Cote Dame Marie may run slightly shorter race

Thu, Jan  16, 2025 - By Justin Andre

Dear Racers,

I want to sincerely apologize for my confidence in announcing a full-course race yesterday. We are so close! The red trail base is improving, but as much as I want to include this section, it currently has a marginal and bumpy base that I fear would not positively showcase our trail system or our grooming efforts.

Snow is predicted today and tomorrow, and we remain hopeful. However, if we do not receive the necessary 2–3 inches, we will need to adjust the race course accordingly.

We have a solid backup plan in place should the red trail remain unavailable. While this will result in slightly shorter races, it will ensure good to great trail conditions. The adjusted courses will utilize our inner trails, which have been groomed all season and are in prime shape. The approximate distances will be:

• 22K for MI-Cup Men
• 11K for MI-Cup Women
• 5K for Citizens/Juniors

If these adjustments are necessary, we will also modify the starting timeline for all races to safely manage skier flow and prevent two-way collisions.

I will make the official announcement on Friday afternoon, as we are still holding out hope that the predicted snowfall will allow us to proceed with the full course. While there are various ways to extend the race, this adjustment offers the best balance of course quality, fairness, and race integrity for all divisions.

Thank you for your understanding and support. I look forward to seeing you on race day!

 
Justin Andre
Grayling Recreation Authority – Hanson Hills
Director of Operations
[email protected]
989-348-9266