Happy 50th Anniversary Cross Country Ski Shop! Northbound Outfitters purchased the Cross Country Ski Shop in the fall of 2011 from owner Dick Fultz and looked forward to carrying on his 34-year presence in the Grayling community. And they did!
Northbound Outfitters / Cross Country Ski Shop owner Heather Compton received a plaque from the Michigan Cup that she awarded to Dick in honor of his founding the Cross Country Ski Shop 50 years ago. And it was party party party at the store after the Cote Dame Marie!
Rollerki race up Whiteface Mountain, Sept 17
8/16/2011 - By NYSEF
The New York Ski Educational Foundation and the Olympic Regional Development Authority announce the 5th annual NYSEF Whiteface Climb to the Castle Rollerski Race on Saturday, September 17 at 8:00 am.
US men win first two races at New Zealand Winter Games
8/15/2011 - By Mike Muha
Freeman and Newell finish 1-2 in the 15K Classic, and the US men take all three top spots in the freestyle sprint.
CXC-Salomon Super Fit Weekends
8/15/2011 - By CXC Skiing
Get your cross country skis superbly fitted and selected on the state of the art 3D pressure mat by CXC Team athletes and coaches. (Minnesota and Wisconson only...)
NCCSEF renamed National Nordic Foundation
8/12/2011 - By Andrew Gerlach
The National Cross Country Ski Education Foundation (NCCSEF) has been renamed the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) to better represent the foundations updated goals of raising funds to support key Pillar Projects in the Nordic skiing disciplines.
Grand Marais rollerski marathon October 1
8/12/2011 - By Denny Paull
The Grand Marais Michigan Chamber of Commerce has announced that the 1st annual roller ski marathon is on for October 1st. The race will begin in downtown Grand Marais and proceed West on H58 approximately 15 miles to the turn around point.
Speed session, with a twist
8/9/2011 - By Matt Whitcomb
This workout focused on 15-30 second efforts. While the longer duration can get away from pure speed, we focus on high-quality (L1 / L2) distance training between each interval to prevent accumulating fatigue.
Kensington gets connector to Milford-Kensington trail
8/8/2011 - By Mike Muha
Rollerskiers (and bikers, inline skaters, and runners) will be able to roller ski 18.1 miles (28K) around Kensington, out to Milford, and back again, without having to ski on the park road.
Rollerskiing added to North Shore Inline Marathon
8/4/2011 - By Skeeter Moore
“I am very pleased and excited to announce that the NorthShore Inline Marathon will be adding a rollerskiing division to the 2011 race, held on September 17 after the last wave of inline skaters” announced Executive Director Skeeter Moore.
100 miles. Up mountains. In the middle of the summer
8/3/2011 - By Mike Muha
Andy's making us nervous. "Hey guys, let's start out easy but we should be able to average 16-17 mph. Do you want to try these Hammer Anti-Fatigue Caps? What, you only want to average 15?Just take it easy to the first rest stop.
I-96 repairs to impact Kensington - Island Lake connector path
7/29/2011 - By Mike Muha
The paved trail connecting Island Lake Recreation Area to Kensington Metropark will close intermittently from Aug. 1 through November. The closure is the result of I-96 bridge repairs over the Huron River in Oakland County.
Birkie fees go up on July 31
7/25/2011 - By Mike Muha
The American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet fees go up on July 31. Register now to avoid added costs....
Double pole intervals
7/22/2011 - By Matt Whitcomb
5 x 3 min intervals building from high threshold (L3) to maximum effort on the last effort, 3-4 minute recovery between each. We choose safe roads, and a gradual grade with smooth pavement to ensure high speed.
