King Vasa Club to be honored at 2025 North American Vasa

Thu, Jan  9, 2025 - By North American Vasa

vasa.org. In case of low snow, a contingency plan is in place at Hickory Hills Recreation Area. The schedule includes events for all abilities including the 27K freestyle and 15K classic signature ski races, Junior Vasa, fat bike and snowshoe races, an adaptive/all abilities race, as well as the Michigan Cup and Collegiate combo challenges.

A new highlight to this year’s event is honoring skiers who have completed thirty or more Vasa races. These skiers will be recognized with a commemorative bib featuring the Royal Coat of Arms of Swedish King Gustav I Vasa. The bibs were created by Enjoy Winter, North America’s largest independent distributor of cross-country ski equipment. Based in Middletown, Wisconsin, owner Andy Gerlach helped to create the King Vasa bibs. “We are pleased to provide the special King Vasa bibs. The bibs are made by Noname, a Finnish apparel brand.”

Co-Race Directors, Ken Dawson and Cliff Onthank, are responsible for initiating this distinguished honor, and are thrilled to continue the Vasa tradition. Ted Okerstrom and Vogin Baic organized the first North American Vasa in 1977. The namesake for the North American Vasa was inspired by a notable journey made by Swedish King Gustav Vasa I who fled on skis from King Christian II of Denmark during the winter of 1520–1521 in the beginning of the Swedish War of Liberation.

Members of the King Vasa Club who are competing in the 27K freestyle race on Saturday, February 8 will have a special wave, starting first and ahead of the elite wave skiers. Tom Sutter and Ernie Brumbaugh lead this list of accomplished nordic skiers, each having skied 43 Vasa races. Sutter describes his experiences on the Vasa Trail as “cathartic.” He goes on to say, “I’ve skied on some amazing courses in North America and in Europe. The Vasa Trail is my favorite. The terrain and layout is unparalleled.”

Newly inducted members of the King Vasa Club will be honored during the Vasa Community Celebration Party at the Park Place Hotel on Saturday February 8 from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. The event will include live music by the Daylites, food, a cash bar and prizes. Registration is required for the party at vasa.org. Members of the King Vasa Club include

Ernie Brumbaugh
Tom Sutter
Pat Hall
Tim Onthank
Ed Andres
Mike Schaeffer
James Monroe
Ken Dawson
Don Camp
Mark Camp
Gary Olson
Steve Smigel
Gregory Worship
Bruce DeBoer
Michael Galligan
Jerry Glenn
Brian Donnelly
Michael Haley
Ken Masck
Carol Mueller-Brumbaugh
Clark Phelps
Milan Baic
Robin Luce
Bill Brundage
Reinhold Cordella
Cliff Onthank
Tom Anderson
Ed Clary
Douglas Cornell
George Kuhn
Michael Tarnow.

Honorary Members include

George Lombard
Vogin Baic (1929-2018)
Ted Okerstrom (d.2014).

The mission of the North American VASA is to promote the sport of nordic skiing and other winter sports in Northwest Lower Michigan through the VASA Festival of Races. Huntington Bank and Cherry Capital Airport generously serve as title sponsors for 2025.