by Haley Hanson
The Kuskokwim Ice Classic is gearing up for another exciting year! The Ice Classic features an increased jackpot this year, as well as a new and important rule change.
This year the Kuskokwim Ice Classic Committee is pleased to announce the jackpot has been increased from $10,000 to $12,500! It is the largest jackpot in the recent history of the event.
Participating youth groups earn half the proceeds from their ticket sales, which benefits youth in Bethel as well as the villages of Kalskag, Napaskiak, Aniak, and Hooper Bay.
The Bethel groups participating this year include Teens Acting Against Violence, Delta Illusions Dance Company, and YK Delta Lifesavers Fund.
The participating youth groups outside of Bethel are: City of Kalskag Youth Program, Napaskiak Senior Class, Aniak Volleyball Team, and the Native Village of Hooper Bay Youth Employment Program.
As for the rule change, this year the winner will be determined by the person or persons who guess the exact minute of breakup. If the exact minute hasn’t been guessed, the closest minute to breakup will win.
In the past, if no one guessed the exact time, the winner was determined by the person with the closest time without going over. This year, if no one has guessed the exact minute of breakup, the next closest minute on either side of the exact minute will be the winning time. In the event of multiple winners, the pot will be split accordingly.
We will once again be streaming a live feed of the tripod through our web cam on the website. The live feed should be up around the middle of March, with the tripod going up shortly after.
For guesses that were not turned in at the time of purchase, drop box locations can be found at Bethel Community Services Foundation (BCSF), RAVN, AC, and Swanson’s.
BCSF and Swanson’s are both permanent sales locations, so if you haven’t had an opportunity to purchase tickets from our youth sellers, you are welcome to purchase tickets at a permanent sales location at any time.
Phone sales for people living in locations where tickets are not available will be available starting April 1. The Ice Classic sales phone number is 907-545-8483. The deadline for returned tickets this year is April 17, 2017 at 7pm.
Please check out our website at iceclassic.org or find us on Facebook and Twitter, for updates. If you have any questions, please contact Ice Classic manager Haley Hanson at 545-6677.
