Linda Weeks-Kaleita (45) heading toward the end of a lap with a couple finishers in Saturday's Frosty Freestyle just behind her (35 - Jared Roberts and 42 - Bob Triebold. Photo - Mike Muha). Skate conditions were excellent!
Virtual White Pine Stampede registration is open
12/30/2020 - By Mike Muha
Registration for the Virtual White Pine Stampede is open! And Team NordicSkiRacer invites everyone to ski the Virtual White Pine at Huron Meadows Metropark on the official day of the White Pine Stampede.
Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic registration opens at midnight
12/29/2020 - By Mike Muha, Ken Roth, Adam Haberkorn
Huron Meadows Metropark in Brighton, Michigan is already preparing the race course for the Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic races on Saturday and Sunday, January 9 and 10.
5th annual Midwest Nordic Rendezvous to train coaches
12/28/2020 - By Amy Powell
Come and learn consistent language, teaching model, and skiing fundamentals through the Professional Ski Instructor of America (PSIA).
Hiawatha Highlands Lodge closes for at least two weeks
12/23/2020 - By Mike Muha
Hiawatha Highlands Lodge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario will be closed to the public as of December 26th, 2020 to comply with lockdown orders. Trails will still be open to season trail pass holders.
Brushes: what/when/why?
12/22/2020 - By Ian Harvey
Confused by what brushes to buy? Get an honest opinion by wax guru - what to get and what not to get - by Ian Harvey!
Registration is open for the 2021 Great Bear Chase!
12/17/2020 - By Angela Luskin
Things are going to look different, much like everything else this past year, but one thing that will not change is the top-quality grooming and friendly nature of the Great Bear Chase.
2021 White Pine Stampede goes virtual
12/16/2020 - By White Pine Stampede
Current executive orders prohibit an in-person race event, and we wanted to keep the spirit of the race alive (we all just want a race!), so the race committee to make the difficult decision to make this year’s race virtual.
The 2021 North American Vasa is Cancelled
12/16/2020 - By North American Vasa Festival of Races
The North American Vasa Festival of Races Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel this season's planned races due to the high number of COVID cases in the community and statewide.
CXC cancels Duluth and Mt. Itasca events
12/6/2020 - By Joe Haggenmiller
As many of you know, Governor Walz of Minnesota issued an Executive Order on COVID Mitigation, which has paused athletics in the State of Minnesota for 4 weeks. This impacts our first 2 CXC Cup events - Duluth and Mt. Itasca are not viable as scheduled.
Patience and flexibility required for racing this season
12/6/2020 - By Joe Haggenmiller
With the recent pause orders from the governors of Michigan and Minnesota and various local community health organizations also issuing recommendations and regulations, each of us needs to recognize the need to be both patient and flexible.
Forbush Time Trial cancelled due to COVID restrictions
12/2/2020 - By Ann Agar
The Forbush Corner Nordic time trials are cancelled due to the state health department’s restriction on organized sporting events that are scheduled through the 8th. It is likely that the state will extend that ban into January.
Nordic Glide Wax Box - A Recommendation of all that you need and nothing more
12/1/2020 - By Ian Harvy
Holiday shopping? Here is all that you need for glide waxes and tools and nothing more. This recommendation is for the passionate skier, fitness skier, or fluorine free racer.
UPCOMING
SUN, JAN 23, 2022
Flying Squirrel Freestyle Junior Race
Crystal Mountain, 2500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, Michigan 49683
TUE, JAN 25, 2022
Hard ski workout at Huron Meadows
Huron Meadows Metropark, Brighton, MI
WED, JAN 26, 2022
Kids ski program at Huron Meadows Metropark, Clinic 2
Huron Meadows Metropark, Brighton, MI
SAT, JAN 29, 2022
Black Mountain 31K Classic and 10km Tour
Rippling Rapids Golf Course, 4849 North Black River Road, Cheboygan, MI 49721
XCHQ Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
Winter Feast
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
SUN, JAN 30, 2022
Black Mountain 10km Freestyle
Bluffs Bar and Grill, 10905 High Bluffs Drive, Cheboygan, MI 49721
Junior Nordic Rally
Nub's Nob, 500 Nub’s Nob Rd, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
TUE, FEB 1, 2022
Hard ski workout at Huron Meadows
Huron Meadows Metropark, Brighton, MI
SAT, FEB 5, 2022
The 2022 Winter Olympics, Women's Skiathlon
National Cross-Country Centre, Beijing, China
White Pine Stampede
Mancelona, MI
XCHQ Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
Get your Fill at the Grill
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
SUN, FEB 6, 2022
The 2022 Winter Olympics, Men's Skiathlon
National Cross-Country Centre, Beijing, China
Michael Seaman Memorial Classic
Forbush Corner, I-75 Exit # 264 - head East 1/4 mile, 4971 County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733
Get your Fill at the Grill
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
Paella on the Sun Deck & Forest Parker Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
SUN, JAN 23
Hanson Hills: We received 4 inches of new snow!!! Groomer Jason is machine grooming and setting tracks on main trail system.
