The Sonot Kkaazoot is the premier long-distance cross-country ski race in Fairbanks, Alaska. The race includes three events, a 50 km (31 mile) a 30 km (18.6 mile), and a 10 km (6.2 mile) course. All races are freestyle, mass start events that begin and end at Birch Hill Recreation Area.
The race was founded in 1988 by noted Fairbanks skier Bob Baker. The name of the race is based on a Koyukon word which translates roughly as 'sliding around in early spring' and was used by Native people to describe the motion of cross-country skiers.
The original race courses began and ended on the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks. Due to unreliable ice conditions on the Chena River, as of 2022 the race has been held entirely on the trails at Birch Hill.
The original race featured 20 km and 50 km events which began and ended on the Chena River near the Cushman Street bridge in downtown Fairbanks. The course then proceeded up the Chena River, entered Fort Wainwright army post and continued as far as the Birch Hill Ski & Snowboard Area. At that point the 20 km race turned around and returns via the same course back to the start/finish area.
The 50 km course proceeded up the Birch Hill alpine ski hill to connect with the trails system at the Birch Hill Recreation Area. From there the course followed all of the trails in the Birch Hill system (excepting the classic-only trails) in a counter-clockwise direction. After approximately 27 km the course again returned to the top of the alpine ski hill and proceeded back to the river and to the start/finish area by the same route.
In 2012 the 50 km race began making use of a new trail constructed to gain access to the Birch Hill Recreation Area. Rather than climbing directly up the alpine ski hill, the Sonot Connector trail climbs through the forest to the east of the ski hill, starting from the top of the rope tow and making two long switchbacks.
Adjustments to the course were sometimes made due to weather or snow conditions. When it was not possible to hold the race on river, either due to ice conditions or cold temperatures, the race was held entirely on the trail system at the Birch Hill Recreation Area, beginning and ending in the stadium area. In these cases the race was usually shortened to compensate for the addition of steeper terrain. In years of low snowfall when it was not possible to easily connect between the river and the alpine ski area, the race was held entirely on the river. In this the 20 km course remains unchanged, but the 50 km course proceeded slightly further up the river before turning around at 12.5 km, returning to the start, and then doing another lap of the same course along the river.