November 08, 2016 (Anchorage, AK) – The feared cuts by the University of Alaska were recently announced including plans to close both the Nordic and alpine ski teams at Anchorage (UAA) and Fairbanks (UAF) at the end of the 2016-7 academic year. Alaska’s economic dependence on oil, combined with depressed oil prices for the past two years, have forced the state to make deep cuts and university athletics are among these.

“Given the task of reducing our program offering from 13 teams to nine teams, it is with great regret and disappointment that I announce that at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year, UAA Seawolf Athletics will be discontinuing our sponsorship of men’s and women’s skiing and men’s/women’s indoor track and field,” wrote UAA Athletic Director Keith Hackett  in a statement on October 27 – read full statement here.

Hackett continues to say that Seawolf Athletics will take a 20% budget cut beginning in the fall of 2017 equating to $1.9M dollars or a 36% reduction in General Fund allocations to Intercollegiate Athletics. This follows university President Johnsen asking for a waiver from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to no longer require the University to sponsor ten (10) teams to be a member of Division II.

The planned cuts total $1 million a year – the cost of fielding teams at UAA ($600,000 for alpine and Nordic squads) and UAF ($400,000 for a Nordic squad) reports the Alaska Dispatch. It is far from certain that NCAA will grant the waiver to reduce the number of sponsored teams reports the Dispatch. But if the NCAA approves it, this may be the end of intercollegiate skiing in Alaska.

The devastating news has hit the robust Alaskan ski community hard as some of the most talented skiers in the USA have been spawned by Anchorage-based Alasaka Pacific University (APU) who’s Nordic Program is under the direction for renowned coach Erik Flora. Legendary Kikkan Randall, who won FIS Nordic Worlds gold in the team sprint with Jessie Diggins along with three consecutive Sprint World Cup globes, is testimony to the stellar reputation and respect the program has both at home and internationally.

There are questions asked as to why athletics are being so targeted. The UAA currently spends $10 million annually and UAF $6 million on athletics; this is amounts to some 2.5% of the University’s combined budget.

While the news was not unexpected Johnsen’s announcement caught coaches and athletes by surprise; they thought they had more time to make their case to keep the ski programs. A rallying cry to try an stave off the damage is underway including efforts by the National Nordic Foundation which is a huge fundraising organization supporting Nordic sports in the USA. #SAVE Alaska Skiing is an initiative to help bring some relief to these troubled times – read more here.

The University of Alaska, with 35,000 students, has three major institutions in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau including APU. Many xc ski programs underway in the state will be affected by the cuts as locals scramble to try and find ways to minimize the impact on such vibrant Nordic ski community with a rich history and many stars like Randall.

Randall and Sadie Bjornsen, two of the USA’s most prominent national ski team cross-country skiers commented on the dire situation. Among our questions, we asked if “there is hope to reverse the decision?” and “what remedies do you see to fix this situation?”

“The ski community is reeling up here after the decision from U of A to cut the ski programs. While I can understand why that seemed like a good decision from a purely budget line item point of view, I believe the University is making a huge mistake, hindering future positive impact on the community,” said Randall, one of the sport’s most decorated athletes. “Skiing brings in some of the smartest, dedicated and most involved students and many of them choose to stay in Anchorage and become contributing members of the community after their sports careers.

“I think there is still hope to #SAVE Alaska Skiing. I would like to see the University get creative in passing along the burden to all sports to trim their budgets and task each team with some fund-raising on their own. Much better than just a cut and dry ‘you’re done’ solution.

“Everyone is really rallying behind the team and the two programs both in Fairbanks and Anchorage. No matter what happens, this has strengthened our community and I am optimistic for the future,” she concluded.

Bjornsen was equally concerned, “Such sad news to see the potential for cutting the UAA Team. This is particularly dear to me because UAA and NCAA skiing is what brought me to Alaska to discover this amazing state and all its resources for being a top cross-country skier. I believe that in order to make a strong skiing community, you need all levels of racing, and plenty of competition. UAA serves an important role in development in this state, that has produced an enormous amount of success!

“Not only that, it has contributed to the actual “community” with all the hard working, motivated and smart student athletes. For example, the Physical Therapist, Zuzana Rodgers, who keeps me in one piece, was a UAA alpine skier, along with many others throughout Anchorage. It is incredible the number of people who have benefited from NCAA skiing in this state. I have been doing what I can, voicing my concern to the President and Board of Regents.

“I am now a member of the APU team, and I think it is the best place in the world to ski, but I will never forget the role that UAA played in my development! It will also likely play a role in the development of some future stars to come. I am really crossing my fingers that Thursday, this decision can be turned around,” commented Bjornsen who’s brother is also a national team skier.

NNF #SAVE Alaska Skiing here.
UAA statement here.
Alaska Dispatch here.