Lodge and Trails open at 9am.
Forbush Corner: SNOW SNOW SNOW !!! Full system groom with 2 Pisten Bully 100's out on the trails this morning.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: It snowed almost the entire day yesterday! Thanks to everyone who came out and participated in the Bavarian Ski festivities - it was a blast! Total precipitation was about 2-3 inches of lake effect snow, and Groomer Mike will snowcomb the skating lanes and set fresh classic tracks this morning. Snow depth in the woods is 8 to 10 inches. Snow depth packed on the trails is 4 to 6 inches.
SAT, JAN 22
: Palmer Woods - Maple City. Not a set track as usually but a decent one developed from the multiple classic skiers today. Plenty of fresh snow with a solid base. Nice hidden gem.
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Forbush Corner: I had been waiting for the perfect day to drive over to Forbush to ski 2 loops of the Badlands & Roller Coaster hills, and this afternoon was awesome, 3+" of silk on top of this morning's groom, and deep tracks! It was mild at 20F but was really coming down, so felt like winter had finally arrived! Since I only saw a few other skiers, I didn't ski the West hills, including Screamer, but may go back tomorrow to do those since perfect conditions with plenty of soft snow! I really love hills, but can't ski them if hardpack or icy, so gotta do them when it's right, and today, my skin skis were gripping & gliding great in the tracks, up & down the hills, yee-haw!
Forbush Corner: 4 inches of fluffy snow, 24 degrees, made for a fabulous day of skating at Forbush. It was snowing like mad so it felt like a fairy land. After the weeks of marginal thin conditions it was wonderful. I was skating but the tracks were fabulous on the downhills. I did the west trails the green loop in the woods and snow making loop. There was not a spot that was not perfect. I even did dead man’s drop without hesitation.
Vasa Trail: The parking lot was full today with skiers lured by all the fresh snow and maybe by the Open House at the TH with cocoa, homemade cookies, and a warming fire sponsored by TART. Several inches of lake effect fluff snow chunklets on top of this morning's grooming didn't hurt skating glide or the set classic tracks at all. Fun to see so many families getting their young kids into the sport. The highlight was the strong skating couple with a pair of grade school kids where Mom led the group and Dad pulled the youngest with a 25' tow strap so her skating speed could keep up - first time I'd ever seen that and it was working great as both kids were fast and had good technique same as we used to see at HQ Bob's Beaver Creek Challenge kids race in yesteryear.
Huron Meadows Metropark: P.S. classic tracks were firm but not very deep. This Monday's expected snow should help with track depth. Lots of classic skiers were out.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Excellent skating this morning. Firm skate lane with a softer cover...and it started snowing around 11 so I expect the skating to be even better this afternoon.
We arrived at 8am but the parking gate was closed. We hit Starbucks then returned for the official 9am opening.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open at 9am
Skate deck is looking good on Red,Yellow, Brown, Blue and Green trails. Tracks are set on entire trail system with the best tracks to be found on Wilderness, Blue and Yellow.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Due to trail maintenance, Bucks Run will be open at 9am today, January 22. It will be groomed for skate and classic skiing. No other trails are open at this time. Please remember that ski rentals are available online at www.metroparks.com.
Forbush Corner: Saturday January 22, trails are in really good condition. Still some random areas of dirty snow that is easily avoided. Snowmaking loop will be groomed this morning. The skate deck is firm and the classic track is deep on all our trails. There will be some light snow today
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Yesterday was a gorgeous day, with cold temps and clear blue, sunny skies. Groomer Mike is snow-combing the skating lanes this morning, and the Trapper's Cabin trail has fresh tracks where we have laid down man-made snow. The rest of the system has older tracks that are holding up marvelously well! Conditions overall are great for skating and very good for classic skiing. Join us TODAY for Bavarian Ski Festival and a FREE ski lesson!
