Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team and community cross-country skiers start the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team and community cross-country skiers start the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears cross-country skiers in sync

JDHS Nordic Ski Team tunes up for state with practice race

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team spent the bitter cold morning Saturday hosting their first official race of the season on the Eaglecrest Ski Area lower cross-country trail in the Shaky Shakeout Invitational, a six-kilometer freestyle (skate ski) mass start.

While the community race encountered timing issues that resulted in no actual times being recorded and skiers mistakenly turned the proposed 6K route into a 8K to 9K outing, the desired result was achieved — that of a race day environment with competition and fun.

“It is no secret that the snow has been a little late to show up,” JDHS coach Abby McAllister said. “Winter took its time this year. What really impressed me is these athletes, they showed up on the starting line, they really didn’t know a lot about how they would stack up against each other and how they would stack up against our adult league — which showed up, which is fantastic — and even some of the coaches that stepped to the line today. That takes a lot of bravery. And so I’m really impressed with the bravery and the way that they put themselves out there.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team senior Ferguson Wheeler (136) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team senior Ferguson Wheeler (136) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

The top three high school female skiers were sophomore Kaia Mangaccat, senior Ida Meyer and freshman Sigrid Eller.

“It was pretty fun,” Mangaccat said. “The weather’s nice, except me and two other people went the wrong way at one point and then right before the end we also went the wrong way.”

The race featured adult, high school and middle school athletes on the course and helping on the course.

“It was fun. I like seeing all the middle schoolers there today cheering us on,” Meyer said of the race turnout. “That is great. And all the parents and all the other community members that showed up. It makes it so much more fun.”

The overall fastest skier on the course was adult male Julius Adolfsson, who is originally from Sweden, and the fastest adult female was his wife Aldyn Brudie.

“It was fun to be out there and fun to race against these kids on such a beautiful day,” Julius Adolfsson said. “Great grooming again from Wayne Carnes. Yeah, just a great race in general.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Della Mearig (65) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Della Mearig (65) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Adolfsson said the key to being a good cross-country skier is “time on skis. You know, really getting as much time as you can on skis, both classic and skate, and of course it doesn’t hurt to run a little bit in the summer as well and do some weight training as well. So good cross training as well.”

The top three high school male skiers were senior Ferguson Wheeler, freshman Landon Adkins and senior Finley Hightower.

“First for high schoolers, but Julius totally destroyed me,” Wheeler said. “But he doesn’t count, you know, he’s from Finland or whatever so he’s got the skills…Seriously, though, we’ve been practicing a lot of form this year, like trying to nail down our form for the races. But this year we haven’t really done a ton of racing so now I’m remembering what it feels to be in the middle of the race and be tired and still have to stick to your form. Because if you don’t stick to good technique, then you just start to burn energy and get less efficient. Which is hard to motivate yourself to do because sometimes it feels like it’s harder, but I think I just have to remember to stick to good technique in the middle of the race…I think I did pretty good today. I think I could have pushed a little harder, but it is just the first race of the season basically, still feeling it out. But it’s a nice day out here and a really fun race even though the course was a little confusing. Yeah, I really liked it.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team sophomore Kaia Mangaccat (14) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team sophomore Kaia Mangaccat (14) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

The JDHS Nordic Ski Team will take 21 athletes to compete at the Region VI championships at Fairbanks’ Birch Hill Recreation Area this weekend. Originally the team was going to the Region III championships in Kenai, but the lack of snow has made Fairbanks a popular destination for most schools.

“One thing I have learned is that it is really helpful to stay in the tuck on the downhills,” Mangaccat said. “It helps you go. It is a lot more efficient and to focus on the person ahead of you works well, too.”

Added Meyer, “I am definitely going to coat my face in Aquaphor because it saves me from the cold and I’m actually not that cold right now. I am also going to put on three layers underneath my race suit again.”

Friday will be a 7.5K Freestyle Mass Start and Saturday races are a 4x3K Mixed Technique relay of dual discipline, meaning two legs of classic and two legs of freestyle.

The 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Nordic Ski State Championships are scheduled for Palmer’s Government Peak Recreation Area Trails Feb. 20-22. JDHS will take seven females and seven males to the event. The first day of races are the 5K Interval Start Classic Technique (males first race, females second), the second day is the 7.5K Mass Start Freestyle (females first race, males second) and the third day is the 4x3K Mixed Technique — Classic-Classic-Free-Free (females first race, males second).

• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.

