New Fur Rondy great mix of business and pleasure: this 17-day event brings fun and dollars to the Anchorage community.

AuthorPilkington, Steve
PositionGreater Anchorage Inc.

It has been a long time since fur trading was the second-largest industry in Alaska. For more than two weeks this month, however, the Fur Rendezvous is a focal point for a huge list of events, sports, business opportunities and fun-heaped with more than a taste of nostalgia and the ever present celebration of warmer days over the Chugach Range.

It was roughly 70 years ago when what is now Fur Rondy began as a winter sports tournament, mainly for hockey and basketball. Vern Johnson, Clyde Conover, Thomas Bevers and Dale Bowen wanted a community gathering to bring people together and celebrate the beginning of the end of winter. Alaskans have never been hard-pressed to find a reason to party. Back then, in the late 1930s, admission tickets were $2 and trappers and buyers gathered in Anchorage to ply their trade. According to Rondy organizers, trapping contests were held and prizes were awarded for the longest fox, the best fox and the finest ermine pelts.

The exact events have changed since those times, but the amount of fun certainly hasn't. This year's carnival begins Feb. 17 and runs through March 5. Familiar favorites-such as snowshoe softball, the grand prix, sled dog races and pancake feeds-are on the docket. But the 2006 Fur Rondy promises the return of some wonderful old events-such as outhouse races and Miners and Trappers Ball-as well as the introduction of some new events to spice things up.

"The outhouse races are back," said Susan Duck, events manager for the Fur Rendezvous, which is organized and brought about by Greater Anchorage Inc. "They're going to be great. It has been more than 10 years since they were done."

The outhouse races are organized by the University of Alaska Anchorage Architectural and Engineering Technology Club and will raise money from participant entry fees to help with hurricane and...

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