Oosik Classic Race & Tour

The race is held the third Saturday in March

Parking
Carpool is highly recommended.

Please do not park in alleyways or block driveways (locals, EMS and our fire department need to have access). RV’s can park overnight at the elementary school from Saturday 7AM – Sunday 5PM. Campers can hit the beach at the end of main street.

Race, Trail, Timing
Oosik distances are approximate: With current snow conditions we are looking at a 25km and 50km race.
The 50km will be a single loop. Please yield to all in spandex and/or skiers sporting a red bib.
The cut off time for the 50km skiers is at the mid point at 3PM. A sweep will hurry the red lantern to the finish
All skiers have to show their bib number at the finish line. Please do not cross the finish line a second time, or when not in the race/tour.

Feed Stations / Finish Snack
There will be feed stations along the trail and the Wilflower Cafe will be providing a gourmet snack at the finish line.

Schedule

9:00AM – 11:00AM, Bib Pickup
You can buy our famous “Ski Talkeetna” hat at the info desk. Our cool retro sticker will be on sale at the info desk too.
People coming up by train, please run to the bib pickup, run to the start, you might make it.

9:00AM – 11:00AM, Ski Waxing
Also this year, Toko rep Patrick McGownd and helpers, will provide free ski waxing Feel free to leave a donation for our Junior Nordic program to cover their equipment, coaching, grooming and hot coca requirements.

Expect some lines.

9:00AM – 11:30AM, Junior Oosik Bib Pickup and Race
This will be the seventh year the race is preceded by a Junior Oosik. Kids ages 5-12 can join in the fun by participating in a shortened 3km version of the Oosik while the crowd cheers them on. Children can be registered for free by an adult. Sign up for the Junior Oosik will be held at the starting line on the morning of the race from 9:45-10:15am. Each 1-2 child(ren) has/have to bring 1 volunteer parent!

12:00 – 12:30PM, Race Start
The Oosik Classic starts at high noon with the 50km; the 25km starts at 12:30PM.

6:00PM, Award Ceremony
The awards ceremony will be held at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, followed by a family friendly after party from 6:00-9:00pm at the lodge with Live Music.

7:30PM – midnight, After-Party
After all the skiing is done, Talkeetna rolls out the red carpet at the Hangar for what is surely the best after-party of any race event in Alaska. The party has plenty of our local free beer Denali Brewing Company. Don’t spend all your energy skiing, while they will make you dance the whole night to Wasteland Hop. The Hangar has a 250 max capacity and the door will be run with a FIRST COME – FIRST SERVE policy. Bring your bib or volunteer ticket to enter.

Strange things have been done in the Midnight Sun, and the story books are full.
But the strangest tale concerns the male, magnificent walrus bull!

I know it’s rude, quite common and crude, perhaps it is grossly unkind.
But with first glance at least, this bewhiskered beast, is as ugly in front as behind.

Look once again, take a second look, then you’ll see he’s not ugly or vile.
There’s a hint of a grin, in that blubbery chin, and the eyes have a shy secret smile.

How can this be, this clandestine glee, that exudes from the walrus like music?
He knows, there inside, beneath blubber and hide, lies a splendid contrivance — the Oosik!

“Oosik” you say — and quite well you may, I’ll explain if you keep it between us.
In the simplest truth, though rather uncouth, “Oosik” is, in fact, his penis!

Now the size alone of this walrus bone, would indeed arouse envious thinking.
It is also a fact, documented and backed, there is never a softening or shrinking!

This, then, is why the smile is so sly, the walrus is rightfully proud.
Though the climate is frigid, the walrus is rigid, pray, why, is not man so endowed?

Added to this, is a smile you might miss, though the bull is entitled to bow.
The one to out-smile our bull by a mile, is the satisfied walrus cow!