Tour of Anchorage

March 8, 2020

The Tour of Anchorage is one of the few point-to-point cross-country ski marathons in North America. There are 4 race events: 25k freestyle, 25k classic, 40k freestyle, and 50k freestyle. In each event, participants range from elite ski racers to recreational skiers challenging themselves to finish.  The Tour of Anchorage is also home to the Fat Bike Tour of Anchorage with three events: 50k, 40k and now a 25k course!

The 40k and 50k races start on the east side of Anchorage and traverse the city along ski and multi-use trails. The 25k races start at mid-town (APU) and join the 50k and 40k courses. All races finish at Kincaid Park on the western most side of the city near the coastline of Cook Inlet. Transportation back to start locations will be provided by shuttle bus.

Come for the race and stay for the party. Enjoy the scenic beer garden at the finish line!

Read the History of the Tour  |  Race Times History

Register

Register Online starting Oct. 1, 2019.

*Note: March 4, 2020 is the last day to register for seeded wave placement.

NOTE ABOUT AGE ON APPLICATION: According to convention, the age groupings for skiing are listed as a skier’s age as of December 31 in that ski season. So, if a skier has a birthday on January 11, 2020 and turns 56, his age for the 2020 race is 55. This is done so skiers are a constant age throughout the ski season. Also, you must be 18 years old by 12/31/19 to race the 50k.

Tour Double

Finish any combination of 1 ski race AND 1 bike race back-to-back and receive a special award — plus a reduced entry fee!

Doublers will pay full price for the first race and just $50 for the second. Select the Tour Double option at online registration. If you decide to double after having signed up for just one event, simply email the NSAA at admin@anchoragenordicski.com to add the second event.

Before signing up, Doublers should make sure they are physically capable of finishing both events and have enough time (and their own transportation) to get from Kincaid back to Service HS for their bike start.

Fees

Registration Deadlines
Adult Pricing:  NSAA Member Non-Member
By 1/12/2020 @11:59pm $75 $85
By 2/26/2020 @10pm $85 $95

At Bib Pickup @ APU

Thurs, March 5, 2020 from 3-7pm

Fri, March 6, 2020 from 3-7pm

 $100 $110
Student Pricing:  13-18 years old $50 $50
Youth Pricing:  0-12 years old $35 $35
Tour Double: Ski and Bike First Race: full price as shown above Second Race: $50

No refunds will be given for any reason, including race cancellation. All of the funds from the race go to NSAA for all of their community work, including trail work, grooming, and a variety of other activities that benefit trail users and skiers. Putting on the race involves many costs, many of which are not recovered if the race is canceled. Refunding entry fees is not done by any other American Ski Marathon race including those in Alaska.

Register for Tour
Volunteer!
2019 Results
Sponsorship
2019 Ski Photos (pass=TOA)
2019 Fat Bike Photos

Start, Wave, and Finish Information

Click on your event below to find the information specific to your event:

Start Time: 9:30 – 9:42am

Start Wave: Waves 1 to 7

Start: at Service High School – 5577 Abbott Road

  • Service Parking: There will be parking at the High School
  • Service Warmup area, bathrooms: Porta-pottys and the Small Gym will be available
  • The Start will be in the Service field by the Small Gym

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.
Start Time: 10:30 – 10:40am

Start Wave: Waves 8 to 13

Start Location: at Service High School – 5577 Abbott Road

  • Service Parking: There will be parking at the High School
  • Service Warmup area, bathrooms: Porta-pottys and the Small Gym will be available
  • The Start will be in the Service field by the Small Gym

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.
Start Time: 11:00 – 11:06am

Start Wave: Waves 14 to 17

Start Location: at Alaska Pacific University (APU) – 4400 University Drive

  • APU Parking: There will be parking at the Atwood Building and the Spine Institute
  • APU Warmup area, bathrooms: The Moseley Center will be available
  • How to walk to APU Start: It depends on what parking lot you use but from the Moseley Center it is is 10 minute walk over the hill down to the start area at the northeast end of University Lake. Google Map

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.
Start Time: 12:00 – 12:14pm

Start Wave: Waves 18 to 25

Start Location: at Alaska Pacific University (APU) – 4400 University Drive

  • APU Parking: There will be parking at the Atwood Building and the Spine Institute
  • APU Warmup area, bathrooms: The Moseley Center will be available
  • How to walk to APU Start: It depends on what parking lot you use but from the Moseley Center it is is 10 minute walk over the hill down to the start area at the northeast end of University Lake. Google Map

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.
Start Time: The 50K mass-start will start behind Service High School at 2 p.m. It includes the challenging Spencer Loop near the start and part of the Sisson Loop near the finish. Both of these trails, along with short sections of the Hillside Lighted Loop and Mize Trail, are open to fat bike racers only on March 3 during the race and otherwise closed to bikes. The race ends outside the Kincaid Park Chalet.

