XC Racing
Season Preview
Where to go for competitive skiing
in the upper Midwest
By Greg Marr  The herd is becoming thinned. Three difficult winters in row have had a toll on cross country ski races throughout the Midwest. Race organizers have become understandably cautious as the once plentiful, dependable white stuff is now as reliable as a campaign promise. In the nine years we have been compiling this December race preview, never before has it
been as difficult to get information. Some organizers remain on the fence; others have simply given up – and who can blame them?
>From all this comes some good, however. Most skiers – and organizers – will confess that there are almost too many races crammed into the few shorts weeks of what can be considered reliable snow time. The fact that a few races have been shelved should benefit the many that remain.
The following is a brief overview of races this season. For more detailed information, look to the Calendar of Events here or at www.silentsports.net. A special thanks goes to skinnyski.com for helping us out on some events we were having difficulty tracking down.
Always call ahead before traveling to an event. While we've made every effort to assure the reliablity of our
information, we know situations can change quickly. Use this information merely as guide to what's going on in the winter woods this season. Confirm an event before leaving home.
(NOTE TO RACE ORGANIZERS/SKIERS: If you know of a race that isn't listed here, please contact us at 1-800/236-3313 or info@silentsports.net)
DECEMBER
Wisconsin
December brings demos to Hayward and the Birkie Trail Dec. 9 and Minocqua Dec. 16. The first race of the season is for high school skiers on Dec. 14 in Minocqua, the Minocqua Invitiational. Wisconsin organizers, even in the north, wait until Dec. 30 for the first competition for adults. The HASTA Double Pole Derby is in Hayward while the North Lakeland Discovery Center holds its
Winter Biathlon.
Minnesota
Assuming there's snow, high school skiers will start out with the Montebello Relays Dec. 2 in Bemidji. Other Minnesotans can get their first taste of competition with the Elm Creek Relay Series
opener on Dec. 6 The Wednesday night series runs into February. Hoigaard's is taking no chances with its Breadsmith's Relay on Dec. 9, holding it at the Hyland downhill area. The hitch is it starts at 7 a.m., to be finished before the lifts start up. If there's snow on the ski trails, it could move there and be later in the day.
High school skiers from Minnesota and Wisconsin will gather on Dec. 16 for the Hopkins Holiday Relays at Phelan Park in St. Paul.
Duluth's
Snowflake Opener on Dec. 17 is the first of the new MiniSkinny Loppet series races, a selection of smaller races enjoyed by skinnyski.com. Classic skiers can end the month with two classic-style-only races, the Giants Ridge Classic on Dec. 23 and the Classic Hiihto Dec. 31 at the Battle Creek Nordic Center in St. Paul (number two in the MiniSkinny).
Michigan
The earliest adult races in the area are at ABR in Ironwood, Mich., long a favorite early destination for Midwest skiers thanks to lake-effect snow. The Dec. 9-10 ABR Season Opener features classic on Saturday and freestyle Sunday. In the Ishpeming area on Dec. 16-17, adults and juniors can ski classic Saturday and freestyle Sunday.
JANUARY
Wisconsin
The month opens with Madison's Elver Tuesday Night Race Series on Jan. 2 and the Lapham Peak Wednesday Night Series on Jan. 3 near Milwaukee. Both series go into February.
There's a log jam of races the first weekend of the month, including the Log Jam Jan. 7 in Phillips and the Blue Hills Ascent the same day in Bruce. The day before, Dec. 6, features the Ashwaubenon Nordic Open on the Brown County Reforestation trails, the Waukesha County Parks Citizen Race at Noshota Park and the new Schwan Shuffle near Trego. The Schwan is held on the Luther Hills system (see
separate story in this issue) and will be piggybacked with the Blue Hills Ascent for two days of racing.
The calendar is no less congested the next weekend with the Superior Ski Classic on Jan. 13 in the Superior National Forest. The 13th also features the Hodag Ski Chase, a point-to-point 35K in Rhinelander, and the Heartland Nordic Freestyle at Standing Rocks County Park near Stevens Point. The Heartland was formerly known as Standing Rocks Nordski.
For skiers with a real desire for adventure, head to Telemark Lodge Jan. 13-14 for the first ever 24 Hours of Telemark, a 24-hour team relay fashioned after the mountain bike 24-hour events.
Jan. 14 features the Snekkevick Classic, a classic-only at Nine Mile near Wausau, and the River Cities Ski Challenge in Wisconsin Rapids.
The following weekend, the busiest of the year for Wisconsin skiers, opens with another classic-only race, the Seeley Classic
, on the Birkie Trail Jan. 20. There are four other options in Wisconsin that same day. The Lapham Loppet at Lapham Peak near Milwaukee has a 10K freestyle and a 5K snowshoe. The Balsam Vinter Fest at Amery is also a MiniSkinny series race. The Lakewood Trails host the Nicolet Norski while Eau Claire's Tower Ridge Trails feature the two-day Fridtjof Nansen Magic Crust Classic with skate races Saturday and classic on Sunday.
