Quirky race takes to trails, benefits area women

February 03, 2008

It's not everyday dancing butterflies, a cow or life-size condiments strap on skis. (Shawn Wilson/KTUU-TV)

by Jennifer Zilko
Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - It's not everyday dancing butterflies, a cow or life-size condiments strap on skis.

But every year they come out Kincaid Park for a very special race.

The 12^th-annual Ski for Women race drew 1,500 entrants Sunday.

The race not only let women dress up in everything from Energizer bunny costumes to bikinis but also benefited organizations that help women in crisis.

Sally Burkholder started the race with her friend Ann Mize 12 years ago as a way to get more women racing.

It seems to have worked.

"The first year we ordered 200 race bibs and thought we'd be lucky if there were 200 people and 700 people signed up," Burkholder said.

She says the race often benefits Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, adding that now funds are also donated to local organizations with similar missions.

This year more than 1,000 women registered to ski in the 4K race.

People like the "Nordic Nuns," Lorraine Krueger and Joni Potvin.

"We're both Catholic so there's just so many fun sayings. We liked, Many are called few are frozen,' so we just ran with it," Krueger said.

Both women say it's always fun to get in costume and hit the trails. Still, they know the bigger meaning behind the race.

"It is a fabulous support for our community and to support the people in our community," Krueger said. "We're all in this together so we have to be together and do things to help each other."

Co-founder Ann Mize says the Ski for Women has spread across the nation with races in places like New England and Colorado.

Up until last year the event has raised more than $660,000. In 2007 alone it raised more than $61,000.

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