No surprise here: You get the members of the team out to race, you have some good results, and you win the overall Michigan Cup...again! Congratulations to the Cross Country Ski Headquarters!
A team composed of two GRNST and one HHCCSS skier was the fastest relay team, but the Headquarters conquered the overall race with more teams and top finishes.
Wax recommendations for the this weekend's races! Recommendations for the Bear Chase are out, but nothing is currently available for Sunday's Michigan Cup Relays. As soon as I have a recommendation, I'll update this article.
Four teams from the upper peninsula and three from the lower peninsula competed this past weekend at the 2026 Michigan High School and Middle School Nordic Ski Championships at Hickory Hills in Traverse City, Michigan.
HHCCSS won 8 of the 13 Brumbaugh Cup races, led by Jorden Wakeley and Rebecca Davis and supported a roster of very strong skiers. Grand Rapids Nordic was second, holding off Team NordicSkiRacer who took third.
Ryan Harris and Sarah Newmister were the top finishers on the new course at the 2026 Black Mountain Freestyle.
It seems that every Friday before the Black Mountain Classic, Mother Nature throws a doozy of a curve ball at the Black Mountain trails.
Wax recommendations for this weekend's Michigan Cup races: Black Mountain and the HS Championships!
Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop continues to lead the Brumbaugh Cup as of the Muffin Race, with 705 points. Grand Rapids Nordic is in second with 934 points, just 12 more than third place Team NordicSkiRacer.
Check out the overall individual Michigan Cup standings with corrections and current team rosters as of Feb 23, 2026 (PDF). This includes all races through the Muffin Race and includes any corrections.
We had 42 young skiers compete at the 33rd Annual Junior Muffin races this year! Some truly fast skiers out there, and everyone competed with Heart!!
The Skate race on Sunday will feature a New 12km Skate Course located entirely on the Presque Isle Side of the trail system. It will be shorter, but nobody said it had to be easier.
Michigan native and former Michigan Cup skier Reid Goble was the overall winner of the Men’s Super Tour 10K Classic mass start race held at Wirth Park in Minneapolis MN.
2026 Cross Country Junior National Championships - Classic Sprint
American Birkebeiner Trailhead, Cable, WI
2026 Cross Country Junior National Championships - 14.6/11.3/8K Classic Mass Start
American Birkebeiner Trailhead, Cable, WI
2026 Cross Country Junior National Championships - 4-Person Mixed Gender Freestyle Relay
American Birkebeiner Trailhead, Cable, WI
Hickory Hills: Very nice late-season conditions this morning at Hickory. The sprint loop, low grade road and lighted loop were all pistenbully groomed. Thank you to city staff for grooming the Nordic trails before working on the Alpine runs. That is so important this time of year. Although ungroomed, the entire upper trail system remains intact, including the lower portion of the beast which always breaks early due to sun exposure. I have high hopes that the even the upper trails will survive until the cold weather returns later this week. This is also my opportunity to recognize and thank Coach K for his tireless dedication and the other volunteer groomers for the incredible work on Hickory Meadows and the hillside early and throughout the season.