May Newsletter!

Biking season on “Arrival”

Join Tsalteshi Trails Association for a kickoff of biking season! Celebrate off-road riding with a screening of the film “Arrival,” by Second Base Films, from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival:
“Step into our world as we bring you a raw look at the talents of the next wave of riders and photographers. Come face to face with our diverse styles as we take on new lines and new places!” View the trailer here!

• Time: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5
• Place: Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center
• Cost: $20 (includes one free beer ticket. Additional beer available for purchase. Thanks to Kenai River Brewing Co. for help with the beer!). $10 for under 21. $10 for TTA members. Not a TTA member? Become a member that night for free entry to the event!

Intro to off-road biking clinicNew to taking your wheels off the pavement? Tsalteshi is organizing a series of clinics to get you rolling. Stay tuned for details!

Not-so-stuck in vandalism rutsAs trails regulars have no doubt noticed, Tsalteshi was hit with vandalism this spring. Bandits on four-wheelers did a number on us, tearing up and down nearly every loop at the worst possible time of year — after melt and before the trails had firmed up, leaving deep ruts and holes from doughnuts. The damage could not be leveled until the trails dried out enough to support grooming equipment.
The good news is head groomer Bill Holt has been out this week dragging the trails, removing most of the damage. There are still spots that need attention, so watch your footing as you bike, hike and run around.

Motorized vandalism is a perennial problem for Tsalteshi, with unauthorized four-wheelers and snowmachiners sneaking onto the trails year-round.
You can do your part by helping spread awareness of how significant a problem this is. Unauthorized motorized vehicles pose a serious safety risk to people-powered trails users. And damage caused to trail surfaces is costly and difficult to repair. Please help spread the word that Tsalteshi needs to be a vehicle-free zone.

Fred Meyer Rewards programTsalteshi Trails Association is now part of the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program! Log on to your Fred Meyer’s account online at: www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards
Click “Link your Rewards Card Now,” search for Tsalteshi and our organization comes up. It’s a quick and easy way to support Tsalteshi Trails.

Caveman 5KCalling tough souls with, more importantly, tough soles! Shoes are optional in the Caveman 5-kilometer race (but only barefooters will be in the running for prizes).

• 6 p.m. Friday, May 23, at the Wolverine Trailhead off Kalifornsky-Beach Road.
• 5K run on the Wolverine, Goat and Coyote trails. Trails have been freshly dragged and softened up to help tender tootsies.
• Cost: Free for TTA members, $5 for nonmembers.
• No preregistration. We’ll see you at the trailhead!

Relay for Life 5kRun to fight cancer! Relay for Life of the Central Peninsula will hold a fundraiser five-kilometer fun run/walk at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Wolverine Trailhead of Tsalteshi Trails off Kalifornsky Beach Road.

• Online registration is available through May 23 at www.tsalteshi.org.
• Cost: $25 for adults and $15 for students, with a $5 discount for Tsalteshi Trails Association members (use code TTAMEMBER).
• Don’t want to run? No sweat (literally)! Donate $25 to the cause.
• Race-day registration will be available at 10 a.m. at the trailhead for an additional $5. Bib pickup is at the trailhead beginning at 10 a.m.

Biathlon coaching clinicInterested in obtaining coaching certification to help with TTA’s biathlon program? The Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage will hold an Officials and Coaches clinic with Bill Meyers from 7 to 10 p.m. May 29 and 30 in Anchorage. Cost is $25. Email wonders_roberta@asdk12.org to register.

Tri to volunteerTri the Kenai triathlon will be held at Skyview and Tsalteshi Trails on June 8. Registration for racers is closed, but volunteers are needed! Email volunteer coordinator Lanie Hughes at hugheslanie@yahoo.com to help. For more information, visit www.trithekenai.com.

On the horizon…
Salmon Run & Salmon CycleThey’re baaaack, and we hope you will be, too! The popular Salmon Run Series, held at Tsalteshi in conjunction with the Kenai Watershed Forum, and the companion Salmon Cycle Series kick/pedal off again in July.

• Salmon Run Series races begin Wednesday, July 9, and continue weekly until Wednesday, Aug. 6. Then join us for the Fountain of Youth 5K run Aug. 13, and Everything but the Red Run Aug. 16.
• Salmon Cycle Series races begin Thursday, July 10, and continue weekly until Thursday, Sept. 4. Then join us for PsychoCross on Sept. 6.

More information to follow, including online registration and discounts for Tsalteshi members.

Life’s a beach — Kenai to Kasilof run or rideJoin Cook Inletkeeper and TTA for a run or fat bike ride 10 miles along the beach from the mouth of the Kenai River to the mouth of the Kasilof River.

• Time: Registration is at 10 a.m., race starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14.
• Route: Race starts at the Kenai South Beach parking lot and finishes at the Kasilof North Beach parking lot off Kasilof Beach Road.
• Bonfire beach party at the finish with a shuttle ride to Kenai available. Prizes for the fastest male and female runner and biker, youngest participant and silliest salmon costume. Proceeds support Cook Inletkeeper.
• Preregistration: $25 ($20 for TTA and CIK members, enter promo code TTAMEMBER or CIKMEMBER at checkout to get your discount) at www.tsalteshi.org
• Day-of registration: $35 ($30 for TTA and CIK members)
• For more information, visit facebook.com/wildrunandride or email kaitlin@inletkeeper.org.