South High’s Vebjorn Flagstad, a secret sprinter, wins Snowball ski race

Dylan Autry, Noa Kam-Magruder and Ethan Styvar approach the finish line during the Snowball Sprints cross-country ski race at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7. (Bob Hallinen)

Vebjorn Flagstad a ski sprinter?

It’s news to him.

Flagstad, a junior from South Anchorage, has had success in longer distances, competing both in cross-country running and skiing.

But in Saturday’s season-opening Snowball Sprint race at Service High, Flagstad revealed himself as a secret sprinter as well.

Flagstad, last year’s Skimeister at the state meet, cruised past the competition to win the 1K sprints convincingly.

“I surprised myself,” he said. “I don’t normally consider myself a sprinter, but I guess now I can. I was just lucky in the qualifier and heats and didn’t use as much energy.”

After what Flagstad considered a disappointing cross-country running season in the fall, he has been excited to get on the snowy trails. He said his offseason work has him prepped for a big season.

“I’ve trained more weightlifting this summer,” he said. “Our club team I train with has a lot of great sprinters, so maybe I could be one of them.”

Walker Battreall of East High competes in the Snowball Sprints at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Bob Hallinen)

Timothy Duffy of Eagle River High and Zach Taylor of South High untangle their skies as Christopher Jemison of East High comes up the hill during the 2.8 km part of the Snowball Sprints cross-country ski race at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Bob Hallinen)

West High cross country skiers Soren Walker and Leo Shephard lead a group of up the final hill during the Snowball Sprints at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.(Bob Hallinen)

The day started with 2.8K prelims with interval starts. From there, the race went to heats, with winners and top times continuing to advance to the finals.

“I was pretty warm today,” he said. “It was warm out. Once the heats go, it’s pretty fast-paced, so you’re on your toes. I didn’t really ski around that much, I was just kind of jogging. The qualifier was a bit longer than the normal one, so that warmed me up a lot and got the body ready to go.”

Flagstad was joined in the finals by Dimond’s Moa Kam-Magruder and four Service skiers — Jack Leveque, Oskar Flora, Elias Watson and Logan Cuddy.

The winner of the girls race — West’s Olivia Soderstrom — is also the defending state Skimeister. A junior, she said despite some late-week rain in Anchorage, the trails were great to ski.

“It was really good,” she said. “The conditions were really fast, and it was just really fun racing.”

A pair of girls start the 2.8 km part of the Snowball Sprints cross-country ski race at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Bob Hallinen)

Fiora Graziano of East High comes into the finish chute of the 1 km part of the Snowball Sprints cross-country ski race at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Bob Hallinen)

Fiora Graziano of East High rests as an official removes the timing chip from Service High skier Miya Kam-Magruder at the finish of the 2.8 km part of the Snowball Sprints cross-country ski race at Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Bob Hallinen)

The short track meant passing was difficult, making getting position early a key to winning the race.

“You have to get out of the start first because it gets really narrow, and you get boxed out,” she said. “But I was able to pass on the last part.”

Soderstrom, who earned state Skimeister as a member of the Service High team last year, said the Snowball Sprint is among her favorite races.

“I just like how short it is,” she said. “It’s flat and you can sprint without getting tired.”

West teammates Piper Sears and Zoe Rodgers joined Soderstrom in the finals along with South’s Alise Elliott, Chugiak’s Olivia Ronzio Pic and Service’s Haley Finch.

Emiko Wilson cheers on Service High cross-country skier Heidi Schumacher during the Snowball Sprints at the Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Bob Hallinen)