The 28th annual Buckwheat Ski Classic saw more than a few firsts.

A polar bear on skis, new timing tactics, and performers dancing on ribbons tied to the rafters at the banquet were all part of the festivities in Log Cabin, B.C., on Saturday.

It was not the first year, however, that the Buckwheat was scheduled during the Arctic Winter Games and Canadian Haywood Ski Nationals.

Because of the scheduling conflict, 328 people signed up to race, about 50 less than the norm.

Jeff Brady, secretary of the Log Cabin Ski Society, said the reduced number of elite Yukon skiers led to more Alaskans placing in the top three in the races, which included men's and women's 10-, 25- and 50-km races, alongside a children's five-km.

Whitehorse skiers won all categories, however. Fifty-km winners were Dave Brook and Janelle Greer, 25-km victors were Chris Schmidt and Holly Goulding, and 10-km champions were Jeff Lister and Lucy Steele-Masson.

Youth winners included Nichollis Schmidt, Sonjaa Schmidt, Sammy Mather and Kate Mason.

Brady said he was impressed with the young skiers from Juneau.

"We had a lot of Juneau youth skiers for the second year in a row now,” he said. "They have a really good program, and this is their big event to end the year.”

This is the first year the racing bibs have had a tear-off portion so timers could more accurately monitor the place numbers racers came in.

This year's theme – Life is a Circus – added a couple more firsts to the race festivities. Brady said the event had a lot more costumes that coincided with the race theme.

"Usually we get fairies and few people in wigs,” he said. "But this year, we had a big old polar bear, a rocket girl, a multitude of clowns, and even some kids dressed up.”

Brady said he attributes the uptick in costume-wearers to a prize for the best one.

Whitehorse's Sunshine Giesbrecht (a.k.a. Rocket Girl), whose costume mimicked the well-known circus human cannonball routine, won an all-expenses paid helicopter flight to Upper Dewey Lake, a night stay in the cabin for four people, and food catered by Packer Expeditions.

The race's inaugural Father Mouchet Inspirational Award, in memory of the Yukon's father of cross-country skiing, was given to Joel Luet of the Whitehorse ski club, who helped set track until 9 p.m. Friday before skiing the 25-km race the following day.

By KATIE EMMETS

The Skagway News