UPCOMING

SUN, JAN 19, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Individual Start
Rhinelander, WI - Northwoods Nordic Ski Club

Team NordicSkiRacer Junior Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

Flying Squirrel Freestyle Junior Race
Crystal Mountain, 2500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, Michigan 49683

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

MON, JAN 20, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

TUE, JAN 21, 2025

Vasa Ski Club Raptors Tuesday Night Race Series
Hickory Hills Recreation Area, 2000 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI 49684

WED, JAN 22, 2025

BARC Learn to Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

FRI, JAN 24, 2025

CANCELLED: Noquemanon Ski Marathon: Junior and Adaptive Races
Al Quaal Recreation Area, Ishpeming, MI

SAT, JAN 25, 2025

CANCELLED:Noquemanon Ski Marathon
Al Quaal Recreation Area (Ishpeming, MI) and NTN 510 trailhead

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Sprint
Minneapolis, MN -- The Trailhead, Loppet

XC Ski HQ: Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Bavarian Ski Festival
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

Lantern-lit Trail
Fayette Historic State Park, 13700 13.25 Lane, Garden, Michigan, 49835

SUN, JAN 26, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Mass Start
Minneapolis, MN -- The Trailhead, Loppet

Boyne Mountain Classic 10k
Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls, MI

Beach Nuts Junior Nordic Race
Nubs Knob, Harbor Springs

XC Ski HQ: Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Eric McDonald Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

TUE, JAN 28, 2025

Vasa Ski Club Raptors Tuesday Night Race Series
Hickory Hills Recreation Area, 2000 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI 49684

WED, JAN 29, 2025

BARC Learn to Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

FRI, JAN 31, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Winter Feast
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SAT, FEB 1, 2025

White Pine Stampede
Mancelona, MI

XC Ski HQ: Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SUN, FEB 2, 2025

Team NordicSkiRacer Junior Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

Forbush Corner Memorial Classic Race
Forbush Corner, 4971 W Co Rd 612, Frederic, MI 49733

Valley Spur Classic 10km
Valley Spur, e8238 M-94, Munising, MI 49862

XC Ski HQ: Paella on the Sun Deck
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Live Music with Kat and Wil
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

More events...

LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS

SUN, JAN 19

Vasa Trail: Skied all the way around the 25k Saturday around 11. Thin in the normal spots. As always, the best snow is out at The Rock. Jack Pine has full coverage, even under the trees. Beautiful day, but the grooming left a LOT to be desired. I know grooming reports in our warming winters are just an airing of grievances and laundry list of complaints, but I skied Hanson Friday which had FAR less snow coverage yet perfect corduroy. The Vasa was kinda sketchy yesterday? When I got the grooming report email I was excited to get out there—but then it was uneven, bumpy, and felt like it hadn't been groomed in a week. More Metroparks than Northern Michigan's beloved trail system. Also, there were hikers walking up and down the skate deck from the trailhead all the way to The Wall.

Look, we all think we're groomers—and we're not, I'm sure I'd crash the thing right into a tree on Headwaters and everyone would complain about the seam I left down the middle of the skate deck. But it would be nice if the Vasa would tell us WHY they're not using the Pisten Bully (I refuse to call it Piper, it's a piece of machinery) when all the other trail systems with similar snow coverage are.

Hanson Hills: Fresh grooming (Combed and tracked) on Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow, Easy Return, and M-93 Hills. Wilderness has tracks.

Lodge and Trails open at 9am!

Crystal Mountain: For those of you brave enough to endure the cold beware that the Flying Squirrel race is taking place today starting at 12:30 so some of our trails will be closed. There is still plenty of trails you can ski on although they haven't been groomed since Friday as all of our efforts have been given to get the race course ready since the meltdown and hard freeze made those trails treacherous. There is a lot of trail trash from the high winds on Friday too. Call the nordic center for details.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Yesterday was a fabulous day of skiing. The trails remain in good shape and will be snowcombed this morning. The classic tracks on Trappers Cabin and the Blizzard trails are still in decent shape, and most other trails have skied-in tracks. It's a winter wonderland out there! Beat the cold... ignite your inner fire on the ski trails, then refuel by the fire with a Fireside Cider and a serving of gourmet mac 'n cheese from the Stone Turtle Cafe!

