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!
Randall, Freeman finish 21st, 22nd in World Cup Opener
11/21/2009 - By US Ski Team
The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team kicked off the 2010 Olympic season in Beitostoelen, Norway Saturday with Kikkan Randall and Kris Freeman leading the way for the U.S., finishing 21st and 22nd, respectively.
FIS Cross-Country World Cup kicks off in Beitostoelen
11/20/2009 - By FIS
Situated about 220km in the north-west of Oslo at the foot of the Jotumheimen Mountain, the venue presents itself with a good amount of snow.
New records set in frist ever SkiErg World Sprints
11/20/2009 - By Meredith Haff
In less than 4 minutes, world records were broken and history was made as two US Biathletes, Jennifer Wygant and Zachary Hall, skied their way to victory in the first annual SkiErg World Sprints.
Understanding and using training levels: Level 5
11/20/2009 - By Justin Freeman
The goal of level five training defined this way is mostly neuromuscular. By training at a pace somewhat faster than race pace, but where you can still work for some time with consistent technique, you improve your efficiency at and above race pace.
It’s happening in West Yellowstone
11/19/2009 - By Sara Hoovler
It is less than a week until the Yellowstone Ski Festival, and this will be the best year yet! The Rendezvous Ski Trails are currently set with both classic and skate lanes and we are skiing in town!
Death of Olympic medalist Nikolai Anikin
11/19/2009 - By Mike Muha
The 77-year-old Olympic medalist in cross country skiing passed away at his home in Duluth, Minnesota last Saturday. He lost his battle with cancer.
Understanding and using training levels: Levels 1 and 2
11/19/2009 - By Justin Freeman
Skiers talk a lot about training levels, usually numbering them one through five, but, if my experience over the past decade and a half is any indication, truly understanding when and how to use the various levels is rare.
Who’s already in shape?
11/18/2009 - By FIS
The past weekend, the World Cup athletes were comparing their current shapes in several FIS races in the North of Europe: Beitostoelen, Bruksvallarna, and Muonio.
First ten days
11/17/2009 - By Pete Vordenberg
Now we have a good week of training leading into the World Cup races here next weekend. It is a great thing to not have to pack up the wax room, the rooms and get in the van to drive after a three day weekend of racing.
Get your Vasa grooming badge
11/17/2009 - By Missy Luyk
Get your grooming badge: This season’s grooming badges will be mailed on Monday, November 23.
We’re skiing on snow!
11/16/2009 - By Audrey Weber, CXC Team Vertical Elite
The team rolled into good Ole West Yellowstone, Montana Friday afternoon. We have all been anxiously monitoring the weather forecast and were pleased to be greeted by ample snow here in town. There is already more snow here than any point last November.
UPCOMING
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
THU, FEB 12, 2026
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle women
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
FRI, FEB 13, 2026
Winter Fest Kick-Off
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle men
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
SAT, FEB 14, 2026
50th Annual North American Vasa Freestyle
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 E. Hammond Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour (JNQ) - Classic Mass Start
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
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
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - Women's 4x7.5 km Relay
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
SUN, FEB 15, 2026
Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour (JNQ) - Freestyle Individual Star
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
50th Annual North American Vasa Classic
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 E. Hammond Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's 4x7.5 km Relay
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
MON, FEB 16, 2026
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
WED, FEB 18, 2026
American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet & Prince Haakon Open Track
Hayward, WI
2026 Winter Olympics - Team Sprint Women's/Men's Qual.+ Final
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
WED, FEB 4
Nubs Nob: Mother Nature’s snow - Nubs groom : it doesn’t any better - LF 7 works .
Understand there is a 28 inch hard pack base beneath that groom ! See you in April at Nub’s .
Nubs Nob: Mother Nature’s snow - Nubs groom : it doesn’t any better - LF 7 works .
Understand there is a 28 inch hard pack base beneath that groom ! See you in April at Nub’s .
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail: Two feet of snow in the Laurel Highlands, fairly soft, and tough trail breaking on the LHHT. Ski trails and/or skining up and descending a better bet, or the snowmobile trails off peak hours. Or, bring a small army of skiers and take turns on the front.
Vasa Trail: Another Piston Bully groom, perfect classic tracks & corduroy, low 20s temp & no wind = great afternoon ski! I even passed 3 groomers skiing Special K, John S, Mike B, & Jim D, and thanked them for their dedication to making the trail so nice for all to enjoy! You can too at Sat’s Open House at the Bartlett Trailhead from 10-1. Come by to see all of the grooming equipment & enjoy some hot chocolate & cookies, too!
Independance Oaks: Fresh groom with very shallow skied in tracks here and there. Skate deck very firm. Hills on Oak & Rock Ridge fast and fun. Blue swix was perfect again. Leather arm chairs in rental building. Nice homey touch.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Classic skied bucks, coyote and cedar trace. Bucks is in great condition for skate or classic. A little soft today since they added snow.
Coyote has grass and dirt in some tracks but can be avoided. Cedar trace doesn't have tracks till you get out there. But the loop is good.
Thanks again evryone at HM
Noteced most of the snow piles are gone. Any chance one of the guns can be turned back on. We usually get to ski till the first week of March.
Thanks again.
Huron Meadows Metropark: I mostly skated the golf course trails. Firm skate deck, deep classic tracks with occasional (easily avoided) dirty spots. I used my good skis and had a great time.
