People frequently ask where the money collected from Besh Cup races goes. 

The Besh Cup races are USSA-sanctioned National Ranking List events, as well as the qualifying races for Junior Nationals and Arctic Winter Games.  These distinctions  are what make the Besh Cup the most competitive race series in the state, but they also require additional work and expenses, which is why Besh Cup races often cost more than your local club races.  We have worked hard to keep the Besh Cup entry fees within reason.  For the 2009-2010 season, we have added a small $3/race increase - the first time we have increased Besh Cup entry fees since 2003.  (Early birds, can save money by registering for ALL six Besh Cup races for $25/race by December 1, 2009).

Here is how the $30 entry fee is broken down:

$10.00 to host club for putting on the race.  A large percentage of this $10 is used for preparing the venue for the race (such as grooming the trails).  The remainder of the money raised from putting on a Besh Cup race is an important source of income for the local clubs and put directly back into the local ski community through club programs.  Without this income, the clubs would not be able to put on Besh Cup races.  Hosting a Besh Cup race typically requires several dozen volunteers from the local host club.

$12.00 to Cross Country Alaska for expenses in putting on the Besh Cup series.  This includes race registration, creating start lists, calculating points lists (for NRL scoring, Junior Olympic and Arctic Winter Games teams sellection), submitting results to USSA, maintaining the website, buying awards, mailing reminder postcards, reimbursing the expenses of Technical Delegates and race officials, and other miscellaneous expenses.

$4.00 to USSA for the National Ranking List sanctioning fee.

$4.00 goes to Cross Country Alaska's development fund, which is used to send coaches to Junior Olympics, sponsor athlete training camps, clinics for coaches and officials in the state of Alaska, and coordinating other statewide ski programs.