Forbush Corner: Single digit temps, light winds and just a little fresh snow currently at the Corner. Still a good day to get out and ski. All trails open. Fresh groom on most trails, firm classic tracks throughout. Open 9 to 5.

SAT, JAN 18

Valley Spur: Full groom in the am after several inches of snow over night. A great base so the cake is baked. Just keep adding frosting each day. LES bands throughout the day added several more inches.
JC grooms early and does 3 different patterns to cover the system. So trails he did earliest had more snow later in the day.

Stokely Creek: 19° and 17 mph wind and snow squalls at 10:20am, I anticipated dropping temps so used Fisher RCR crown. Wished I had my Rossis in the silky smooth tracks on Peterson, Trappers, Pickard Lake and Bas, as temps did not drop much nor did snow fall beyond the close-in perimeter of the lodge. Homemade cookies and warm hospitality at Norm’s cabin by Kees. Good times with new friends and old capped a wonderful 9 days of skiing at Stokely Creek. 14.4 miles/ 23.2 km

Hanson Hills: What a day at Hanson Hills! Skied Cote Dame Women’s 11 K. What a lovely perfectly groomed course. I ended up using my rock skis as I had waxed three pairs of skis all with different wax. Universal glide was incredible. All trails but red well covered! Enjoy!!

Vasa Trail: "Rough & Ready" conditions throughout the system today, due to 40F yesterday that warmed, softened, and moisturized the snow before last night's hard freeze. The groomer's scuffed up the top surface of the resulting Hard Refrozen skate lane a little to provide some edge purchase, but you might need good edges on your skis, and not rounded off edges of worn out skaters. The lane is still white refrozen snow, no clear ice anywhere, but a few thin spots are beginning to reappear. The classic tracks have a glaze on them, so the downhills are superfast like a Luge Run.
These conditions resulted in my fastest 10K skate loop of the season so far with the least effort - even good glide uphill.
Chatted briefly with a number of visitors including two fellows from Indiana who had heard about the Vasa, drove up to TC, and were on it for the first time, doing some classic. And a couple from Ann Arbor where she took a break for lunch while he finished up a 50K.
I'd rate control-ability on the trail as between 75% and 95% depending upon your ability and experience. Most dangerous part was the icy parking lot, especially if walking in plastic ski boots. Some good snowfalls would greatly help both the trail and the lot.

Nubs Nob: Plenty of lake effect , combined with low 20 degree temps, plus the full big groom this morning , makes Nubs Knob red and blue trails as nice as it gets !

Huron Meadows Metropark: Trail was not groomed due to rain and warm temperatures.
Was just a little icy at 9:00.
Now at 12:00 with falling temperatures it is very icy for either skate or classic.
Connector is a sheet of ice.
Lots of leaves and debris with wind.

Hiawatha Highlands: Good day skiers. Conditions at Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie are excellent. Base depth is 33 cm. or 13 inches. All our trails are open for your enjoyment. Have a great day.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: The grooming team will be snowcombing all the trails this morning, and the classic tracks on the Trappers Cabin and Blizzard trails are in great shape. Most trails have skied- tracks, making conditions for classic and skating very good on most of the system, with best conditions on Trapper's Cabin, Manitou, Wild Turkey/Mac Cut, and Rolling Hills. Enjoy this winter weekend in Pure Michigan, and join us for lots of fun events!

Forbush Corner: Great skiing conditions continue for today. All trails open, fresh groom on almost everything. Pines connector and loop are also being groomed. Open 9 to 5.

FRI, JAN 17

Kensington Metropark: …driving by on the way to Huron Meadows and noticed that the Kensington GC was beautiful groomed corduroy. We decided to ski it for a change from HM. GC was obviously thin, but skiable. Unfortunately they didn’t groom it when it had a chance to set up and gain some durability but instead groomed just before rising temps and sun, so it was disintegrating fast as we skied. Beautiful for a moment but it may not even survive the brief warm up tonight…would have been great if groomed a couple days ago.

