An exciting and productive Michigan Cup Committee meeting this year. Team captains (or their designate) met at Hanson Hills Recreation Area in Grayling, MI yesterday (Sunday, September 18) to review plans for the upcoming ski racing season. There were a fair number of changes. Read on!
The Noque gets dropped
The Michigan Cup Committee voted unanimously to drop the Noquemanon Ski Marathon from the Michigan Cup race series.
The Noque has been a very unique race on the Michigan Cup circuit:
- It's the only MI Cup race in the upper peninsula. This seemed a little odd for a lower peninsula race series that promotes lower peninsula skiing and racing. By dropping the Noque, we open up an opportunity for another lower peninsula venue to hold a race, or create an open date for a race that needs to be rescheduled.
- It's the only race where only registered Michigan Cup skiers are scored for points. Non-MI Cup skiers are deleted from the results, then the Michigan Cup skiers are scored as if the were the only skiers racing. This tends to skew the rankings, as a Michigan Cup racer could get max points for a race but finish fairly far down in the Noque standings.
- It's the only race where four different races are scored (50K classic, 50k freestyle, 24k classic, 24k freestyle). This means that very few Michigan Cup skiers are in actually in any one race and again skews the scoring. It also is a great deal of extra work for the Michigan Cup points keeper.
Originally, the Noque was added to help promote a new Michigan race.They don't need our help anymore, and they are not help promote lower peninsula skiing or racing.
Vasa scoring changes
The Michigan High School championships are same weekend as the North American Vasa this year. Because we expect a strong showing at the Championships (the Traverse City Raptors must defend their title!) and the Championships have priority over the Vasa junior races, the Committee voted to drop Saturday and Sunday's Junior Vasa races from Michigan Cup scoring for 2023.
In addition, senior scoring will be limited to Saturday's George Kuhn 27K Freestyle Ski Race and Sunday's 15K Lombard Loppet Classic Ski Race. The other race distances will not be scored. This qualifies the North America Vasa for the Brumbaugh Cup for the strongest senior team, and both races will be scored for the Brumbaugh Cup.
No black-listed race dates
TThere was a little confusion over whether Michigan Cup races are allowed to be held on the same day as major national races such as the American Birkebeiner or the Noquemanon Ski Marathon. The answer is a race director may choose to hold their event on any open day on the Michigan Cup calendar. Historically, race directors have chosen not to schedule their races on Birkie day, but there is no rule in the Michigan Cup that prevents it. Race on!
70-79 age class divided in two
The Michigan Cup Committee voted unanimously to divide the overall 70-79 age group award into two age group awards, 70-74 and 75-79. The Committee recognized the increasing number of skiers in the age category and noted there is a big difference in performance between skiers in their earlier 70's versus skiers in their later 70's.
MI Cup Treasurer to retire at end of 2024 season
Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh officially notified the Committee that she plans to retire as the long-time Treasurer of the Michigan Cup as of August 31, 2024. The Michigan Cup is officially looking for someone to work with Carol this season to transition the role. More details will be forthcoming about the role, and there is a $300 stipend for the role. Interested people can contact Carol at csmb418@gmail.com. Carol has done an awesome job over the years - Thanks Carol!
Michigan Cup Calendar
The final Michigan Cup calendar was reviewed and is posted on the Michigan Cup web site.
Michigan Cup Top 10% Pins
Pins for to the 10% club - the top 10 percent of the skiers in each age group - were restocked and given to team captains. See your team captain for your pin!
