November 13, 2009 (Fairbanks, AK) – The Flint Hills Resources Alaska Town Race Series – the 14th Annual series, if you can believe it – starts off the calendar with the annual Fairbanks Youth Sports Season Opener on Saturday, the 21st. The race will have mass starts for all classes, and all classes will use free technique.

This event will probably see the biggest field of the year at Birch Hill. Last year there were more than 400 entries, thanks to visiting skiers from several Mat-Su High Schools and a concurrent USSA National Ranking List points race. Both the high school/adult women’s field and the high school/adult men’s field should see more than 100 skiers on the line.

On Sunday, the 22nd, there will be a second USSA National Ranking List points race for those skiers who are interested in earning better points to help their seeding at US Nationals and USSA Junior Olympics. These races will be in interval start format in classic technique.

Entry forms for both these races are available through links via the NSCF www.nscfairbanks.net.

Saturday Race

Race Info:
Mass start, free technique for all classes.
Entry Deadline 5:00PM Wednesday, November 18.
HS/Adult classes – concurrent with USSA National Ranking List event (same start)

Entry Fees:
Elementary and Junior High School skiers – free
High School Skiers on high school teams – free
Adults: $10 for NSCF members, $15 for NSCF non-members
Entry Deadline 5:00PM Wednesday, November 18.

Entry Forms:
– Entry forms may be picked up at Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center, Raven Cross Country, Goldstream Sports and Beaver Sports
– Entry forms may be dropped off at Raven Cross Country and at Beaver Sports
– No race day entries

USSA NRL Event (Saturday):
Entry into USSA NRL event requires payment of an entry fee for all entrants (not free for members of HS teams)
Fee is $20 for Saturday’s Race, $30 for both the Saturday and Sunday USSA/NRL races

Start Times (planned):
– K-1-2 Girls – 11:00 AM 0.5Km
– K-1-2 Boys – 11:05 AM 0.5Km
– Grade 3-4 Girls – 11:15 AM 1.0Km
– Grade 3-4 Boys – 11:20 AM 1.0Km
– Grade 5-6 Girls – 11:30 AM 1.5Km
– Grade 5-6 Boys – 11:35 AM 1.5Km
– Grade 7-8 Girls – 11:45 AM 2.0Km
– Grade 7-8 Boys – 11:50 AM 2.0Km
– High School and Adult Women – 12:10 PM (approx.) 5.0Km
– High School and Adult Men – 12:40 PM (approx.) 7.5Km

Sunday Race

Race Info:
Interval Start, Classic Technique
Women and J2 Men, 5Km, 10:30AM Start
J1 and older Men, 10Km, start after 5Km start, following short break
5Km loop

Entry forms:
– Entry forms may be picked up at Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center, Raven Cross Country, Goldstream Sports and Beaver Sports
– Entry forms may be dropped off at Raven Cross Country and at Beaver Sports