Junior National Qualifier moves from Traverse City to Wisconson

Tue, Jan  17, 2023 - By Mike Muha

The Salomon CXC Cup Great Lakes Divisional Junior National Qualifier on January 28-29, 2023, has relocated from Traverse City, Michigan to Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion, Wisconson. Ariens Nordic has a a 3.5K machine-made snow loop.

The Salomon CXC Junior and Youth Cup planned for Jan 28-29, 2023 in Traverse City, Michigan at Hickory Hills Ski Area will be moved to a new venue due to low natural snow conditions in Traverse City. The Great Lakes skiers were looking forward to skiing the Hickory Hills trails, and CXC Skiing and the Great Lakes leadership regret having to make the change.

Traverse City Raptor's Nordic Ski Team coach Ethan Goss said that CXC needed enough time to find another venue and put together a separate race. Traverse City (who runs Hickory Hills) said it's was not possible, looking at the forecast and the amount of coverage needed to build up the course, to make enough snow on the trail to hold the race. Hoping the weather would change over the next couple of weeks would not have given CXC time to come up with Plan B.

Since the Junior National Qualifer was going to be in the lower peninsula, it was also going to be included in the Michigan Cup Race Series. The Michigan Cup Committee will meet to determine if the race will be scored as part of the Michigan Cup.

This event is a Great Lakes Division CXC Cup Event only. Midwest Division athletes may participate. Results will be scored on the Great lakes Divisional Ranking List and the National Ranking List (NRL) . Midwest results will be scored only on the National Ranking List (NRL). This CXC Cup event is sanctioned by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard: current 2022-23 Cross Country General or Competitor U16+ required to enter a race. Only competitors with the Competitor U16+ membership will score points on the National Ranking List (NRL). Great Lakes Divisional Ranking List is used for the Great Lakes Junior National Team qualification.