Terrain Park’s open, dudes
Annie Bartholomew/ Sun Star Reporter
February 26, 2013
It was 4:15 Friday night when the Department of Recreation, Adventure and Wellness Director for Facilities Erik Ofelt received the long-awaited news that they could finally open Nanook Terrain Park to the public.
On Saturday, Feb. 23 the skiing and snowboarding facility officially opened with three jumps and over 30 park users registered by Sunday morning.
The first park user of the day, UAF Art student Dorian Granger complimented the careful structure of the jump takeoff and landing areas. “I’ll come here every weekend if I don’t have to pay,” Granger said. Entrance to Nanook Terrain park is free for UAF students who have paid their SRC fee.
Though the park opened at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, peak traffic came around 1 p.m. when nearly twenty skiers and snowboarders arrived at the yurt to check out the new park.
“We opened up and the morning was a little slow, a little windy. But right around afternoon people started showing up and now they’re starting to spin off the jumps and try em’ out,” said Social Work student and Park Crew member Rick Bartlett.
While some park users were busy trying out the three jumps, others were eager to know when the rails and boxes would be installed. Terrain Park staff is still waiting on the arrival of twelve additional terrain park features including boxes, rails, picnic tables and a wall ride which are being shipped to Fairbanks from their manufacturer Arena Snowparks.
Terrain Park staff expects the features to arrive on Tuesday and will install them as soon as possible, according to DRAW Outdoor Facilities Manager Sam Braband. Just like the jumps, each park feature must be approved by the USTPC before they can be open for public use.
Park users and Park Crew members alike are looking forward to next week’s Nanook Traditions Winterfest celebrations that will feature the Top of the World Park Jam, a competition for skiers and snowboarders at Nanook Terrain Park.
“The park jam is going to be next weekend and it’s going to be our first competition so we hope to see a lot of people out there,” Ofelt said. The competition will have a jam-style organization with groups of riders hitting the jumps over a period of time. Judging will be based on overall impression of the athletes, with prizes from skiing and snowboarding companies Rossignol, Anarchy Eyewear and Sessions. Registration is on Saturday Mar. 2 at 10 a.m.
Posted by Annie Bartholomew
on Feb 26 2013. Filed under Media, News, Sports.
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