Anchorage in 1964, was a small town with snow and a young active population but no dedicated city ski trails, no biathlon range, no ski jumps, and not many winter recreational opportunities. That year the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA) got its start. Lifelong Alaskan and member of NSAA since the beginning Alice Tower Knapp wrote a book, On Track!, that chronicles the organization, the 160 km of ski trails it has built and maintains, the people who made it happen, the club divisions, the community and competitive events, and all the working parts of the club. Her talk will highlight this vital club that has helped Anchorage become a top destination winter recreation city in North America.

This is the fifth talk in the Cook Inlet Historical Society’s 2022-2023 Speaker Series. These presentations are virtual, free and open to the public via Crowdcast; the same link can be used to review the recorded event after the program conclusion. Those attending in person should use the 7th avenue entrance to access the auditorium.

Alice Tower Knapp, a retired teacher and school librarian, was present at the first Nordic Ski Club race as a four-year old. A past president of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, she has been a racer, coach, organizer, race announcer, and longtime volunteer. Her goal in writing this book was to record the history and honor the many people who built this vital club and Anchorage's ski trails.

Nordic Ski Club Race at Moose Run Golf Course, Fort Richardson, Alaska, February 1966. Nordic Ski Club Scrapbook and Archives. Courtesy of Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage.

Cook Inlet Historical Society Presents: On Track! The History of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage