Utkan Kocatürk and the art of Nordic skating August 31, 2026 A Q&A with Nordic skater and photographer Utkan Kocatürk Utkan Kocatürk is a Turkish-American photographer and outdoor enthusiast based in Wasilla, Alaska, with a particular interest in landscape and aerial photography. Kocatürk’s work has been published and featured by platforms including Alaska Magazine, Smithsonian,…

Ermine at Outdoor Retailer August 29, 2026 Two days of wild ice advocacy at North America keystone outdoor industry trade show Ermine just spent two great days at the Outdoor Retailer trade show spreading the word about Nordic skates and wild ice! This year’s OR was held in Minneapolis, and brought together thousands of people…

What is wild ice skating? August 22, 2026 Wild ice skating is about place — not equipment When several friends and I (with Tim Treuer in the lead) founded the Wild Ice Skating Club of Alaska (WISCA) in 2023, we had a lively discussion about what to call our new group. The Nordic Skating Club…

How often do you need to sharpen Nordic skates? June 6, 2026 Wild ice puts even the best stainless steel blades to the test, though sharpening is relatively easy and affordable There’s no better feeling than starting a skating trip on a glorious winter day and feeling your blades bite tenaciously into the cold, smooth…

Ermine A110 vs. Ak1 June 1, 2026 Why we said goodbye to our A110 Nordic skate and launched the new and improved Ak1 In 2021, Ermine launched the first Nordic skate ever made in North America, our A100 ‘Alaska Skate.’ The stout, stiff, and colorful A100 was a success, and the next season we replaced…

Is Nordic skating more affordable than running? May 22, 2026 Upfront costs for Nordic skating may be less than you think, and once you’re set up the sport can be surprisingly affordable In a world where everything feels expensive (or, maybe worse, increasingly expensive), it makes sense that many people are cautious about spending money…

Guide to Anchorage Nordic skating destinations May 20, 2026 When it comes to Nordic skating destinations, Anchorage, Alaska can’t be beat Whatever one might say about Anchorage (we’ll proudly acknowledge that our hometown can be a bit rough around the edges), nobody can deny we have access to top-shelf wild ice. You can skate around…

Six mistakes beginner Nordic skaters should avoid May 5, 2026 New Nordic skaters can maximize their fun and safety on wild ice by avoiding a few common mistakes One of the best things about Nordic skating is that it’s a relatively easy and approachable sport, and many folks have fun from the first few strides….

The story of Kit, the first kids Nordic skate April 30, 2026 The ideas, design decisions, and manufacturing process behind Ermine’s groundbreaking Nordic skate for kids My three siblings and I grew up biking, hiking, canoeing, and skiing in the Alaska outdoors. We were hard on our gear, and experience taught us exactly what worked…

Ermine before Ermine: a prologue April 21, 2026 How the years of wild ice successes, failures, and discoveries that came before Ermine charted a course for the company Many writers and readers disapprove of prologues, criticizing them as a literary crutch whose work is better accomplished in the story itself. As Laurie McLean, of Fuse…