Gina skis on the trails at Hillside Park, just a couple miles from our Anchorage home.Anchorage is hosting the U.S. Cross Country Championships, starting this weekend.

That's assuming the weather cooperates. The rules say a race can’t begin if the temperatures are colder than minus 4. Let me tell you, it has been a lot colder than minus 4 around town lately. Right now, it's about minus 6 here at the Daily News. It was minus 11 at my house this morning.

I don't know if the 400 or so national-caliber skiers will be able to hit the trails this weekend or not. I’m pretty sure I won't.

Beezil heads down the trail after Gina one of the multi-use trails at Hillside. While the skiing was good late last week, the bitter cold has put the brakes on this week for many skiers.

Gina and I squeezed in a ski last week before all the cold weather hit. So it’s been basically a week off the skis. I'm a little itchy; maybe I'll get adventurous and head out for a short ski, but the cold weather makes it hard to get motivated.

Here's hoping it warms up a few degrees, both for our visitors and for myself.

-- Steve