The Buckwheat Classic is a one-of-a-kind Alaskan tradition that would be impossible to emulate anywhere else in the world.  Between the festive ferry ride north from Juneau, the Klondike gold-rush character of Skagway, the clover-leaf trail through the forest and over frozen lakes at Log Cabin, the ice-castle aid station that serves a range of libations (not all of which help you get to the finish line), the wholehearted encouragement of all the other motley racers and tourers out on the trail, the end-of-the-race party which takes place before the course reaches the finish line, the post-race banquet and boogie, the chance to rub shoulders with a friendly horde of Whitehorseans, and of course the colorful Buckwheat himself howling and MC’ing the ceremonies, it’s a slice of Alaskana you’ll never forget.  After all, some people pay lots of money and travel thousands of miles to participate in this kind of event, while we have it right here in our backyard.

So if you’ve never taken part in the Buckwheat, consider signing up this year.  If you have done it before, you’ll probably be back once again.  Look for more specifics on this website, or down at the Foggy Mountain Shop, as they become available in the new year.  Don’t forget: “It’s for the lazy, the infirm, and the few who go fast.”  Here’s a  link to get a glimpse of the race as videoed by Juneau’s Scott Foster.  And in the meantime, consider getting prepared while having lots of fun by joining this Eaglecrest clinic, passed along to us by Ken Leghorn, Nordic Director at the Eaglecrest Snowsports School:

March 28, 2009- Buckwheat Ski Classic — Put this date on your calendars and note that Eaglecrest will be offering a $100 4-week series of wax and instructional clinics plus a pre-Buckwheat warm-up race, on March Sundays from 1-3 pm as follows:

March 1 and 8 - waxing clinic and classic ski instruction and conditioning

March 15- wax clinic followed by 5 and 15 km. classic-only race (no pesky skate skiers zipping by!)

March 22 - final wax and conditioning ski

March 28 - Let’s go ski the Buckwheat!  (Make your own travel and lodging plans.)