New kid ski program comes to the Mat-Su -- and needs help getting started

What you need to know:

• A Mat-Su parent is starting a volunteer-run Skiku ski club in the region for kids ages 5 through high school, part of a statewide effort to make Nordic skiing accessible to rural and Alaska Native youth.
• The Skiku club quickly filled all 20 available spots and is now seeking donations to support its operations and build a shared gear closet. All equipment and coaching are provided free of charge.
• With clubs in more than 60 communities, Skiku aims to reduce barriers to skiing across Alaska by promoting health, community and opportunity, particularly in underserved areas.

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There’s a new way for Mat-Su youth to access the cross-country ski trails this winter. And its organizers are looking for donations to help it get rolling. 

Local parent Claire Murray is starting a Skiku club in the Mat-Su Valley for kids ages 5 through high school. Skiku, which primarily operates in rural Alaska, describes its mission as “encouraging and supporting sustainable community-driven ski programs primarily focused on rural Alaska and Alaska Native youth.” 

The Mat-Su club has slots for 20 kids, all of which were quickly filled after registration opened. Now they need help funding the effort and building a gear closet. 

Murray will coach the local club with help from her husband, a friend and her two boys, who ski competitively in local youth programs. She said Skiku is completely volunteer-run and supported through donations, which are always welcome. 

“Any donation amount is graciously accepted,” she said.

Skiku has clubs in more than 60 communities across Alaska, from larger towns like Utqiaġvik, Nome and Bethel to villages such as Golovin, Noorvik and Kaltag. While the focus is on introducing Native and rural youth to Nordic skiing, Murray said the program is open to any child who wants to participate. 

Competitive skiers have plenty of options in Southcentral, from club programs to school teams and more. But the sport can often be prohibitively expensive to learn. 

“A lot of kids just don’t have access,” Murray said. 

That’s where a group like Skiku comes in. All the boots, poles, bindings, skis and even wax needed to hit the snow are provided for free, as is the coaching and time on the trails. According to Skiku's website, its goal is to remove barriers and bring skiing to communities across Alaska. Funding for the organization comes from a variety of Alaska-based companies and NANA.

“Our goal is to take our programs to wherever there is interest with a vision of inspiring healthy families who love to ski,” the group states on its website, Skiku.com. 

Although many Skiku programs emphasize recreational skiing, Murray said some programs – including Nome and Sleetmute – have built competitive teams. 

“They’ve gotten really good,” she said. 

Originally from Kiana in Northwest Alaska , Murray said sports have been a big part of her life and wants to help foster that spirit in others. She’s seen firsthand how skiing can change lives and said watching Skiku’s impact in rural communities has been inspiring. 

“I’ve seen how sports can change a child’s life.” 

It’s not just about staying fit, she said. Learning to ski and becoming part of a team can have benefits that last a lifetime. 

“I feel like it can affect kids in more ways than getting out and getting exercise.” 

Anyone interested in learning about the program or making a donation can contact Murray at claire@skiku.com

Matt Tunseth is a freelance writer from Southcentral Alaska. Reach him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com