The
Northern Kettle Moraine Ski Club Challenge is at Greenbush on Jan. 21 while kids get to ski in the Sons of Norway Barnelopet that afternoon in Waukesha.
Organizers take note: We could only find only one race in Wisconsin the next weekend, the Iola Norseman Challenge on Jan. 28. Perhaps the light schedule is because of the first annual Nordic Ski Rendezvous at Telemark Lodge Jan. 26-28. The event will bring together members of six upper Midwest
ski clubs for a weekend of skiing and socializing.
Minnesota
Like Wisconsin, Minnesota crams a lot of skiing into the four weekends of January, although the first race is on a Monday. The popular, annual New Year's Day Race
opens the month at Phalen in St. Paul. On Wednesday, the Elm Creek Relay Series continues.
On the weekend of Jan. 6-7, skiers can venture to Alexandria for the Coca-Cola Classic or to Grand Marais for the Sawtooth Races. Both have classic events Saturday and freestyle Sunday. The weekend also includes the Koobi Mini Cup on Saturday in Hutchinson while high school skiers gather the same day at Giants Ridge for the Mesabi East Invitational.
The
Highland 5K Sprint Series gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Hyland Park in the Twin Cities area. The UMD Winter Ski Series begins the next day, Jan. 10, in Duluth.
Organizers take note, particularly the seven with races the following weekend: The weekend of Jan. 13-14 we find only three races, and one is the Bemidji Pursuits high school race Jan. 13 in Bemidji. The others are both on Sunday, Jan. 14. An open Saturday in January? Strange ...
Skiers' choices on Jan. 14 are the La La Palooza Loppet at Como Park in St. Paul and the Woodlands Loppet Nordic Skate Race in Elk River. The organizers of the Woodlands Loppet caution that the race is for more technically advanced skiers.
On Friday evening, Jan. 19, skiers can enjoy a 6K under the lights at Bemidji, the Montebello Nightski.
January 20 offers three choices, the Pepsi Challenge at Giants Ridge, the Red Wing Loppet-Uftda Challenge
in Red Wing and the Baker Shaker at Baker Park in the Twin Cities.
Sunday, Jan. 21, is a busy day with the kid's version of the Pepsi Callenge, the Pepsi Kinderlauf/Jr. Races; the King Boreas at Phalen in St. Paul; the Greystone Classic, a classic-style-only near St. Cloud; and International Falls features the Frostbite Falls Ski Classic.
Jan. 26-28 the NOR AM/Twin Cities Championships feature sprints Friday, classical Saturday and
freestyle Sunday at Battle Creek in St. Paul. The Murphy Challenge 2000 gets underway on Jan. 27 at Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve with the Vinterloppet the same day in Grand Rapids. The Marine/O'Brien Race is Sunday, Jan. 28 in Marine On St. Croix to round out the month.
Also the weekend of Jan. 26-28, the Nordic Ski Rendezvous brings together six Midwest ski clubs at Telemark Lodge in Cable, Wis.
Illinois
You have to hand it to those Illinois flatlanders: They are persistent. While those of us to the north have finally been faced with the lack of snow all too familiar to our Illinois neighbors, no one would have blamed them had they given up on trying to host races. Somehow, they seem to pull it off each year with snow
falling, and sticking around, at just the right time.
If all goes well this year, look for the Northern Illinois Nordic on Jan. 13 and the Joliet Nordic Ski Races on Jan. 14. If there's no snow that weekend, both races will try the next weekend or, if necessary, the weekend after that. Like I said – they are persistent.
Michigan
The Central Collegiate Ski Association Regional Points Race is Jan. 13-14 in the Houghton area of the U.P. In lower Michigan, the Hansen Hills Michigan Cup, a Junior Olympic qualifier, is the same weekend in Grayling.
Jan. 20 has the Heinkinpaivo Hiihto at the Maasto Hiihto Trails near Hancock with the Cooper Island Classic
at Chassell on Jan. 21. Back in lower Michigan that weekend, the Garland Classic and Garland Glide brings classic skiing Saturday and skating Sunday to the Garland Nordic Center at Lewiston.
The month ends with the Jan. 27 Noquemanon Ski Marathon through the rugged U.P. from Ishpeming to Marquette.
Canada
Kamview Nordic Center at Thunder Bay, Ontario, hosts the Jan. 27 Kamview Classic and Jan. 28 Kamview Tour, classic skiing on Saturday and skating Sunday.
FEBRUARY
Wisconsin
February begins and ends with the largest ski races in Wisconsin. The weekend of Feb. 3-4 features a variety of races during Badger State Winter Games with everything from a marathon to relays.
