Nenana Ice Classic celebrates 100 years

FAIRBANKS — One of the best days of Joe Dinkins’ 73 years alive is when he won the Nenana Ice Classic 10 years ago.

“I got a lot of gifts that day,” the Fairbanks barber shop owner said. “I got flowers. I got bigger tips that day.”

Some states have a lottery. In Interior Alaska, it’s the Ice Classic, the annual guessing game of when the Tanana River ice goes out. The spring tradition is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year.

Dinkins won $33,812.50 — he still remembers the sum — which he spent last year when he built a new house. He split the $270,500 jackpot with seven other winners.

“I was happy as a bug in a rug,” he said. “I never won nothing big other than that.”

The guessing started in 1916 when surveyors for the Alaska Railroad bet each other when the ice would go out. Thousands of people have shared in the annual jackpots, which began at $800 and now soar above $300,000.

The contest is open to anyone and costs $2.50 per guess until April 5. Typically, 275,000 to 290,000 guesses are reportedly made.

Patricia Thurman of North Pole has played every year since the late 1980s. She buys her tickets in a pool with two former colleagues at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District even though the trio is long retired.

“We do it for fun,” Thurman said.

Thurman doesn’t consider herself the gambling type, she said. She might play some pull-tabs once in awhile. Her guessing technique is to base her guesses on birthdays and anniversaries in her family.

“I just try to scramble these numbers up until they make sense,” she said.

In 2007, she shared the $303,272 jackpot, winning about $3,300 after dividing it among 21 other winning tickets and then dividing it with the others in her pool.

She remembers how excited she was the day she won — so excited that she provided her library card number to the Ice Classic organizers instead of her social security number, she said. She called her parents and her sisters with the good news.

Thurman said she doesn’t remember what she did with the winnings.

“I’m sure I saved it,” she said.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 3

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Three nominated for upcoming vacancy on Alaska Supreme Court

Dunleavy has 45 days to make final selection; will make the court majority female for first time.

Karen Brewer-Tarver, a partner with the Juneau-based accounting firm Elgee Rehfeld, presents results from a third-party audit of the Juneau School District for past fiscal year to the Juneau Board of Education’s Finance Committee on Thursday night. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)
Positive ending: School district emerges from fiscal crisis with first audit without a deficit in years

Report finds lingering problems with “internal controls,” recommends more staff and refining procedures.

Dan Allard (left) and Philip Martinez (center) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers listen to John Bohan, an engineer with the City and Borough of Juneau, as the three men provide information about flood barriers to Juneau Assembly members during a meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Experts address flood barrier concerns of Assembly, will meet with residents next week

Advice for homeowners seeking to protect themselves to be offered by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

William Todd Hunt guides the Taku Winds ensemble through a rehearsal of music by Indigenous composers on Tuesday evening at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Taku Winds will be blowing wildly this weekend with concert featuring Indigenous composers

“Eagles, Ravens and Wolf” scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday at Thunder Mountain Middle School

Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson looks at a moulin on the Sólheimajökull glacier on Oct. 20. A moulin, or glacier mill, is a crevasse through which water enters a glacier from the surface. (Jasz Garrett / For the Juneau Empire)
Breaching a gap of 3,296 miles: Iceland’s experience with jökulhlaups

Glacial outburst floods a threat there for more than 1,100 years — what can Juneau learn from them?

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, speaks to members of the Senate majority caucus’ leadership group on Friday, April 12, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Education, energy and elections among priorities of Alaska Senate’s post-election agenda

Senate’s previous bipartisan majority will continue, albeit a bit smaller, after election.

A statue of William Henry Seward stands outside the Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau man gets 18-year prison sentence for sexual abuse of a minor

Craig Foster, 63, pleaded guilty to charge involving girl between 9 and 11 years old.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read