Near-record year for Great Bear Chase

Tue, Mar  12, 2013 - By Michael H. Babcock

It was a near-record year for the Portage Health Great Bear Chase Ski Marathon in Calumet, Michigan, with 493 skiers participating in Saturday's ski race. There were also 30 people participating in the second annual snow bike race, and dozens of kids in Friday night's Junior Bear Chase.

Overall winners included Kathleen Dewahl of Minneapolis and Ben Hugus of Marquette, Michigan in the 50k freestyle, Chandra Ziegler of Crystal Falls, Michigan and Ben Cogger of Duluth, Minnesota in the 50k classic.

In the 25k races Ellen Wiitala (Team NordicSkiRacer) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Dan Wood of Houghton, Michigan won the 25k freestyle, while Nancy Uschold of Marquette and Scott Pederson of Spooner, Wis. won the 25k classic.

Hancock, Michigan natives won the 14k freestyle races with David Jaszczzk winning the men's and Katie Holway winning the female race. Abby Scheller of Champlin, Minnesota and Daniel Pederson of Spooner, Wisconsin won the 14k classic races.

A full list of results can be found online at greatbearchase.com/results.