The Elver Series continues on Feb. 6 with the Lapham Series on Feb. 7.
The freestyle Hayward Lion Pre-Birkie
is held Feb. 10 on the south end of the Birkie Trail, followed on Sunday, Feb. 11, with the new North End Classic, a classic-style only on the new Kortelopet Trail. Details are a bit sketchy but it does look like the Crivitz Ski Colosso will be back on Feb. 11 with a variety of distances.
Saturday, Feb. 17, features three races: the Rib Lake Hinder Binder in Rib Lake; the unique Book Across the Bay from Washburn to Ashland across Chequamegon Bay; and the
Stump Farm Classic at Green Bay's Reforestation Camp.
And then there's the Birkie and its many side attractions. First up are the Feb. 22 Elite Sprints and the Sons of Norway Swiss Miss Barnebirkie. The CTC 10K, Hayward Citizen Sprints and Junior Birkie are on Feb. 23. The Big Show, the American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet, are on Sat., Feb. 24.
Minnesota
Minnesota's marathon month begins with a 10K, the Moraloppet, a warm-up for the Mora Vasaloppet, on Feb. 3. An 8K Women Only XC Ski Race and Tour is on Feb. 3 at French Regional Park in the Twin Cities. Longer distances can also be found on this busy Saturday with the Governor's Cup
in Little Falls, the Spirit of Duluth in Duluth, the Winterfest XC Ski Races at Frontenac State Park, and the two-day Ely Wilderness Trek Feb. 3-4, classic on Saturday and skating Sunday.
The Elm Creek Relay Series picks up again on Feb. 7, concluding on Feb. 21.
Mora Vasaloppet race weekend starts Feb. 10 with the Mora Miniloppet, offering shorter distances
and a kid's race. The main event Saturday, Feb. 11, features the 58K or 35K skate races and separate 42K classic.
Minnesota's next generation of skiers compete Feb. 16 at Giants Ridge in the Minnesota Hight School Championships. Sunday, Feb. 17, brings the 10K Snowflake Race to Elm Creek Park at Maple Grove or skiers can venture to Bemidji for distances up to a marathon at the Minnesota Finlandia.
Michigan
Michigan's marathons are plentiful in February, beginning with the White Pine Stampede Feb. 3 in Mancelona with distances up to 50K. In the U.P., the second running of the Porcupine Mountains Ski Marathon is also set for Feb. 3.
Traverse City in lower Michigan has its "Festival of Races" Feb. 10-11, with the Subaru North American Vasa on Saturday and Grand Travers Classic, classic-style only, on Sunday. The Michigan High School Championships are also on Sunday.
The Keweenaw Peninsula is the site, Feb. 17, for the challenging Brockway Mountain Tour near Hancock.
MARCH
Wisconsin
While a lot of skiers put away the boards after the Birkie, some of the best skiing of the season awaits. March 3 brings the River View Loppet to the Afterhour Trails at Brule and the Howard Young Cup to Minoqua Winter Park.
Minnesota
Duluth's Snowflake trails host the Samela Cup on March 3. The Lotvola Cup is March 4 at Maplelag near Callaway, a classic only event. Bemidji's Buena Vista Snowjourn
returns on March 3 with distances up to 12K, classic or skate. A transitional event ends the competitive season in Minnesota on March 10 at Giants Ridge. The Pole, Pedal and Pant features skiing, mountain biking and running.
Michigan
Bear Chase weekend in Calumet starts with the kids on March 10 in the
Junior Bear Chase. The Great Bear Chase 25K or 50K is March 11 on the Swedetown Trails. The same distances await on March 17 at the Tahquamenon Falls Nordic Invitation at Newberry. The Michigan race season ends on March 18 with the ABR/American Cancer Society Relay-Marathon, 12KX4 or 48K marathon on the ABR Trails at Ironwood.
Canada
If you want to take a ride to the Great White North, our Canadian friends invite us to the March 3 Sibley Ski Tour, an event with distances up to 50K in Thunder Bay.
THE FINAL WORD
As they're fond of saying in Washington, we can neither confirm or deny the existence of a number of races. The Iowa events we've listed the past several years are rumored to be in hiatus but we can't confirm that through mail or phone. Brainerd's Lumberjack Jaunt, according to the club newsletter, is in limbo unless a new race director steps forward. The Detroit Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes also seems to have been
dropped from the schedule.
In Michigan, the Guts Triathlon has fallen victim to a loss of its venue so it's on hold for this year. Rumors suggest the Millennium Pursuit and Ski Tiger Pursuit will not return but, again, we can't get confirmation of the status of either. Nor have we been able to clarify the existence of the Grand Rapids Langauf, Women's Vasa Ski Tour or Muskegon Loppet.
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