Inside Alaska - Fairbanks, Denali, Interior and Arctic Alaska

Two-Foot High Kick – WEIO 2010

FCVB — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:47:05 +0000

As you will see in the video below, the two-foot high kick is an amazing event. It is one of the most visually-spectacular competitions held every year at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks.

You’ll notice the ball is suspended at a height that is almost beyond the reach of a competitor, who then (almost effortlessly) kicks that ball with both feet together, landing without a stumble. Wow.

You can see more high kick video from WEIO 2009 here.

Tweeting in the Last Seven Days: Owl, WEIO, McKinley

FCVB — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:26 +0000

There has been a high level of activity on the Fairbanks Twitter account over the past week. An owl closeup has been clicked a record number of times, while photos from this year’s World Eskimo-Indian Olympics are not far behind. We also saw great traffic flowing to North Pole and Denali photography…as usual.

Terrific owl photo taken in Fairbanks: http://ow.ly/2hQbb
Mt. MicKinley from the air, shrouded in clouds: http://ow.ly/2hjmQ
Just published: our set of Two-Foot High Kick and Ear-Pull pictures from the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics: http://ow.ly/2hw4C
Stunning photography from the Brooks Range thanks to @alaskaphoto – http://ow.ly/2eFwC
Great Fairbanks/North Pole area sunset photo: http://ow.ly/2fKxn
Stunning photos taken in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by @alaskaphoto – http://ow.ly/2gIBD
Great post/photo from @alaskaphoto on ‘Denali and Wonder Lake’ – http://ow.ly/2hXbG

Top clicking tweets from the past can be found in our archives.

WEIO 2010: Two Foot High Kick, Ear Pull

FCVB — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:29:20 +0000

We were able to spend some time at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics or WEIO again this year. We took pictures at two of the favorite (and most photogenic) events: the two-foot high kick and the ear-pull.

Here are descriptions of the events you see above from the WEIO website:

Ear Pull

In this event, there are two people sitting down facing each other with twine looped around each other’s ear – right ear to right ear, left to left. The two begin a “tug-of-war” to see who the winner is. Best two out of three wins the match. There are times when the loop will slip off one opponent’s ear – that person is the loser of that round. Each participant alternate each round using alternate ears. A game of stamina to pain, the victor demonstrates he/she can withstand pain, a trait sometimes needed to survive the harsh realities of the North.

Two-foot High Kick

This event is similar to the one-foot high kick with the difference being the athlete jumps off the floor using both feet, hits the suspended target with both feet together, and maintains balance upon reaching the floor. When landing both feet must touch the floor at the same time.

Years ago, in the coastal whaling villages, in order for the village to know that a whale has been taken, a runner would run back to the village and when within sight of the village, the messenger would jump and kick both feet into the air while running. In that manner, the people of the village would know a what was caught and prepare themselves to help in “beaching” the whale.

WEIO has a great website. Be sure to check it out for more. Also check the Inside Alaska archives for more photos and videos of WEIO from previous years.

Brooks Range Flyover, Denali and Fairbanks on a Bike

FCVB — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:01:06 +0000

Terrific aerial photos from the Brooks Range top this week’s Twitter-clicks-list. People were also interested in a family making their way to Fairbanks on a bicycle built for five and wanted to check out the new Morris Thompson Center website.

Stunning photography from the Brooks Range thanks to @alaskaphoto – http://ow.ly/2eFwC
Strange story of the day: family makes its way to Denali, then Fairbanks on a bicycle built for five – http://ow.ly/2eMPm
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center has launched a new website: http://ow.ly/2cvLs
A bunch of new photo contest entries have been added this week: http://ow.ly/2eG5c
On Facebook…people like us. You should too: http://ow.ly/2cb3b
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival attracts participants from around the world – http://ow.ly/2dul0
From an Anchorage blogger: ‘You have to love Fairbanks!’ – http://ow.ly/2e1v6

These are our seven most-clicked links on Twitter for the past week. See our top-tweets from the past in the Inside Alaska archive.

Morris Thompson Center on Life on the Edge

FCVB — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:27:33 +0000

The folks at Life on the Edge from Newsradio 970 KFBX dropped in a few days ago to speak with us about the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Karen Lundquist, our Vice President of Marketing explains why this should be your first stop on any visit to Fairbanks.

Tweeting: Solstice Sunrise, Denali, Antique Cars

FCVB — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:11:59 +0000

Photos from around the area top our most-clicked list again this week. Denali National Park is included, along with the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center here in Fairbanks. There is also a very interesting video taken at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. Summer events also received good traffic.

Nice new shot of a post-Solstice sunrise from the Fairbanks Flickr group: http://ow.ly/25lh2
Coupons for your Fairbanks trip on our website: http://ow.ly/25oFY
Good post and set of pictures from a trip to Denali National Park: http://ow.ly/24XQa
Nice blog post and photos that feature sites around Fairbanks including the Morris Thompson Center: http://ow.ly/24Yq6
Terrific video featuring @AKcarmuseum in Fairbanks: http://ow.ly/261g1
Take a summer exhibit tour at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks: http://ow.ly/24hpk
Cool event: ‘Arts in the Park at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks’ – http://ow.ly/23sKF

You may also follow us on Twitter to get each of this updates as they are posted.

The Moose Family Saga Continues

FCVB — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:37:00 +0000

I looked out my living room window last evening and saw the moose cow and twin calves I had referenced previously here and here. This time I was equipped with a 200mm lens! I observed the mother and her young ones for fifteen minutes or so from across the street and was able to capture these images.

The calves have really grown since we first saw them. It has been neat to see them growing up before our eyes. Just another day in Fairbanks!

6/25: New Things to Do, First Friday Next Week

FCVB — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:35:53 +0000

Today we got together with our Vice President of Visitor Services and Membership Karen Lane to discuss some new businesses and things to do, see or experience around Fairbanks. We also discussed the schedule for the upcoming First Friday art exhibit (July 2) here at the Morris Thompson Center.

Download the 6-25 KFBX Update

Baby Moose Twins Return for a Visit

FCVB — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:17:40 +0000

We wrote an earlier post on a moose cow and two calves that have been hanging around my house this summer. Sunday night they were back. The twin calves were curious, and ready to come very close to the guy standing in the driveway (me). In the photos below you can see how they progress from the trail across the street, to the open area in the bushes, then across the street and into the yard. At that point Mom had to step in and call them back. Before leaving, they took a moment to nurse and then headed back into the woods.

This was a pretty rare wildlife encounter. Just so you know, my wife and I were always cautious and never came between the cow and her calves. The last two pictures were taken from inside the house, as the moose were only about 20 feet away. It is important to use caution whenever interacting wildlife.

6/11: Cultural Programs at the Morris Thompson Center

FCVB — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:52:34 +0000

This week’s program is focused on the Cultural Programs underway at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center this summer. There is also mention of the new ‘Farthest North Antler Arch’ near our river walk, which you see above. Get all the details when you play or download this update below.

Download the 6/11 Update