’s lodge is warm and cozy, and ski lessons are available for those who want to learn.
“But the best thing, I think, about Eaglecrest is that is still owned by the city of Juneau,” she said. “You can go up therefor a weekend and ski for 40 bucks. Where else can you get that? It’s just great.”
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