Start Location: at Service High School 5577 Abbott Road

  • Service Parking: There will be parking at the High School
  • Service Warmup area, bathrooms: Porta-pottys and the Small Gym will be available
  • The Start will be in the Service field by the Small Gym

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.
Start Time: The 40K mass-start will start behind Service High School at 3 p.m. It skips the Spencer Loop but includes part of the Sisson Loop near the finish. The Sisson Loop, along with short sections of the Hillside Lighted Loop and Mize Trail, are open to fat bike racers only on March 3 during the race and otherwise closed to bikes. The race ends outside the Kincaid Park Chalet.

Start Location: at Service High School 5577 Abbott Road

  • Service Parking: There will be parking at the High School
  • Service Warmup area, bathrooms: Porta-pottys and the Small Gym will be available
  • The Start will be in the Service field by the Small Gym

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.
Start Time: The 25K mass-start will start at Alaska Pacific University near the Moseley Center at 4 p.m. It will follow the ski route until the turnoff at the Sisson Trail, where it will instead continue STRAIGHT on the Coastal Trail multi-use all the way to the finish outside the Kincaid Park Chalet.

Start Location: at Alaska Pacific University (APU) – 4400 University Drive

  • APU Parking: There will be parking at the Atwood Building and the Spine Institute
  • APU Warmup area, bathrooms: The Moseley Center will be available
  • How to walk to APU Start: It depends on what parking lot you use but from the Moseley Center it is is 10 minute walk over the hill down to the start area at the northeast end of University Lake. Google Map

Finish: at Kincaid Park Google Map

  • Hot food, refreshments and beverages including a beer garden will be available at the finish Chalet.

Seeding Racers

Our goal is to make the Tour of Anchorage safe and satisfying for as many skiers as possible.

Read the details about seeding racers here: Seeding Racers.

TOA km distances and expected times at specified locations – helpful for racers, volunteers and spectators – PDF

Ski & Fat Bike Overlap

The start times are designed to limit overlap with skiers while giving bikers adequate time to finish before dark. We anticipate minimal overlap between bikers and skiers. In 2018, only 15 skiers, almost all from the 25k freestyle race, remained on course at 3:45 p.m. This is when the first bikers are expected on the final stages of the course.

Race Bib Pick Up 

When: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 3-7pm and Friday, March 6, 2020, 3–7 pm
Where: APU Moseley Center

Everyone should pick up their bib (or have someone get it for you) BEFORE race day.  If that is not possible, bibs can be picked up on race day beginning at 8 a.m. at Service High School for the 50K/40K, and beginning at 9:30 a.m. at APU Moseley Center for the 25K.

Course Maps

Note: Classic Tracks will be set, except in a few short sections, for the entire 50-kilometer course.

Race Officials reserve the right to alter the course based on safety concerns or weather conditions.

 25K Start – Alaska Pacific University (APU)

40K & 50K Start – Service High School 

Ski Course Sections – Detailed

 Fat Bike Course Sections – Detailed
Download Tour of Anchorage Overview Ski Map – PDF  Download Tour of Anchorage Overview Fat Bike Map – PDF

 

Are you riding the Fat Bike Tour of Anchorage?

  • Helmets are required.
  • A minimum tire width of 3.7 inches is required (unless officials notify bikers otherwise due to extenuating circumstances). There is no maximum or minimum tire pressure. Adjust PSI appropriate for the trail conditions.
  • A noisemaker such as a bell to alert other trail users of your approach is strongly recommended.
  • Pass skiers and other trail users in single file whenever possible.
  • Avoid riding in the classic ski tracks.
  • The winner is determined by the first front wheel to cross the finish line
Click here for Fat Bike Tour of Anchorage Frequently Asked Questions.
There is only one division: Open.

Awards will be given for Top 3 overall and age groups: 0-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+ years old.

