Corduroy Crush

Calling All Nordic Skiers!

The Corduroy Crush is our annual, family-friendly Nordic ski race for kids and adults of all abilities. Held on Girdwood’s 5K Nordic Loop, this race is a fun, low-stress way to enjoy spring skiing. The loop follows part of a historic 10K race trail, and signs along the route and at the trailhead share stories from Girdwood’s skiing history. We’re proud to host the race in collaboration with the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club.

We’ll be back to crush it with you in the spring of 2027 – stay tuned for updates on dates and times! If you attended the 2026 race and didn’t pick up any merch, you can still purchase shirts by clicking the button below:

2026 Merch

Race Options

Our three events listed below are open to all cross-country skiers using any type of preferred ski technique (classic, skate). Only pay once and participate in any and all race options of your choosing. Registration and additional race info are located further down the page.

2K Snowball
Biathlon

Short and sweet! Perfect for the kiddos and their parents. The Snowball Biathlon is a fun, untimed event that includes throwing snowballs at a target in addition to skiing the 2K course. This event is a tribute to the original and much-loved Stumpy’s Biathlon!

5K Timed Course

An intermediate course: participants will start at the kiosk, follow the trail past the first cutoff, and follow the 5K loop back to the kiosk for a victorious finish! The race may be shortened if there is inclement weather that makes part of the course dangerous. This is a timed race.

2x2x2 Relay

Our relay race involves teams of skiers working together to complete four 2K laps. Teams can be made up of 2 to 4 people, and the distance required for each skier to complete will depend upon team size. Our most common setup is a team of 2 who ski 2 laps each, at a 2k distance per lap, hence the name 2x2x2. If you have 3 people, you can simply have 1 teammate ski an additional leg. If you have 4 people, each will ski one leg. This is an untimed race.

Help Share the Joy of Winter

The Corduroy Crush brings skiers together to experience the joy of winter on a trail rich with local stories. Through our SnowSchool program, kids get to explore Alaska’s winter landscapes, build outdoor and snow safety skills, and learn about snow science in the place they call home.

When you register, we invite you to consider adding a donation to support SnowSchool for Alaska’s youth. Registration fees help cover the cost of the race. Your gift helps us connect more kids to this storied region through winter outdoor learning and recreation.

Thank you for helping kids discover the joy of winter!

Stories Along the Trail

Each year, skiers at the Corduroy Crush become part of Girdwood’s local skiing heritage. The Snowball Biathlon’s tribute to Stumpy’s Biathlon is one way the race carries that rich history forward. Around the 5K Nordic Loop, interpretive signs created by the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club (GNSC) with support from KMTA grants honor the people and trails that have helped shape its living heritage.

Today’s 5K Nordic Loop follows part of a 10K trail built for the 1969 Junior National Ski Race, the first held in Alaska. Among the champions was Shirley Firth of Inuvik, who went on to become one of the first Indigenous women to compete in international ski racing, including at the Olympics. The 10K trail was Girdwood’s first built for recreation and helped bring tourism and ski racing to Alaska. The Nordic 5K Loop we know and love today is actually built over a portion of that historic 10K trail, and boasts small handmade signs tucked
throughout the forest that mark the original route.

At the Arlberg Trailhead parking lot, an interpretive sign tells the story of Sewell “Stumpy” Faulkner and the ski trail he built through the meadows of Girdwood Valley. It pairs Stumpy’s sketch of the route with photos explaining how places along it got their names.

The Corduroy Crush celebrates the significance of this place, the people who have skied here, and the stories that remain part of the trail today.

about

Registration & Race Information

REGISTRATION & FEES

Stay tuned! Corduroy Crush will be back in April 2027 – dates and times to be confirmed.

BIB PICK UP

Bib pick up opens at 9:30 AM on Race Day and will be located right next to the 5K parking area at the end of Arlberg Road.

PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS

Stay tuned for info.

DIRECTIONS & PARKING

The 5K Nordic loop is 45 minutes from Anchorage and right next to Alyeska Resort. Park at the paved Arlberg parking lot located at the end of Arlberg Road. This is a new road so it might not show up on older GPS units. Alternative parking is available in Parking Lot A, where you can then walk/ski to the Nordic Trailhead. You can find out more information about the trail and the location here and here.

SPECTATORS

Spectators, please join the fun on your skis and cheer at the finish line or along the course! If the weather holds out and allows us to place the start and finish line at the meadows, spectators will also be allowed on foot in designated areas.

MORE 2x2x2 RELAY DETAILS

As noted above, the most common format for this relay is a duo of skiers who each ski 2 laps of the 2K. In the scenario of a duo, the format looks like this:

Skier 1 skis the 2K, tags skier 2
Skier 2 skis the 2K, tags skier 1
Skier 1 skis the 2K, tags skier 2
Skier 2 skis the 2K and crosses the finish line

However, teams of 3 or 4 people are allowed as well. If you have 3 people, you can simply have 1 teammate ski an additional leg. If you have 4 people, each will ski one leg only.