Buckwheat Ski Classic starting line. (Photo by Andrew Cremata)
The international cross-country ski race known as The Buckwheat Ski Classic is typically held each year at Log Cabin in Canada’s British Columbia almost halfway in between Skagway and Whitehorse. It’s been put on hold since 2020 due to the pandemic, but it is back this year for the 35th official running on March 12th. The race started in 1987 as a way for Skagway’s former tourism director Buckwheat Donahue to throw an end-of-season winter party. KHNS’ Mike Swasey talked with one of the race’s organizers Cory Thole for a breakdown of what to expect from this year’s event.
Swasey – So this year’s Buckwheat Ski Classic is going back to the old-school format at Log Cabin. Can you tell us a little bit about what to expect from this year’s race?
Thole – Sure. So there’ll be a semblance of years past in that we are going to have the race up at Log Cabin. We’re going up to work on trails this weekend. And there has been a team of volunteers on the Canadian side that have been working on the 2k, the 5k, the Blonde and the Borman loop. So there’s some work that has already been done up there.
If you’re coming from the Skagway side of the border, we’ll need to make sure that you are registered with ArriveCan. In order to cross the border, you will also have to have a negative COVID test or proof that you have successfully overcome the disease with proof of a positive test. Vaccination is required and that will be checked at Log Cabin.
Swasey – Okay, is there gonna be outdoor grilling and the ice castles and things like that set up this year?
Thole – Yeah, so that is the plan. It’s gonna be a bit of a scramble for us to pull it all together. But we are looking to be able to cook burgers and hot dogs and veggie burgers at the aid station. The theme for this year’s race is Toga, Toga, Toga! The roots of that were kind of in the spirit of Greek characters, right? That delta and Omicron are Greek characters, but then there’s also a lot of Greek characters in say, the classic movie Animal House. So that kind of leaves the door wide open for costumes and that sort of thing.
There’s going to be a best-costume award. And that prize is a free night at the Upper Lake cabin with a one-way Temsco ride. And one thing that will be different is that there will not be a banquet at the end of it. However, the BrewCo has scheduled some music for that evening.
Swasey – Outstanding. Will there be a Skagway version as in last year’s Buckwheat COVID-Classic?
Thole – That was the original plan. But with the recent given weather and some challenges with enough personnel to really get that ready, we weren’t going to be able to pull that off. We’re just concentrating all of our efforts for the 12th.
Swasey – All right, Cory Thole, Vice President of the Log Cabin Ski Society, thank you so much for taking the time to talk about the upcoming Buckwheat Ski Classic.
Thole – No problem. Toga, Toga, Toga, Alpha Beta Delta Omicron – Go Buckwheat!
Swasey – Yeah, go Buckwheat!
Registration is open now and the cost is $25 per person regardless of age or category. Race packets can be picked up on race day which is March 12 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Log Cabin just north of the Fraser B.C. border crossing. The races will be self-start and they will run between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m as well. The course will close at 2 p.m. Alaskan time and the registration deadline is 9 p.m. on March 10. More information can be found at buckwheatskiclassic.com.
*** This article was updated to provide more accurate information about start times and the registration deadline***
