2011 Tour of Anchorage

In its 24-year existence, the Tour of Anchorage cross-country ski race, hosted by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, has grown from just a few hundred participants to almost 2,000 ski-enthusiasts—making it one of the largest ski races in North America. This year’s event, slated for March 6^th, will start at the foot of the Chugach Mountains and wind through beautiful birch and aspen forests, around the University of Anchorage campus, through Anchorage’s midtown and along the shores of Cook Inlet to the finish line at Kincaid Park’s world-class Nordic center. The Tour includes distances and waves for all levels of skiers, including world class racers. Distances include 25 km freestyle, 25 km classic, 40km freestyle, and 50 km freestyle divisions.

This year the Tour of Anchorage is providing hotel deals in various locations around Anchorage, making it easier than ever to arrive in Anchorage, travel to your hotel and get on the trails. Some hotels, like the Sheraton have good discounted rates and will provide a wax room so you can be sure to have the fastest skis possible. The best bet for ski-in ski-out lodging for the 25K is the Marriot, University Lakes Spring Hill Suites, located directly on the Tour of Anchorage race trail and the start of the 25K. For more information on hotel packages for the Tour of Anchorage, go to www.tourofanchorage.com.

This year, each person who registers for the Tour of Anchorage is entered into a drawing to win two Alaska Airline Tickets! Imagine you fly all the way to Anchorage, participate in the Tour of Anchorage, have a memorable time and then win two tickets to come back the next year.

Come ski the Tour of Anchorage on March 6^th and see why this winter city has developed top Olympic Nordic skiers Kikkan Randall, James Southam, Nina Kemppel and Holly Brooks. Please visit www.tourofanchorage.com for more information. Act now because online registration ends Feb 25^th.