NOME — Thomas Waerner of Norway returned to the real world early Wednesday morning when he arrived here as the champion of the 48th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.Waerner, 47, crossed under the burled-arch finish line at 12:37 a.m. to the cheers of several hundred spectators who gathered amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus that has limited activities worldwide.For more than nine days he had escaped everything but the trail and his dogs. Now his race was over, his dogs had been fed a finish-line snack, and Waerner was listening to a...…NOME — Thomas Waerner of Norway returned to the real world early Wednesday morning when he arrived here as the champion of the 48th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.Waerner, 47, crossed under the burled-arch finish line at 12:37 a.m. to the cheers of several hundred spectators who gathered amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus that has limited activities worldwide.For more than nine days he had escaped everything but the trail and his dogs. Now his race was over, his dogs had been fed a finish-line snack, and Waerner was listening to a...WW…

Back in September, Metlakatla got a sneak peek of itself. A documentary about the high school boys basketball team’s 2017-18 season played pretty much nonstop one weekend in the small Southeast Alaska town, and pretty much everyone got a chance to see it.“Alaskan Nets” was shown 12 times on a 20-foot screen set up in the community’s longhouse. Among the first to see it was basketball coach T.J. Scott, who worried parents might take offense when they saw him yelling at their kids when things got intense.But blowback didn’t come until earlier this month, when the movie made its world premiere...…Back in September, Metlakatla got a sneak peek of itself. A documentary about the high school boys basketball team’s 2017-18 season played pretty much nonstop one weekend in the small Southeast Alaska town, and pretty much everyone got a chance to see it.“Alaskan Nets” was shown 12 times on a 20-foot screen set up in the community’s longhouse. Among the first to see it was basketball coach T.J. Scott, who worried parents might take offense when they saw him yelling at their kids when things got intense.But blowback didn’t come until earlier this month, when the movie made its world premiere...WW…

This story has been updated with .• • •Original article:With little of the usual fanfare, Canada’s Aaron Peck led a field of 46 mushers who took off Sunday from Deshka Landing for the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.The sky was blue and the sun was shining, but few people other than race personnel were on hand to watch teams begin their 852-mile journey on the historic wilderness trail.It’s the shortest race in history, and one of the smallest fields too.Rookie musher Sean Williams of Chugiak scratched on Sunday morning because of “a non-COVID-19-related family health...…This story has been updated with .• • •Original article:With little of the usual fanfare, Canada’s Aaron Peck led a field of 46 mushers who took off Sunday from Deshka Landing for the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.The sky was blue and the sun was shining, but few people other than race personnel were on hand to watch teams begin their 852-mile journey on the historic wilderness trail.It’s the shortest race in history, and one of the smallest fields too.Rookie musher Sean Williams of Chugiak scratched on Sunday morning because of “a non-COVID-19-related family health...WW…

When the Seattle Kraken to Save Seawolf Hockey last month, the NHL’s newest franchise was just warming up. Now they want their fans to get involved too — to get crackin’, if you will — in the effort to spare the UAA hockey team from elimination.The Kraken’s donation is up to $150,000 now, an amount that includes team and individual contributions. And on Friday, the team launched a save-the-Seawolves campaign that includes an upcoming silent auction, a challenge to other corporations to join the cause and, most critically, long-term intentions.“Here’s how fans can be part of boosting a...…When the Seattle Kraken to Save Seawolf Hockey last month, the NHL’s newest franchise was just warming up. Now they want their fans to get involved too — to get crackin’, if you will — in the effort to spare the UAA hockey team from elimination.The Kraken’s donation is up to $150,000 now, an amount that includes team and individual contributions. And on Friday, the team launched a save-the-Seawolves campaign that includes an upcoming silent auction, a challenge to other corporations to join the cause and, most critically, long-term intentions.“Here’s how fans can be part of boosting a...WW…

Long imagined and often doubted, alpine skiing will come to Hatcher Pass this weekend with the opening of the Skeetawk ski area.Carved into the Talkeetna Mountains by a platoon of volunteers from nearby communities, North America’s newest alpine ski area will operate during daylight hours Saturday and Sunday.A 30-chair triple lift capable of carrying 500 people per hour will take skiers and snowboarders to a single groomed run, a beginner’s run called Altitude. The terrain park is open, and more runs will open once the 30-acre area gets more snow, general manager Scott Patridge said...…Long imagined and often doubted, alpine skiing will come to Hatcher Pass this weekend with the opening of the Skeetawk ski area.Carved into the Talkeetna Mountains by a platoon of volunteers from nearby communities, North America’s newest alpine ski area will operate during daylight hours Saturday and Sunday.A 30-chair triple lift capable of carrying 500 people per hour will take skiers and snowboarders to a single groomed run, a beginner’s run called Altitude. The terrain park is open, and more runs will open once the 30-acre area gets more snow, general manager Scott Patridge said...WW…

UAA canceled its indoor winter sports seasons Friday.The Seawolves won’t compete in hockey, men’s or women’s basketball, gymnastics or indoor track because of “the ongoing health risks and increasing protocol restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” the university said in a written statement.“I weighed many factors and relied upon the guidance of public health officials to make the very difficult decision that our indoor winter sports teams would not compete this season,” UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen said in the statement.“My first priority is the health and safety of our...…UAA canceled its indoor winter sports seasons Friday.The Seawolves won’t compete in hockey, men’s or women’s basketball, gymnastics or indoor track because of “the ongoing health risks and increasing protocol restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” the university said in a written statement.“I weighed many factors and relied upon the guidance of public health officials to make the very difficult decision that our indoor winter sports teams would not compete this season,” UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen said in the statement.“My first priority is the health and safety of our...WW…

The University of Alaska Anchorage plans to cut hockey and three other sports as it continues to contend with sharp reductions in state funding, the school announced Wednesday.The decision to eliminate men’s hockey, men’s and women’s skiing and women’s gymnastics will require approval from the University of Alaska Board of Regents, which is set to meet Sept. 10-11.The teams would be eliminated in the 2021-22 school year, UAA chancellor Cathy Sandeen said. The cuts would save about $2.5 million a year.“This is just another example of what it looks like to have a smaller university,” Sandeen...…The University of Alaska Anchorage plans to cut hockey and three other sports as it continues to contend with sharp reductions in state funding, the school announced Wednesday.The decision to eliminate men’s hockey, men’s and women’s skiing and women’s gymnastics will require approval from the University of Alaska Board of Regents, which is set to meet Sept. 10-11.The teams would be eliminated in the 2021-22 school year, UAA chancellor Cathy Sandeen said. The cuts would save about $2.5 million a year.“This is just another example of what it looks like to have a smaller university,” Sandeen...WW…