Photos by Clark Fair, Redoubt Reporter
The Tsalteshi Trails Association Youth Ski Program, for ages 6-12, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. for eight weeks, plus four Saturdays, including last week at Headquarters Lake, seen here. The program started last year with 43 skiers and has grown this year to the 75-skier limit, relying heavily on volunteers and parent coaches. A City of Soldotna grant to TTA this year helped purchase a Tsalteshi hat for each of the skiers.
Coaches and groups: Adam Reimer (Bears), Brenda Dale (Goats), Laura Pillifant (Coyotes), Gigi Banas/LuAnn Reynolds/Robin Nyce (Lynx), Emily Kornelius (Beavers), Kati Rehm (Wolves), Kristine Moerlein (Eagles), Mary King/Patti Berkhahn (Moose), and Denise Harro (Rabbits).
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- An unidentified skier prepares to duck under one of the arches on the obstacle course. The arches were made by Chris Banas, husband of coach Gigi Banas.
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- Limbs akimbo, Wyatt Nelson practices his form.
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- Parent helper Cindy Holland holds the “limbo pole” for an unidentified youth skier during the cross-country obstacle course.
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- X marks the spot where Heidi Watkins fell into the snow and decided to make a snow-angel while she was down.
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- Ryder Geisler gives a purple ball the boot during a portion of the cross-country ski obstacle course.
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- Coach Gigi Banas leads her Lynx group of skiers for a quick tour along the perimeter of Headquarters Lake.
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- Denali Blackwell tumbles out of line as her group skis along the lake shore.
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- Bundled in pink, Sarah Mickelson focuses on staying upright as she cruises the groomed trail along the lake.
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- Jode Sparks smiles as he stays comfortably in the grooves of the groomed trail.
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- Heidi Watkins takes a big side-step over an obstacle in the obstacle course.
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- Coach Gigi Banas cheers on Chase Keating as he maneuvers along the “straddle” portion of the obstacle course.
