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!
Michigan Cup Team Points proposal
12/18/2008 - By Ed Anderson, Ken Dawson, Chris Jones
Proposal for tracking Michigan Cup Team points. Team Race points will be tracked for 2009, but only used for demonstration purposes - no awards will be given based on these points.
SOLDA HC Series Waxes
12/18/2008 - By Bert Hinkley
These are traditional paraffin waxes made from very clean, high quality paraffin.
Birkebeiner to use IPICO Sports Timing System
12/18/2008 - By Birkie
The IPICO Sports turnkey timing system will allow for streamlined chip pickup at registration, on course splits and immediate race results at the finish line.
Laura Valaas Reports from Silverstar
12/17/2008 - By Laura Valaas
We come to race. It's simple like that-- show up, ski fast. During our stay in Silver Star, BC, with two sprint races and three distance race, I stepped up to the start line eleven times.
NMU and MTU race at Ironwood Holiday Classic
12/17/2008 - By MNU and MTU
Racing under extreme conditions (according to Sten Fjeldheim, the Northern Michigan University Nordic ski coach) both NMU and Michigan Tech's Nordic ski teams competed at the CXC Holiday Invitational over the weekend.
SOLDA Fluoro Powders
12/17/2008 - By Bert Hinkley
The most sought after waxes by the coaches and high level racers are the Fluoro Powders, HP04, HP05 and HP06. The HP05 is a fluroro powder that stretches to a wide range far beyond the temperatures listed on the label.
Three Skiers & A Baby Will Re-Enact 800-Year-Old Birkebeiner Legend
12/17/2008 - By Cherie Morgan
The search for three cross country skiers and a baby to re-enact the 800-year-old legend that inspired the creation of the American Birkebeiner cross country ski race from Cable to Hayward, Wis. is over
GLD Junior Olympic Qualifier Points
12/16/2008 - By Nick Baic
These are the GLD JOQ points after the Ironwood Junior Olympic Qualifiers this past weekend.
CXC Skiing at NorAms: Sub-zero temps
12/16/2008 - By CXC Skiing
CXC Elite Team Athlete Caitlin Compton reviews the last 3 days of racing at Canadian NorAm races rescheduled from Whistler Olympic Park to Sovereign Lake, BC.
Dawsons win LP Season Opener
12/16/2008 - By Mike Muha
Dynamic duo Ken "Rocket Man" Dawson and his wife Karen Dawson paired up to win the "Lower Peninsula Season Opener 5K Freestyle" at Huron Meadows Metropark last Wednesday evening.
Great Lakes JO Team Selection Criteria
12/16/2008 - By Nick Baic
Here arer the qualifying criteria for Junior Olympics in the Great Lakes District of CXC Skiing
Sara Renner finishes 9th at Davos, three Canadian men in top 25
12/15/2008 - By Cross Country Canada
Canada enjoyed one of its most successful days ever as a team at a World Cup cross-country skiing stop in Davos, Switzerland on Saturday.
UPCOMING
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
FRI, FEB 20, 2026
Kortelopet 29K Race
Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center, 12205 County Hwy-B W, Hayward, WI 54843 (OO Trailhead)
Prince Haakon 15K
Phipps Road, north of Hayward, WI
SAT, FEB 21, 2026
American Birkebeiner 53k Classic Race / 50k Skate Race
Cable to Hayward, WI
2026 Winter Olympics - 50 km classic style women
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - 50 km classic style men
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Ribs and Blues Celebration!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
FRI, FEB 6
Boyne Mountain: Trails freshly groomed this week (including Vistas). Touching up around the lower trails this morning. Should be another great week of skiing! Stay warm tomorrow!
Forbush Corner: Another winter day on tap, keeping the trail system in great shape. All terrain open, west side gets the fresh groom today. Open 9 to 5. Gates close soon thereafter.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Groomer Dan has been out since 3:30 AM laying down fresh comb and classic tracks in about 2 inches of new snow. Conditions are looking fantastic to start the day.
THU, FEB 5
Milham Park Golf Course: Entire system re set. Skate lane is nice and flat but the new cold snow is making it a bit slow. Not a complaint, I have learned to never complain about fresh snow. Classic track was getting pretty snow filled so re set that but will likely fill back in pretty soon so--calling all skiers to get out there and keep it skied in.
DaveD
Kensington Metropark: Hit the classic tracks on golf course and woodland trail #2. Excellent deep hard groom. Shout outs to the Kensington groomers! Skate track looked great. Weather forecasts suggest at least another week of great skiing. Nice to have this is southern MI again.
Vasa Trail: A little more snow, a morning-fresh installation of corduroy on the skate lane, and excellent conditions prevailed throughout the trail system with yesterday's machine-set classic tracks holding up well. At 28F the LF7 was working well providing good glide.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received 2-3 inches of snow this morning so far. The grooming team has snow combed all the trails and is resetting tracks on Tall Pines and Trappers Cabin. The plan is to set fresh tracks on the rest of the trails tomorrow after the snowfall ends. All trails are open and it's wintery magic to the highest degree out there!
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
We’re expecting 1–3 inches of snowfall today. Groomer Dan is out this morning combing Yellow, Brown, Blue, and Easy Return with the Tidd Tech.
After this morning’s pass, we’ll allow the new snow to accumulate and plan to regroom tomorrow morning for the best possible conditions.
Senior Thursday Special (65+):
Enjoy the trails today with $13 Nordic trail passes.
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Morning our snow lovers!! It's a gorgeous morning, lightly snowing, and calm.....temperature currently sitting at -8 C.
The groomer was out this morning -- the 2k Lighted was PB groomed for both classic and skate, the Pinder system skate lanes were freshened up with the ginzu.
The trail awaits -- there's always joy to be found, so come on up and learn something beautiful today.
Forbush Corner: Looks like light snow will be falling all day, temperatures climbing into the high 20’s. 100% coverage on all trails, east side trails getting a fresh groom for skate and classic. Open 9 to 5.
Forbush Corner: Looks like light snow will be falling all day, temperatures climbing into the high 20’s. 100% coverage on all trails, east side trails getting a fresh groom for skate and classic. Open 9 to 5.
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.
More trail reports...
