Student athletes from across Western Alaska and the Interior gathered in Galena in late March for the 38th Annual Western Interior Ski Association’s Ski/Biathlon Championships. WISA brings together middle and high school teams for individual and relay ski races and biathlon during the three day event.
Rosa Wright is the co-head coach of the Nome-Beltz Middle High School ski team and has been involved with WISA since she was a high school racer herself.
“We haven't been back to Galena to be hosted there for a dozen years or so,” Wright said. “I actually went to Galena when I was in high school to go race there, so it was pretty fun to be back as a coach.”
Wright said the weekend's weather was ideal, with blue skies and 20 degree temperatures. She called it a hard-earned reward after a season of extreme cold that led to cancelling several practices and a meet in Unalakleet.
She said the weekend's mild weather was especially important for the biathlon, a sport that alternates between cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Athletes wear thin gloves for the accuracy-oriented event.
“WISA is the only school org in the country that does biathlon as a school sport,” Wright explained. “So we have to do biathlon, which is obviously tough when it's negative temperatures. So it was nice to have some nice weather for that.”
WISA was founded by Alaska High School Hall of Famer John Miles in 1987 to promote competitive skiing in Western Alaska and the Interior. Wright said that legacy has created a deep connection across the region.
“There's a huge, rich history, where you have kids and now grandkids, of people who competed in WISA skiing now in places all over the state,” Wright said.
The meets three-day format builds up to a relay race finale. This year, Wright said the relay race was particularly exciting for spectators. The middle school boys, middle school girls, and high school boys entered the day in a dead-heat for the championships.
In the end, Nenana’s high school boys’ team took gold, Unalakleet won the high school girls and middle school boys divisions and Nome’s middle school girls walked away with the top spot in their division.
“It was an exciting race to watch. And the course is open so you get to see everybody a lot and cheer everybody on,” Wright said. “Everybody is bonded with each other by the end of the weekend, and they know each other's names, so it's not uncommon to see kids cheering for each other in different teams.”
Wright said the meet’s three-day format –with plenty of downtime between events– naturally builds camaraderie.
“The joke that Alaska is the biggest small state ever is so true. Even the kids that only see each other once a year, there is this spirit of community in rural Alaska. We're all used to knowing each other and talking to each other and connecting with each other.
To recognize a student that went above and beyond with their support for others, WISA introduced a new “Sweet Skier” award given to one athlete that demonstrated kindness.
Next year, the competition will travel to White Mountain for the 39th running of the event.
Full results
Skimeisters
High school boys Cyrus Hugny-Farr (Nenana)
High school girls Isabella Eller (Unalakleet)
Middle school boys McKoi Javier (Unalakleet)
Middle school girls Ella Hubert (Nome)
Team Awards
High school boys
1. Nenana 2. Galena
High school girls
1. Unalakleet
Middle school boys
1. Unalakleet 2. Nome
Middle school girls
1. Nome 2. Sleetmute
Sportsmanship
Galena
