Overview Archive

Alaska Winter Stars 2004-05 Post Season
and Preseason Overview

Welcome to the Alaska Winter Stars.

As skiers, it’s impossible not to feel the excitement of the upcoming season as fall brings cool days and workouts are spent gazing at the dusting of snow on the Front Range.

While shorts and t-shirts are being replaced with tights and hats in our training bags it’s fun to reflect and think about the many hours spent over the last few months; Threshold rollerski intervals in torrential downpours, summiting Wolverine in gale force winds or trying to throw the medicine ball through the wall of the Bunker under the unrelenting sun of summer.

For coaches, the anticipation of seeing the season play out after witnessing all the sweat and road rash is almost unbearable. Luckily, we have the confidence in knowing that we are involved with the hardest working and professional athletes in the country.

To follow in the track of what AWS athletes accomplished last year is no easy task, but we believe we are more than ready and poised for the challenge.

Some highlights of last year are, but not limited to;

Rachel Steer had her most consistent year to date. Rachel was regularly in the top 30 in the Biathlon World Cup and peaked just in time to place 17th and 20th at the World Biathlon Championships in Austria. The last World Cup of the season in Russia, Rachel had her best result ever with a 12th place. With her hard work this summer, hopefully the trend will continue going into this important Olympic year.
Mike Hinckley shocked the country with his stellar performance at U.S. Nationals were he was the forth qualifier for the Junior World Ski Championship in Finland. He continued his strong skiing by dominating the state circuit and winning the State Ski Meister award.
Fiona Worcester was proof that hard work and guts pays off. She came through in the end of the season and won the State Ski Meister award and recorded a 3rd place at the Junior National Championships.
Patrick Johnson and Lex Treinen, younger brothers to the formidable Matthew Johnson and Maximum Treinen finished their season with amazing results at the Junior National Championships in Truckee, California were Patrick was 2nd twice and Lex was 4th and 3rd as a first year J2.
The older contingent of Winter Stars were also shining bright last season. We had a few very good local performances as well as some National performances. Becky and Scott Hauser both raced strong at the American Birkebeiner and Ken Rice raced to a 3rd place at the National Masters in Minnesota. (On a side note, please wish Matthew Pauli good luck next time you see him as he is training hard for World Master’s in Italy)
Last but not least, AWS coach Brian Erickson was keeping it real by traveling to Norway to compete in the Norwegian Birke were he fought his way from the ninth wave and was only passed by two 70 year olds.  

We would also like to bring attention to the AWS booster club, run by our amazing network of parents. Without their support we would not have been able to assist the many AWS athletes in their financially demanding travels to National events. Lets try and raise the bar this year and raise even more money for our athletes. Currently, we are brainstorming ideas on how to take our club to the next level. This can only be done with participation from all of you. We consider AWS a family and expect the ideas put forth by us to be reciprocated. We welcome and encourage all of you to offer suggestions and ideas on how we can take AWS to the ultimate goal– to help every athlete develop their skills to reach their individual goals, whether it’s to win an Olympic medal or finish the 50k at the Tour of Anchorage. Most importantly, we want everybody to have fun, enjoy winter and develop a healthy active lifestyle. Thank you so much for a great year and we look forward to even greater success this year.

AWS Coaches

Jan Buron
Ben Arians
Brian Erickson