Snow conditions push Buckwheat ski race starts an hour earlier

2014 Buckwheat Ski Classic racers
Racers line up for the 2014 Buckwheat Ski Classic. (Photo courtesy Buckwheat Ski Classic)

Soft snow conditions near Skagway have prompted organizers of the Buckwheat Ski Classic to move up the start times for the various races on Saturday by an hour.

Organizer Jeff Brady said there is plenty of snow at the race site, the Log Cabin Ski Trails about 27 miles north of Skagway in British Columbia, but snow conditions have been getting progressively softer throughout the day.

Brady said he’s expecting as many as 400 skiers to register for the event. As many as 40 racers will be from Juneau.

The 50-kilometer race — actually 45 kilometers this year because snow conditions led to course adjustments — starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. The 25K starts at 9:15 a.m. and the 10K starts at 9:30 a.m. The last race, the kids 5K, will start at 10:30 a.m.

Brady advises that people coming up from Skagway leave early enough so they can get through the Canadian border. The border station opens at 7 a.m. Saturday.

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