Community skier Aldyn Brudie (111) and JDHS Nordic Ski senior Finley Hightower (64) race during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Community skier Aldyn Brudie (111) and JDHS Nordic Ski senior Finley Hightower (64) race during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Community Nordic skier Julius Adolfsson (68) heads to the finish of the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Community Nordic skier Julius Adolfsson (68) heads to the finish of the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team sophomore Kaia Mangaccat and senior Ida Meyer embrace at the finish of the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team sophomore Kaia Mangaccat and senior Ida Meyer embrace at the finish of the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski freshman Sunna Schane (98) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski freshman Sunna Schane (98) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Landon Adkins (17) leads a community cross-country skier during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Landon Adkins (17) leads a community cross-country skier during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Sigrid Eller (107) leads community skier Tim Blust (96) during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Sigrid Eller (107) leads community skier Tim Blust (96) during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Caleb Schane (93) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Caleb Schane (93) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Siena Farr (117) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Siena Farr (117) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Lua Mangaccat (8) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Lua Mangaccat (8) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Finnan Gahl Kelly races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Finnan Gahl Kelly races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team senior Ida Meyer (132) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team senior Ida Meyer (132) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team seniors Ida Meyer (132) and Finley Hightower (64) are encouraged by coach Abby McAllister during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team seniors Ida Meyer (132) and Finley Hightower (64) are encouraged by coach Abby McAllister during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Zoë Lessard (103) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team junior Zoë Lessard (103) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Gracie Snyder (123) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Gracie Snyder (123) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team and community skiers approach the finish of the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team and community skiers approach the finish of the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Emmett Hightower (3) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Emmett Hightower (3) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Anderson Murray (105) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Anderson Murray (105) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Frisco McGuire (133) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team freshman Frisco McGuire (133) races during the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team and community cross-country skiers start the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski Team and community cross-country skiers start the Shaky Shakeout Invitational six-kilometer freestyle mass start race Saturday at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

More in Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Nordic Ski Team member Ida Meyer competes at the Region VI Championships Friday in Fairbanks. Meyer placed seventh overall in the girls 7.5km Mass Start. The JDHS girls team placed second in the two-day regions, the boys third. JDHS senior Finn Lamb led the Crimson Bears boys with a sixth place finish in the 7.5km. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski)
JDHS Crimson Bears take snow show on the road

Nordic Ski Team girls second, boys third at Region VI Championships.

Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: Tree bark

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk,… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) floats a jump shot over Wasilla senior Layla Hays (52) during the Crimson Bears’ 46-30 loss Saturday to the Warriors in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A small Layla, a tall Layla give highlight plays on Saturday

JDHS’ Tokuoka, Wasilla’s Hays key second matchup of the weekend as Warriors prevail 46-30.

Lucas Bovitz of Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kale carries the puck with attention from Kenai Central goalie Evyn Witt and William Howard at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Crimson Bears hockey place third on state ice

Juneau-Douglas gets revenge win over Kenai

Wasilla junior Katie Jackson drives and passes around Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors Cailynn Baxter and Addison Wilson (10) during the Warriors’ 65-34 win Friday over the Crimson Bears in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Wasilla girls storm Juneau-Douglas home court

Warriors down Crimson Bears in George Houston Gymnasium

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Dylan Sowa (35) is congratulated on a scoring goal by senior captain Luke Bovitz (4) during senior night weekend against Kenai. Sowa had two goals Friday in the Crimson Bears’ 5-2 loss to Palmer at the 2025 ASAA Division II Hockey State Tournament in Soldotna. JDHS will face Kenai in the 3rd/5th-place game Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Moose push Crimson Bears aside 5-2 in state semifinals

Palmer will play for title, JDHS for third at state hockey tournament.

Snow is also a four letter word with more than one proper use. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Pure Sole: WTF with the F word

The F word. F… U… and no need for that third and… Continue reading

Jessica Larsen of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute describes her research on Alaska’s Mount Churchill at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Dec. 9, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: The threat within an Alaska mountain

Mount Churchill stands in a white corner of the Alaska map, deceptive… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Dylan Sowa (35) beats Bartlett senior Wyatt Rust (13) in a faceoff earlier this season. Sowa scored four goals in Thursday’s 5-4 extra-time win over the Houston Hawks to open the 2025 ASAA Division II Hockey State Tournament at Soldotna. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Crimson Bears open postseason by devouring Hawks on extra-time ice

Sowa wears big hat for sixth-seed JDHS in win against third-seed Houston at state hockey tournament.

Most Read