UPCOMING
WED, JAN 28, 2026
Kids Learn to Ski Program
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
FRI, JAN 30, 2026
Winter Feast
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SAT, JAN 31, 2026
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Middle Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Forbush Freestyle
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SUN, FEB 1, 2026
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Short Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Meijer State Games - Hanson Hills Classic
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, 7601 Old Lake Rd, Grayling, Michigan 49738 (989-348-9266)
Paella on the Sun Deck (noon and 2:00pm)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Live Music with Kat and Wil (2:00-4:00)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Kat & Logan Live (2:00-4:00)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
TUE, FEB 3, 2026
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Relay Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
WED, FEB 4, 2026
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Long Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Kids Learn to Ski Program
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
THU, FEB 5, 2026
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Long Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
SAT, FEB 7, 2026
Super Bowl Foodie Face-Off!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
White Pine Stampede
Mancelona High School, 9300 W Limits Rd; Mancelona MI 49659
Pre-Birkie 26K and 42K
Hayward, Wisconson
Valley Spur Classic 5/10k
Valley Spur, E8017 State Highway M-94, Munising, MI
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Barnelopet
Maasto Hiihto, Hancock
2026 Winter Olympics - Women's 10 + 10 km Skiathlon
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
SUN, FEB 8, 2026
Super Bowl Foodie Face-Off!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Forbush Memorial Classic Race
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)
Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's 10 + 10 km Skiathlon
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
TUE, FEB 10, 2026
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's/Women's Sprint qual.+ final
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
TUE, JAN 27
Michaywe: Groomed and set track on the lake loop, herringbone, and the river trail. Groomed out the skate deck on the front 9 loop. Snow intensity has picked up, most of today's grooming is already starting to get covered with fresh snow.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received about an inch of fresh snow last night. All trails are snow combed, and classic tracks are set. The Stone Turtle Cafe is open for lunch, drinks, and warming up by the fire. Excellent conditions on all trails!
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Morning Skiers!! It's a beautiful snowy morning....temperature sitting at -16 C and currently very very lightly snowing.
The groomer was not out this morning, trails are still in great shape.
Mabel Lake Flats was groomed yesterday afternoon as of 3 p.m.
Have a great day everybody!!
Hanson Hills: TUESDAY NORDIC UPDATE — JANUARY 27, 2026
Nordic Trail Update:
Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
We picked up about ¼ inch of new snow overnight. Blue received a fresh combing pass, and new classic tracks were set on Brown, Yellow, and M-93 Hills.
The rest of the trail system still has a very skiable skate deck and classic tracks, just lightly snow-covered.
Wilderness received fresh tracks yesterday and is skiing well.
Nordic Tuesday Special:
Enjoy the trails today with a $13 Nordic trail pass.
A great day to get out and ski—see you on the trails!
MON, JAN 26
Huron Meadows Metropark: Monday night Bucks run excellent for classic. Tracks deep intact with good glide & great kick, very clean - I would use A skis if I had any!
Corsair Ski Trails: Skiing conditions are very good after four inches of new snow blanketed the trails yesterday. Groomers Dan and Karl put in a long day today, operating two machines to get the trails in top shape. They rolled, packed and set tracks at the Silver Valley, Corsair and Wright’s Lake trail sections. It’s time for some outdoor fun!
Nubs Nob: Nubs has an 18 inch groomed in hardpack base . Today a fresh groom of new snow made for hero skiing . It was cold : but LF 6 made it work . And the wind was light . Excellent !
Huron Meadows Metropark: Devastating news: They didn’t roll the golf course. The guys in the clubhouse (shout out the lovely guys in the clubhouse!!) didn’t know why. The good news is, there’s a ton of snow and very cold temps in the extended forecast.
Bucks is in great shape.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Devastating news: They didn’t roll the golf course. The guys in the clubhouse (shout out the lovely guys in the clubhouse!!) didn’t know why. The good news is, there’s a ton of snow and very cold temps in the extended forecast.
Bucks is in great shape.
: Skied local wooded area in Oakland Co. Broke trail in 5" fresh snow. Made nice 1/4 mi. loop. 1st hour sun and 18 degrees. Clouds and wind came in and broke up the party but we'll be back. Swix blue special was the wax of the day. SKI LOCAL.
Milham Park Golf Course: Skate deck on the perimeter is non-existent. Was really hoping it would be regroomed today, but no dice. Understandable with how cold it's been.
Classic tracks are nice, but very soft. Hard to pole in some areas, as poles will just sink in far. The wind has also blown leaves into the tracks in a few areas, but that's not unexpected. Still, it's skiing in Kalamazoo, so can't complain too much!
A few grooming passes would really make Milham shine this season. Happy to help out, if I can ever be of service.
Shanty Creek - Schuss Mtn: 3-4" of fresh snow on top of an uneven groomed trail, This has become the norm for Schuss Mnt operations sadly. Despite it being the closest venue to our home, I doubt we'll return again.
