Cross Country Ski Headquarters wins 2020-2021 Michigan Cup
Wed, Mar 17, 2021 - By Mike Muha
Cross Country Ski Headquarters wins the 2020-2021 Michigan Cup. It was a short season, marked by many race cancelations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Headquarters was still able to get the team out to win the overall Michigan Cup with 18,004 points. Team NordicSkiRacer held on to second place with 14,082 points. The Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team took third with 13,325 points.
2020-2021 Michigan Cup Champions, the Cross Country Ski Headquarters
The number of points what's substantially lower than points scored last season. For example, during 2019-2020 season, the Cross Country Ski Headquarters won with 45,858 point, two-and-a-half times this seasons points! Skiers had fewer races to choose from and there were certainly skiers who decided to take the year off from racing due to COVID-19.
Michigan Cup Team Standings Final - 2021
| Team | Participation Points | Team Points | Relay Points | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Country Ski Headquarters | 150 | 14,771 | 3083 | 18,004 |
| Team NordicSkiRacer | 20 | 12,199 | 1863 | 14,082 |
| Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team | 160 | 10,082 | 3083 | 13,325 |
| Vasa Ski Club | 70 | 10,706 | 932 | 11,708 |
| Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop | 80 | 11,326 | 263 | 11,669 |
| University of Michigan Ski Club | 0 | 375 | 0 | 375 |
Participation, in terms of number of skiers getting Michigan Cup points was way down from last season. Only 267 skiers received Michigan Cup points in 2020-2021 compared to 590 in 2019-2020, a drop of 55%.
Comparison of participation rates, current vs. last season
| Skiers | 2019-2020 Season | 2020-2021 Season | Percent Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior boys | 80 | 51 | -36% |
| Junior girls | 54 | 33 | -39% |
| Senior men | 339 | 142 | -58% |
| Senior women | 117 | 41 | -55% |
| TOTAL | 590 | 267 | -55% |
The change was most pronounced in the senior ranks with a drop of 55% and 58% for women and men. Juniors participation faired better, with drops of only 36% for boys and 39% for women. Were these skiers simply not skiing? Unlikely. Cross country ski areas seemed as busy - if not busier - than ever.