Nubs Nob: Friday am groomed upper and lower trails. Plans are to groom Saturday and Sunday. Hero snow, everybody smiling .

Stokely Creek: 30° and 15mph wind, no snow overnight, cloudy skies. Fresh grip with Start terva purple was excellent. I followed newly groomed trail -Peterson to King Mt run- which was a blast flying down primo packed powder tracks. The lower section -under power lines-had mounds of dry snow blowing across the skate lane causing unexpected slow downs on otherwise fast descent. From there, Roth and McGuffin forested trails were a good break from the wind. 16.9 km/ 10.5 miles

Boyne Mountain: We are completely open, including the upper/advanced trails.

Classic tracks are set. Get out and get some!

Hanson Hills: COTE DAME UPDATE:

Dear Skiers,

Unfortunately, we did not receive any new snow overnight. However, the Cote Dame Marie Ski Loppet will proceed with a modified course, and we’re excited to welcome you to race day! Please review the details below carefully.

Registration & Packet Pick-Up
Location: Hanson Hills Recreation Area Lodge
Time: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM (There will be race day registration)

Wave Start Times
All waves will start promptly at the designated times. Please arrive at the start area early to line up for your wave.

10:00 AM
Michigan Cup Division – Men’s 22KM Skate
Michigan Cup Division – Women’s 11KM Skate

10:03 AM
High School/Juniors Division – Boys & Girls 5KM

10:05 AM
Citizen Division – Men’s 5KM Freestyle
Citizen Division – Women’s 5KM Freestyle
Citizen Division – Men’s 5KM Classic
Citizen Division – Women’s 5KM Classic
Chip Timing
The race will be chip-timed (chip attached to your bib).
Ensure the chip panel is positioned on the front of your bib.
Do not fold or bend the chip.
No need to return the chip after the race.
Course Details
Start Location: Behind the softball field
Finish Line: Base of the ski hill behind the lodge
Course Format: Loop trail

11KM races: 1 lap
22KM race: 1 lap + a climb up the ski hill, reconnecting to the loop for a second lap
Citizen Classic Course: Classic track set for the entire length
Food & First Aid Stations
First Aid & Water: Available at the finish line
Hydration Reminder: Participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottles

Race Results & Protests
Results: Posted periodically at the Hanson Hills Lodge
Protests: Must be submitted to Race Director Justin Andre by 12:30 PM

Awards & Finisher Medals
Finisher Medals will be awarded to all participants at the Finish Line

Post-Race Dining Specials
Celebrate your achievement with great food & drink specials at sponsor locations in downtown Grayling!

GRAYLING RESTAURANT (6 AM – 2 PM)
20% OFF Breakfast or Lunch (Mention “Cote Dame” or show your race glass)

PADDLE HARD BREWING
FREE Pint (Show your finisher medal)
FREE Cheesy Bread with any purchase
Recommended Meal: Artisan Flatbreads

SPIKES KEG ‘O’ NAILS
FREE Pint (Show your finisher medal)
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE Spike Burger (Coupon in racer packet)
Recommended Meal: World-Famous Spike Burger

CROSS COUNTRY SKI HEADQUARTERS
$5 Meal Deal: Bowl of chili, roll, & beer (Show your finisher medal)
FREE Facilities Pass for a cool-down ski or to demo race equipment

Thank you for being part of the Cote Dame Marie Ski Loppet! We look forward to a great day on the trails.

See you on race day!

Cote Dame Marie Race Team
Hanson Hills Recreation Area

Michaywe: The entire trail system has been combed and track set. Again, conditions are good except for the odd thin spot. Open areas are seeing some drifting with the wind picking up.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: After a touch of fresh snow last night, the grooming team will be snowcombing all the trails this morning, and the set tracks on the Trappers cabin trail are still in great shape. Manitou has skied-in tracks for almost the whole trail, and as long as tonight doesn't get too warm, we should have a great weekend of skiing.

Forbush Corner: Good day to get out skiing before the rain the really cold weather arrives later in the weekend. All trails open, plenty of coverage. Man made snow trails will get a fresh groom, other trails will be groomers choice. Open 9 to 5.

More trail reports...