Skunked!

Saturday Skunking!

The women's snowmachine race was Saturday morning starting at eleven. Cathy and I went out to watch and video the crazy women going a hundred miles per hour. During the lag time, between getting to Noorvik and back to Kotz, we went fishing.

After the race, we hung out and fished some more. The kids had school, and Cathy left to shoot the KDMA Women's Dog Races, but I stayed behind. Dean eventually made his way back to us as well.

At around three, we went to pick the kids up. We simply rode to the school, picked up the girls (Clara and Kaisa) and went home, made some Taquaq (food), got the girls ready and left. It was the first time we took out the "Eskimo Sled" he got me for Valentine's Day, and it is...AWESOME!





We ran into Kari and Eric and their kids out there, fishing in some slush. We told them where we were...no slush! and all piled up into a bunch, all trying to catch fish.

It didn't happen, but not for lack of trying!











It was VERY bright out there. The sun was shining, the snow was glowing, and all around us, all we could see was white. So...sunglasses were a hot commodity!

While the adults had "magic cocoa" (my new favorite), the kids had some hot chocolate, thanks to Eric bringing his stove out!



And...the kids just rode Emily and Gage's 120...and rode...and rode... and Dean even got in on the action. We didn't think about bringing Kaisa's 120...duh.










Even Dean got in on the action of riding in the sled!

Oh...here I am! My one and only picture. Always behind the camera, never in front! hehe.

Crazy Girls...

The First Annual Kotzebue Sound Racing Association's Women's 120 race buzzed by us on Saturday morning.

The kids had Saturday School to make up for a storm day, so most everyone was wide awake at the eleven o'clock start time. Cathy came over and we went out to around Lockhardt to watch.


Heather Lane on an Arctic Cat F6


Samantha Harris-Richards, the overall winner, on an F7

During the time it took to wait for the girls to come back, we fished...and fished...and fished... to no avail! Chad took his auger out and drilled five holes for us. We sat there, BS'ed about who was going to win, and who was going "slow" on the way out... Maybe the fish heard us gossiping and decided they weren't going to bite.







So, we set up camera's and tripods and video cameras and waited for the women to come back...


Phyllis Harris on an F6


Muck Viviros on an AC 570


Leanne Viveiros on an AC Z570


Helen Harris, a late entry...


Eva Jones on a Ski-Doo 550


Autumn Mitchell on a Ski-Doo 550 MXZ


Some people's snow machine's didn't make it back in the same condition they went out with...like Zazell Staheli. :)


Cathy Jones...Aqvaluk Photography... www.tundratantrum.blogspot.com :)

I didn't take too many photos, as I was videoing the race next to a trail marker. A few times there, I thought one of the racers would hit the camera!

Here are the results for both classes:


As much as I'd love to win that kind of money, I can't ride that fast. I spoke with Samantha after the race, and being out there, all alone, makes you really think about your kids, and your family. She said she was a little scared and that she felt somewhat selfish at times, BUT had a lot of fun. This was it for her though, no more racing. Coincidentally, her daughter's 4th birthday was Sunday, and they got her a cute pink 120 snowmachine...Maddie is ready to ride! :)

I'm just too chicken to ride that fast!