Hundreds compete in 2019 Oosik Classic

Shortly after noon on Saturday, the 2019 Oosik Classic Ski Race and Tour began. The event began with the 50k race, followed half-an-hour later by the 25km skiers.

Fifty-one skiers listed their hometown as Talkeetna.  Among them is Galen Johnston, who won the men’s 50k with a time of two hours, twenty minutes, eleven seconds.  Second place went to Austin Huneck of Anchorage, who finished about two minutes later.  Jesse Carlstrom of Anchorage came in third about twenty minutes behind Huneck.

In the women’s 50k, first place went to Anchorage’s Hannah Rudd with a time of two hours, fifty-four minutes, and nine seconds.  Nicole Hjelm, also of Anchorage, came in second, and Shalane Frost of Fairbanks took third.

The 25k had a much larger field, with just over 600 skiers total.  Nancy Pease, who earned a spot in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame for her trail-running skills, took first place with a time of one hour, thirty-seven minutes, fifty-six seconds.  Second place went to Kelli Boonstra of Palmer, and third to Aurelie Barnel of Anchorage.

Palmer’s Todd Boonstra took first place for the men in the 25k with a time of one hour, twenty-six minutes, forty-eight seconds. He was followed by Benjamin Fischer of Anchorage and Max Kaufman of Fairbanks.

In total, nearly 700 skiers finished this year’s Oosik.