Crystal Mountain: I groomed everything yesterday. Trails are in great shape.
Independance Oaks: Skied at 8:30 am around lake and the back hills all trail freshly rolled(no tracks) great skate
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Red, Brown, Yellow, Blue, Easy Return and M-93 Hills were combed and tracked yesterday.
TUE, FEB 3
Kensington Metropark: Classic skied on parts of trails A,B, and 2. All were freshly groomed with a skate deck and classic tracks. No bare spots.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Classic skied Coyote Run and Cedar Trace. Good times! CR had a number of spots where grass and dirt were showing in the tracks only. Easy to ski around. On CT the long hill (2 to 3) has no tracks. But there is a tracked loop from 3 to 4 then to 9 and back to 3. No grooming from 4 to 5, but skier-made tracks looked pretty good.
Kensington Metropark: Classic skied on parts of trails A,B, and 2. All were freshly groomed with a skate deck and classic tracks. No bare spots.
Stokely Creek: Perfect grooming up to King Mt summit and then a bluesky bright sun view of Lake Superior and the hills of Algoma. Light wind even made the sun feel kinda warm. Nordic pulse shows they groomed the entire system - except the long lost seemingly forgotten Mcguffin trail?
Huron Meadows Metropark: Huron Meadows website updated for the date only. Communication between groomers and website manager appears to be down.
Bucks Run: groomed for skate and classic.
Coyote Run: groomed for skate and classic today. Skate deck is soft.
Hawks Hills: groomed for skate today. Skate deck is soft and should be good for classic.
Cedar Trace: unknown by this skier.
Unlisted trail: Filmore county park, Livingston Co
Skier track set on 3 loops totaling 5k
Decent skier set track conditions, trails are shared with walkers, but if you catch it right, it can be nice. Classic only, no grooming, wider skis are better. No bare spots currently. A nice quiet place with a plowed parking area, with a vault toilet.
https://milivcounty.gov/parks/fillmore/
Kensington Metropark: The golf course was awesome! Freshly groomed double track and double-wide skate lane. Beautiful snow. No scruff ( except one minor spot). As I was leaving, I could see the groomer setting track elsewhere in the park. Kudos to the groomer for a great job!
Michaywe: We picked up 2-3 inches of fresh snow since yesterday. All of the ski trails have been combed for skating with new classic tracks set on the Lake Trail, Herringbone Trail, Rivers Trail and Golf Course Loops. Conditions are very good!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: The hits just keep on coming! Enjoy freshly groomed trails and classic tracks today. Lots of beautiful snow in the pines. With a high of 18 degrees, you'll be quite comfortable out there! Warm up with lunch at the Stone Turtle Cafe. Try a pasture-raised Lamb brat with Tzatziki sauce and pickled onions, oh la la!
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Morning Everyone!! It's another beautiful bluebird sky morning.....temperature currently at -16 C.
The groomer was out last night -- all systems were Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate....and looking great!!
NOTE: The High School City Meet is this morning....they will be utilizing the 2k Lighted.
We hope everybody has a beautiful day....come on up and enjoy it!!
Hanson Hills: ?? TUESDAY UPDATE — FEBRUARY 3, 2026 ??
?? Nordic Trail Update:
We picked up 2 inches of fresh fluff overnight! The PB100 is out, setting fresh classic tracks and combing the skate deck on Red, Brown, Yellow, and Easy Return. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic ski day.
??? Nordic Tuesday Special:
Enjoy the trails today with a $13 Nordic trail pass.
Fresh snow, fresh grooming, and a great midweek deal—see you on the trails!
MON, FEB 2
Quail Hollow State Park: What beautiful day! Trails are outstanding! Firmly packed and most had well used classic lanes. I did all of the green, most of the purple and half of yellow. Warmed up to a balmy 22°. Come on out!
Huron Meadows Metropark: Bucks Run WAS groomed - then 2” of the fluffy stuff landed on top. Classic tracks are skied back in. Skaters are getting a workout.
Milham Park Golf Course: Skate deck reset after a week end of heavy usage. Deck is well compacted and pretty fast. Classic track will be reset tomorrow after hopefully another couple inches of fresh snow. There are a number of leaves in the interior loop track but nothing to worry about.
Hiawatha Highlands: Happy Groundhog Day!! So far it's looking like 6 more weeks of winter, and then some (whoo hooo)!! The snow has started to lightly fall, making for a beautiful morning, with a perfectly balmy temperature....-7 C.
The groomer was out last night....the skate lanes on all systems were freshened up with the ginzu.
Mabel Flats was also groomed last night.
We hope everybody has an absolutely fantastic day out on the trails!!
Maybury State Park: The tracks are holding up quite well. A little dirt in a couple avoidable spots.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Fresh grooming on all trails. Excellent conditions.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Light snow is falling this morning and Groomer Dan is out in the PB100, resetting Yellow, Brown, Blue, Green, M-93, and Easy Return. Fresh snow plus fresh grooming makes for a great start to the week.
Midweek Nordic Specials:
Nordic Tuesdays: $13 trail passes
Senior Thursdays (65+): $13 trail passes
Forbush Corner: Some light snow moving through now, shaping up to be another nice day to get out and ski. Trails are in great shape, several east side trails will get a fresh groom along with the green trail on the west side. Open at 9. Gates close at 5.
More trail reports...
