Galena Lodge ready for Winterstart
The local Nordic kickoff event Winterstart is Saturday, Dec. 20 at Galena Lodge 23 miles north of Ketchum. And winter officially starts Sunday.
The 36th annual Winterstart had been originally planned for Dec. 13, according to race organizer and Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation cross-country head coach Rick Kapala. By pushing it back a week, the Wood River Nordic community can focus on supporting Galena Lodge over the Dec. 20-21 weekend, he added.
Winterstart will be followed on Sunday, Dec. 21 by "Ski for Free Day," at Galena Lodge.
Kapala said Winterstart registration will be held next Saturday from 9-10 a.m. followed by racing at 11 a.m. Format will be four-a-minute wave starts over the following distances—adults 10 kilometers or 5k, juniors 10k or 5k, and youth 1.5k.
Raffle prizes and awards will be given at Galena Lodge after the races. Entry fees are $10 for adults 20-and-older, $5 for juniors ages 14-19 and free for kids ages 13-and-younger.
Kapala, whose SVSEF team traditionally holds two holiday race events at the Lake Creek trail system three miles north of town, said he has canceled one of them to allow for the Dec. 20-21 Galena Lodge weekend of events. So, the Dec. 20 Holiday Relays at Lake Creek will have to wait for next year.
Still, two more Saturdays of ski races are set for after the Christmas holiday. They are the Christmas Classic USSA National Ranking List Race Saturday, Dec. 27 at Lake Creek, and the Snowmaker Classic Races Saturday, Jan. 3 at Prairie Creek in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area north of Ketchum.
Adamson, Peck make Statesman All-State football teams
Carey School senior Heith Adamson (running back) and junior Todd Peck (offensive line) were named to the 1A first team in the Idaho Statesman's 33rd annual All-Idaho football issue published Sunday. Adamson and Peck also made 1A second team as linebacker and on the defensive line, respectively. The Idaho 1A squad was made up of players from the Division 1 and Carey's Division 2.
In the Statesman's profiles of the first teamers, Adamson was listed as running the ball 129 times for 1,056 yards and 18 touchdowns. He had a team-best 105 tackles and 12.5 sacks as a linebacker. Adamson scored six touchdowns in the Division 2 championship game as Carey won its second state title in three years. Peck was dominant, coach Lane Kirkland said, in helping the Panthers (12-0) rush for 3,500 yards.
The 1A "Player of the Year" was Garden Valley senior quarterback JC Tucker, who guided the Wolverines (9-1) to the state Division 2 semi-finals. Tucker accounted for 67 TDs including 28 rushing, 20 passing, eight on defense and 11 on punt and kickoff returns.
Boise YMCA Christmas Run set for Saturday
Visiting Boise for some last-minute Christmas shopping this weekend? You might want to spend your morning at the 22nd Christmas Run of the Treasure Valley Family YMCA. All races on the 6.1-mile run and 2.5-mile run/walk courses begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 outside the Boise YMCA on Washington St. and 10th in the downtown area. Entry fees are $28 for adults 18-and-older and $23 for kids 17-and-under. Registration includes a long sleeve race t-shirt. Santa Claus is supposed to visit the starting line between 9-10 a.m. And you can dress up as a Christmas character and possibly win a prize. Register online at ymcatvidaho.org. Late entries after Dec. 16 will be charged $5 more.
Free skiing at Galena Lodge and BCRD trails Sunday
Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) and Galena Lodge will offer free skiing all day Sunday, Dec. 21 on the BCRD Nordic trail system. Skiers are welcome to ski on any of the trails including Harriman Trail, Prairie Creek, Billy's Bridge, North Fork, Lake Creek and Quigley Nordic. Snow conditions will dictate which trails will be groomed for skiing. Check the grooming report at bcrd.org or call 578-9754.
In addition, Galena Lodge is hosting free "Learn to Ski" clinics (skate 1 p.m. and classic 2:30 p.m.) on Sunday, Dec. 21. No trails pass fee is required for the lessons, and ski rental is free. Santa Claus will visit the lodge from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Kids activities and pictures will be available.
Fees due for Adult Basketball League teams
League commissioner Lewis Garza of Hailey reminds Adult Basketball League players and teams that fees are due by Thursday, Dec. 18. Additional late fees will be charged after Thursday. This winter's league is limited to 10 teams, the season running from Jan. 4-March 14, 2009. Player fees paid before Dec. 18 are $65, of $75 after. Sponsor fees are $450 before Dec. 18 or $475 after. Player waivers must be signed and turned in with the rosters. Call Garza at Growing Concern Hair Design, 788-2015, or 788-3613 evenings. Me anwhile, adult open basketball continues Thursdays and Sundays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at The Community Campus gym, $3 a night.
Alpine skiers head to Payday for Eric Hays
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation alpine racers are off to Park City (Utah) Mountain Resort Dec. 18-21 for the Eric Hays Memorial Open Series giant slalom and slalom races that will attract A, J1 (ages 17-19), J2 (15-16) and J3 (13-14) skiers.
Giant slalom events are Thursday and Friday on Payday ski run, followed by slalom on the weekend.
Meanwhile, a few SVSEF and Hailey Ski Team racers qualified for FIS (International Ski Federation) junior classification races at snowy Mammoth Mountain, Ca. and Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo. this past weekend.
In a twist of fate, a series of early storms bypassed most of the Tahoe area and southern California but landed right on Mammoth Mountain, which offered plenty of natural snow.
Among local women at Mammoth and their tech results were J1 Bailey Ireland (6th SL and 27th overall, 10th GS and 28th overall), J2 Sierra Fox (18th GS and 29th overall), J1 Karlee Stagg (9th SL, 13th GS) and J2 Alexi Fitch (33rd GS).
Placing in Sunday's Snow King SL were J2s Tanner Farrow (7th), Bergen Palmer (8th), Tanner Dirstine (29th) and Hunter Weaver (32nd), and J1 Willie Adicoff (9th).