Michaywe: Rolled and groomed the skate deck on maple ridge. Freshened the skate on most of herringbone. Reset track on most of the lake loop. Conditions are good!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: All trails are snow combed, and classic tracks are set. The skiing is marvelous, and a light snow is falling. The Stone Turtle Cafe is open for lunch, drinks, and warming up by the fire. There are a small number of tickets left for Winter Feast this Friday, so reserve your seat soon! 989-821-6661
Hiawatha Highlands: Welcome back to a beautiful Monday morning, with the sun playing peek-a-boo. The temperature is currently sitting at a calm -17 C.....perfectly balmy!
The groomer was out this morning -- the Pinder 4k classic track, the 2k Lighted and the Crystal system were Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate. All trails are looking amazing!
Come on up and take in the beauty of the trails.....enjoy your day :)
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Groomer Dan is out this morning combing skate lanes and making a grooming pass down Konopniki. Plans are in place to reset classic track on Wilderness.
HANSON HILLS CLASSIC — THIS SUNDAY!
Don’t miss the Hanson Hills Classic, part of the Meijer State Games of Michigan, happening this Sunday.
Register online:
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Grayling/MeijerStateGamesHansonHillsClassic
Maybury State Park: The best snow conditions at Maybury in years . Deep double set tracks. A skis, blue swix classic only.
Forbush Corner: Albeit cold, for those willing to venture out, skiers are being treated to the best trail conditions, dare I say, ever. Entire trail system is open, east and west side groomed yesterday, and I hear Pines loop gets the fresh groom today. Open at 9, gates close at 5.
SUN, JAN 25
Vasa Trail: I waited for a day 14 degrees as much colder than that it is hard on me. Yesterday afternoon was perfect. Bluebird skies, no wind, groomed trails and good roads! I skied the 20 k plus jackpine valley. My start green was perfect wax. Stopped to talk to Bradley from Frosty Freestyle. (I was wearing those Macron sunglasses they gave out 2 years ago!). Hi
Pigeon Creek: Good classic tracks and nicely groomed skate lanes. Skate conditions were excellent mid afternoon. Not too many leaves or pine needles given the abundant recent snow. Get outside.
Vasa Trail: Arriving at the TH late morning there were only a dozen cars in the parking lot unlike most weekends when it is full. Being only 4F I wasn't surprised. My timing was perfect as just as I was latching into my skis the PistenBully returned from regrooming the trail system, so conditions were excellent. Probably a better day for classic as the skate lane corduroy was slow and draggy as expected due to the cold, but once breaking through the "sticktion" if you had the power or on a mild downgrade resulted in decent glide. The snow base squeaked and growled back at the Special Blue wax on my skating skis, and I should have selected another pair with Start Green on them, but that would have required standing in the cold to scrape them, and I wanted to get skiing immediately to stay warm. As I finished up my ski heading back to the TH I noticed quite a few more skiers heading out, many of them appearing to be more casual skiers. So the parking lot had at over twice as many cars as when I started. The peeks at the sun may have helped and it had warmed up to 7F by then. My coldest ski of the season so far, but it felt invigoratingly great afterward.
Milham Park Golf Course: Good news! Aside from the snow we are currently receiving the Milham course is in nice condition. The skate deck around the perimeter will need repacking, it’s somewhat soft still but coming along nicely. groomer Tom set another excellent classic track which meanders throughout the interior of the course and totals about 3 miles. It has been skied in well by the loyal intrepid classic fans but will continue to get powdered drift. This is in addition to the classic track that has been set around the perimeter loop. All in all we can’t ask for more, get out and ski it folks!
Michaywe: Rolled, groomed, and set track on the lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops. Conditions are good!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Groomer Mike is out freshening up the trails, and the woods are covered in snow. The skiing is just wonderful and the fires are hot! Come on out and enjoy this incredible winter we are having!
Forbush Corner: East side trails were groomed yesterday, and the West side trails will get the fresh groom today. Winter weather is holding on, so dress warm and enjoy being outside. Open at 9. Gates close at 5.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Our grooming team is out setting fresh classic tracks and combing the skate deck. The plan is to have Red, Yellow, Brown, Blue, Green, M-93, and Easy Return open today.
Hanson Hills Classic is a week away!! Sign up Now: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Grayling/MeijerStateGamesHansonHillsClassic
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