FACT SHEET
NANANordic is introducing the lifetime sport of cross-country skiing to rural Alaska through a sustainable
Nordic ski program, starting with villages in the NANA region.
Background
The NANA region, located in northwest Alaska, encompasses 38,000 square miles, most of which is
above the Arctic Circle. The region includes 11 villages: Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina,
Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik and Shungnak. Village populations range from 115 to 3,200
people. More than 90 percent of the region’s population is Iñupiaq, descendants of the people who
inhabited the land more than 10,000 years ago. The Iñupiaq are hunters and gatherers – living off the
ocean and rivers’ bounty as well as the tundra’s large game and fresh berries. Subsistence continues to
play a key role in the life of the modern day Iñupiaq.
NANANordic History
2011:
2012:
2013:
Lars Flora, two-time Olympian, presented concept to NANA Development Corporation
In April, NANANordic’s inaugural ski camp reached 650 youth in four villages: Kotzebue, Kiana,
Selawik and Noorvik. In September, continuing to promote physical fitness and a healthy
lifestyle, NANANordic hosted running camps in Buckland, Deering, Kotzebue, Noatak and
Noorvik
NANANordic will take place in all 11 NANA villages and in Anaktuvuk Pass. Schedure:
April 8-12: Kotzebue, Kiana, Ambler;
April 14-18: Noorvik, Deering, Noatak, Shungnak and Anaktuvuk Pass
April 20-24: Selawik, Buckland, Kivalina and Kobuk with coaches skiing from village to village,
weather permitting.
Key Players
Lars Flora, founder and program director, a two-time Olympian in cross country skiing.
Robin Kornfield, program manager, vice president communications/marketing for NANA Development
Corporation
Program Coaches/Volunteers – Olympic athletes, World Cup athletes, college athletes, top high school
athletes and community coaches from Alaska and the contiguous United States
Funding
NANANordic is a community project that pulls together multiple organizations to create a long term
sustainable ski program in Northwest Alaska.
Partners: Girdwood Nordic, Healthy Futures, Maniilaq Association, Northwest Arctic Borough School
District and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
2013 Sponsors: NANA Development Corporation; Teck; GCI; Maniilaq Association; AKIMA; NANA Oilfield
Services, Inc.; WHPacific; NANA WorleyParsons; Bering Air; NMS; Lynden; Carlile Transportation
Systems; Stoel Rives, LLP; Northrim Bank; STG Incorporated; Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates
of Alaska, LLC; Alaska Air Cargo; Alaska Airlines; Nullagvik Hotel; Courtyard by Marriott; Wells Fargo;
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium; Swix; Fischer; and Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking
FOR MORE INFO
NANANordic.com or Facebook.com/NANA/Nordic
Lars Flora: 907-717-7627, lars@nananordic.com
Robin Kornfield, 907-265-4131, robin.kornfield@nana.com
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