FRI, JAN 21
Huron Meadows Metropark: Snow was great all around, just a bit of dirt over by the curve by the fire pit. tracks were shallow, but mostly good, the snow was fast. Special Violet kick wax worked pretty well.
: Quail Hollow In Hartville OH
Skiied from Carriage House parking around to Shady Lane lot. Snow base about 8-12" after this week's warm up. Easier to pole. Snow icy in some places, perfect in elsewhere. What a beautiful evening!
Mason Tract Pathway: After an afternoon of crawling around in Fiberglass I needed a treat and the Mason Tract delivered. Track existed, temperature about 20 little wind and sunshine. Does not get much better than that. The complete destruction of last year was not there today. I used my skins and they worked well. Just a few oak leaves in the tracks.
Valley Spur: Great classic skiing, beautiful.
Muncie Lakes Pathway: What a gorgeous day for a ski at Muncie Lakes with Mary K, Bryce & Paula H Dreeszen. Steve D, a GTHC NCT Trail Maintainer & Muncie volunteer groomer, set tracks yesterday morning, and still fresh all the way to #10, then more traveled. There was no dirt, except on the road crossings, and good enough snow coverage for your "A" skis. This is one of my favorite trails, passing by the lakes & river with several good hills, esp the ridge down to the Boardman River at post #9. The parking lot was full when we left at 1PM, so well-recognized for what it is, a classic skiers' paradise, esp since there are several cross-overs if you want to shorten the 8-mile loop. Steve & Betsy were just heading out for a ski when we arrived at 11AM, in addition to another groomer/trail maintainer, Mike S & Debby P. It was another cold morning, but not windy & partly sunny. Don't forget to support Muncie grooming with a TART grooming badge! #Hike100NCT
Huron Meadows Metropark: Awesome conditions today for both skate and classic. Fast and controllable. The dirt spots have been covered with fresh snow. Conditions are excellent. Only gripe is that the classic track on the connector is very shallow. Really, only there in spirit. Any kick wax with the word blue in it will work great. Totally clear skies and no wind. When was the last time we had that at Huron Meadows? Perfect conditions to ski your virtual Noque, you could kick it out in no time.
Corsair Ski Trails: Snowfalls have been scarce the past few weeks. There's five inches of snow in the forest. We've been packing and setting a single track on one side, conserving the 3" of packed snow in the other lane. It's not the perfect winter, but there's enjoyable skiing on the trails.
Valley Spur: Great classic skiing, beautiful.
Forbush Corner: Perfect conditions for skating today! Blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Skied all the trails. The classic tracks are deep. World class grooming.
Hanson Hills: Groomer Jason is tending to the skate lanes this morning. Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow, Red are all looking good. Decent tracks on Yellow and Wilderness.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received more snow yesterday, and there is more in the forecast. Groomer Butch is snow-combing the skating lanes this morning, and set fresh tracks on the Trapper's Cabin trail, where we have laid down man-made snow. The rest of the system needs a bit more snow to reset tracks, however they're still in good condition, and the fresh snow helps tremendously! Conditions overall are great for skating and very good for classic skiing. Join us for tons of fun this weekend, with Bavarian Ski Festival and a FREE ski lesson!
Huron Meadows Metropark: Due to trail maintenance Bucks Run will be open at 2 pm today, January 21. It will be groomed for skate and classic skiing. No other trails are open at this time. Please remember that ski rentals are available online at www.metroparks.com.
Forbush Corner: Friday January 21. West side trails and snow making loop getting a fresh groom this morning. Some thin spots and small patches of dirt here and there and Freeway trail will have the least coverage since it is out in the open and wind blown. Firm classic tracks throughout. More snow is in the forecast !
Crystal Mountain: Once again we missed the snow they promised us. We only got dusting the last couple of days but it was enough for Tim F. to scratch out the skating lanes and reset some of the tracks on loons. He spent most of yesterday shoveling snow over the bare spots. All in all the trails are in pretty good shape considering the low snow and Tim's hard work. There is some trail trash i.e. pine cones, twigs and leaves from all the wind so i would still recommend rock skis.
More trail reports...