  • 50K: Cash Prizes for Top 3 overall and award for each group winner (Top 3 not eligible for age group awards)
  • 40K: Awards for Top 3 (no cash) and award for each group winner (Top 3 not eligible for age group awards)
  • 25K: Awards for Top 3 (no cash) and award for each group winner (Top 3 not eligible for age group awards)
  • Tour Double: 50K ski/50K bike: Cash award for male and female with fastest combined times; medals for all who complete a ski/bike double regardless of distance
Bike Specific Volunteers
 

Race Logistics

Need fast skis for the Tour but don’t have the time or energy to wax them yourself?

Don’t fret — the Dimond High School Nordic Ski Team will be waxing (plan to drop off skis) in the Kincaid Bunker.  Date is TBA! There is no set fee. Skiers are asked to contribute a donation with proceeds benefiting the Dimond ski program.

There will be a vehicle at the start of all races to transport a bag with dry clothing to the end of the race at Kincaid Park. We encourage you to bring a backpack or duffle bag with your name on it so it is easier to spot at Kincaid. For the 25K start at APU, the vehicle will be outside the Moseley Sports Center.  There will be no way to get your gear back to the van from the start area, so be sure to leave your bag with the van before coming down the hill. Also shuttle buses will be available at Kincaid Park to transport skiers back to the start of each race (APU Mosely and Service HS). These buses will leave at 20 minute intervals.
Catch a free shuttle bus with Premier Alaska Tours back from Kincaid Chalet to APU Moseley and Service HS.

  • Buses will run every 30 minutes starting at 1:00 pm
  • Buses to APU will run until 5:00 pm
  • Buses to Service will run until 5:00 pm
  • The Kincaid Gate will be open at 9:00 am
There will be seven feed stations for 2020 race:

  • Hillside/Double Bubble (11.1K into the 50k race)
  • Campbell Airstrip (18.5K)
  • Ambassador Drive (22.7K) – Available during both Bike & Ski Races
  • Lake Otis (27.5K)
  • Westchester Lagoon (32.4K)
  • Postmark Drive (37.3K) – Available during both Bike & Ski Races
  • Clitheroe Center (42.3K)

They will be serving fruit and water & warm sports drink (Skratch Lab Orange). Feed stations are staffed by high school sports, local companies, and community group volunteers. Give them a big thank you as you pass through. Food and drinks will be in the Kincaid Chalet to greet you!

Thank you to the 2019 feed station hosts and supporters:

  • The Boy Scouts- Troop 214
  • The Boy Scouts- Troop 190
  • Bartlett Ski Team
  • Chugiak Ski Team
  • Dimond Ski Team
  • Eagle River Ski Team
  • East Ski Team
  • Service Seminar
  • South Ski Team
  • West Ski Team
  • Speedway Cycles

Merchandise

Merchandise will be on sale at Bib Pickup Thursday & Friday and on race day at the Kincaid Chalet. We have lots of colors, styles and sizes to choose from, but keep in mind that it all goes FAST! Come to bib pick-up early on the first day for the best selection.

Awards & Post Race Party

Awards will be handed out during the Post Race Party – Date & Time is TBD!

Ski Awards:
1st Place 50k men & women finishers $1,000 + round trip ticket with Alaska Airlines
2nd Place 50k men & women finishers $400
3rd Place 50k men & women finishers $200
Note: Cash awards can only be given in the event of the full 50k race

Bike Awards:
50K: Cash Prizes for Top 3 overall and award for each group winner (Top 3 not eligible for age group awards)
40K: Awards for Top 3 (no cash) and award for each group winner (Top 3 not eligible for age group awards)
25K: Awards for Top 3 (no cash) and award for each group winner (Top 3 not eligible for age group awards)

Tour Double:
50K ski/50K bike: Cash award for male and female with fastest combined times; medals for all who complete a ski/bike double regardless of distance.

Door Prizes! Must be present to win!

Sponsors

Come be a part of the greatest cross country ski/bike marathon in North America! Multiple sponsorship levels are available so you can find the best fit for your business. Email Sara at program@anchoragenordicski.com to discuss opportunities today!

Thank you to our generous 2020 Sponsors!

 

Thank you to Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol for support on the trail!
Learn more about the Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol at: https://www.anchoragenordic.com.

 

 

 

Contacts

Questions or comments about the Tour of Anchorage?

Race Director Matias Saari tourofanchorage@gmail.com 
Registration (Pre-Race) Gail Skurla admin@anchoragenordicski.com
Race & Course Matias Saari tourofanchorage@gmail.com 
Registration Changes Bob Stehn bob.stehn@gmail.com