Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop: 2025 Brumbaugh Cup champions!

It was on a ski course nicknamed, affectionately or not, “The BEAST”, that decided the 2025 Brumbaugh Cup. The defending champion, Team NordicSkiRacer, came into the race in third place, while last year’s third place team, the Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team, was in second place. Both were seeking to ski down first-place Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop.

It was an icy, very fast, and even scary (some said) skate deck and the winner might just be the team with the most skiers left standing.

That said, Ryan Harris won the 10K race in 32:29 in a nail-bitter with Drew Moore who had the same time. Denny Paull came in third in 35:03. For the women, Sarah Newmister (Team NSR) skied away with race in 43:19 with Mary Sclimmer-Willoughby HHCCSS), 2nd, and yesterday’s winner, Deanna Spencer (XCHQ), 3rd.

In the team competition, GRNST was again the men’s winner with 40 points compiled by Ryan Harris, 1st, Denny Paull, 3rd, Jim Beebe, 9th, Dan Dubes, 12th, and Andrew Miller, 15th.

Team NordicSkiRacer was second with 44 points. Sean Newmister came in 4th, Yvon Dufor, 5th, Joel Heeres, 8th, and Doug Cornell, 10th.

Team HHCCS competing with just two skiers came in third with 59 points led by Drew Moore and John Gravlin. The Headquarters was fourth just two points behind HHCCSS with Theo von Wallenich, 7th, Mike Temkin, 11th, Tim Spencer. 13th, and Rick Neier, 16th. Team Vasa failed to field a men’s team.

For the women, the Cross Country Ski Headquarters won the day with Deanna Spencer, 3rd, Wendy Anderson, 4th, and Linda Weeks-Kaleita, 5th good for 12 points. Sarah Newmister, 1st, brought Team NSR in second with 15 points just one ahead of HHCCSS with Mary Schlimmer-Willoughby, 2nd. Leslie Malin, 6th, gave Team Vasa the edge over GRNST by one point.

After a long season that saw a full race schedule, skiers were showing the wear by the end. Many competitors had already left for the Masters World Cup in Switzerland. Team Vasa was at the Michigan High School Championships in Houghton. Paddlers were headed to Florida and cyclists, too, wherever the weather was suitable. It only intensified the level of competition while demonstrating the level of commitment to the sport.

Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop won the day returning the Brumbaugh Cup to Grayling after a two-year absence. GRNST ended up second 83 points back and Team NSR dropped back to third 178 points back. Team VASA was 4th, 428 points back and Cross Country Ski Headquarters was fifth 501 points back.