Season ends with slush, sleds and competitions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Gross
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHRDSON, Alaska --  Hundreds of people from the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson community came out to enjoy a warm weekend and ski, snowboard or tube the hills of Hillberg and Dyea one last time before the season came to a close Sunday at the Annual JBER Spring Melt Down at Hillberg Ski Area.

Attendees could to watch or join in on five competitions.

The first day consisted of an uphill-downhill race, where participants had to run or ski up the hill and the first one to reach the bottom was named the winner, C.T. Roberts completed the challenge in only 5 minutes and 12 seconds.

The Big Air Competition was the second event held on day one, where participants started down the hill picking up speed and then threw themselves into the air coming off a jump and performed aerial maneuvers as the crowed below watched and judges scored them on their performance. Picking up the win in that category was Chanler Renna and his brother Kristian finished in a close second.

The second day of events started off with a tubing relay, an endurance race where teams of three and four sent a member of their team racing up the hill and tubing back down, each team had to go through one cycle of a four-man rotation, so teams of three had to send somebody twice.

It would probably be easy to say the teams of three weren't favored, however, the team of Bryan Sullins, Anthony Roane and Thomas Rayniak finished in first place, ahead of two teams consisting of four members.

The second event on the day was the commanders' sled race, where JBER commanders and their team constructed sleds made up of only cardboard and duct tape. A trophy was given to the 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron commander Maj. Jay Hennette for the best in show and creative sled with his version of the F-22 Raptor.
A second trophy was awarded to 673d Force Support Squadron commander Maj. Brian Rendell for having the fastest sled.

The "Slush Cup" was the final event of the day, this is the oldest and most likely popular of the events that take place throughout the weekend. Participants race down the hill on skis or snowboards propelling themselves of f of a jump and attempt to skid across about 100 feet of 4 feet deep water.

Zach Warners took first place for this event and the winner for best costume was Collen Mueller, dressed as an arctic flying mermaid.

First, second and third place finishers along with some honorable mentions received prizes at the end of their event. Gift certificates to outdoor facilities season passes to Hillberg were some of the things given away.

When asked why these end-of-the season events are held Raina Panarese, Outdoor Adventure Program director, said it's because it allows for people to get out and enjoy the warmer temperatures and remind them that spring-time skiing and snowboarding can be some of the best.

This also allows everybody to come out and enjoy and tear up the hill one last time before it shuts down and maintenance begins, she said.

David Chaba, the outdoor roads and grounds supervisor, said they had a great group of workers that made all the events possible from building jumps and digging the ditch for the "Slush Cup."

"It's just a great event, the weather's working out and this is (wonderful) for the military to out and enjoy."

During the offseason HIllberg and Dyea are used for ATV training along with physical training exercises and several other events.