The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-02-25
M0LLER GOLD
 CUP GOES TO
 RACE WINNER
History of Prize for Down Trail Ski Champion of
 Southeast Alaska

Donation of gold loving cup, by Dan Moller, ski enthusiast and charter member of the Juneau Ski Club. early in the season of 1885, 1886, the second season of the clubs existence, brought into being late in January, 1886, the first running of the Moller Cup Race, held an nually since then by the Juneau Ski Club, guardian of the perpetual trophy.
 Tomorrow, the fourth running of the event, the race continues to be held over the original course, which has, however, been improved to al- low better times. The race starts approximately three and one-fourth miles from the Juneau to Douglas highway, by the skiers' cabin at the head of the Douglas Island Ski Trail The finish line is drawn across the trail one-fourth mile from the highway, at the foot of the sharp hill on which is located the ski jump.
 Championship Race
 The Moller Race is designated and accepted as being the cham pionship race of it's kind for all of Southeast Alaska, and each year draws entrants from other com munities to compete against the skiers of Juneau and Douglas In fact, so generally high has been the calibre of outside competition at tracted, that not until 1888, the third running of the event, was it possible for a local skier to finish in front.
 The first Moller Cup Race saw nineteen racers toe the starting mark. All but three finished, with Al Bystrom, of Fairbanks, emerging the victor, followed in order by Sven Saren, of Juneau, and M McAner- ney, another invading racer. By strom's time for the event, nine minutes, 27 seconds, stood as the course record until 1888.
 Winner of the race in 1887. was Halvor Opsal, of Petersburg, who is competitor again this year. Saren again placed second, with Dan Mol Ter himself taking third. Moller had been a courtesy entrant in the race each running until this year, when he has sent his regrets that busi- ness matters prevent his entering. Opsal's winning time was 9 minutes, 50 seconds.
 Record Time
 In 1888, Saren, representing the Juneau Athletic Club. finally broke from his second place rut to win in new record time, eight minutes, 43 and a4 seconds. His teammate, Martin Rian, placed second and Ed Enberg, of Petersburg, finished third
 Saren will be in the race. defend ing his title, this year. Martin Rian will also be an entrant, as will former champion Opsal.
 Commencing with the second run ming of the event, in 1887, the field of entries has been so large that a division into A and B classes has proved necessary; the A racers con- peting for the Moller Trophy and the B racers for cup presented by the Juneau Ski Club. The winner of the Gold Perpetual Cup also re- ceives a cup from the club for his permanent possession.
 Tourney Grows
 From the first, there has grown about the Moller Race a field oe other tourney events, including jumping and shorter trail races for boys, junior skiers, and for women. Each of these extra events has at tracted considerable interest each year. The jumping, in particular, has met with approval from spec tators, while entries have been many for the other events.
 This season, the championship tourney has been extended to in clude two additional events for men; a point-to- point downhill race over a nine furlong steeply- pitched course, and a slalom. The downhill event was run last Wednesday and the slalom is set for the first date that snow conditions are satls- factory.
 Ralph Moreau, Moller entrant, captured the downhill title Wednes- day, finishing over heavy snow i'll three minutes, two and two-fifths seconds. Saren took second in three minutes. eight and two-fifths sec onds; Bill Hixon third, and Bert Caro fourth Two other starters, Jay Williams and Lee Prescott were forced out by injuries.
 All the downhill competitors are figured for strong showings in this years Moller Race.