Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop expands lead in Brumbaugh Cup

Tue, Jan  28, 2025 - By Ernie Brumbaugh

After a week of below zero temperatures, fresh snow and temperatures in the 20’s greeted Michigan Cup skiers for the Boyne Mountain Classic. The challenging course, originally designed as a World Class venue, tested the mettle of even the best Michigan Cup skiers. After 10 Ks, racers were more than happy to cross the finish line.

The Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop (HHCCSS) came in with a 44 point lead over second place, Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team (GRNST) and 109 points better than reigning champion Team Nordic Ski Racer (NSR).

Jordan Wakeley won the race for HHCCSS in 35:51 over 3 minutes ahead of Team Vasa’s Milan Baic. Jordan’s teammate Mike Davis was third, followed by GRNST’s Stephen Smigiel and NSR’s, Yvon Dufour in fifth. The rest of the team finishes would determine the outcome.

HHCCSS finished first in the men’s competition with Jordan, 1st, Mike 3rd, John Gravlin, 7th, Robin Luce, 18th, and Mike Bourassa in 19th place for a total of 48 points. The GRNST made is very close finishing 3 points behind HHCCSS, with Stephen Smigiel, 4th, Eric Parrott, 6th, Glenn Goodman, 8th, Greg Worsnop, 13th, and Steve Smigiel, 20th. Team Cross Country Ski Headquarters (CCSHQ) edged out NSR for third by 3 points, led by Vladimir Barmin, 9th, Theo von Wallminich, 11th, Mike Temkin, 14th, Tom Wernette, 16th, and RickNeier, 117th. Team NSR’s men came in fourth with 70 points, led by Yvon Dufour, 5th, Allen Sorgenfrei, 10th, Doug Cornell, 12th, Zbigy Zlobicki, 21st. Team Vasa’s two man team came in fifth, with Milan Baic, 2nd, and Jeremy Treadwell, 15th.

Team Vasa’s Erica O’Hearn top the women winning in 44:25, Then came the HHCCSS juggernaut, Mandy Paull, 2nd, Rebecca Davis, 3rd, and Mary Schlimmer-Willoughby, 4th, to win the day with 9 points. Team HHCCSS owner, Heather Compton was fifth but out of their top three. CCSHQ’s strong women’s team composed of Deanna Spencer, 6th, Wendy Anderson, 7th, and Gwenn Stevenson, 8th, finished second with 18 points. Vasa’s Melinda Mitchell finished, 8th and when paired with race winner, Erica O’Hearn earned Team Vasa 3rd place. GRNST and Team NSR did not enter any women in this race and both finished in a tie for fourth with 27 points.

When the snow had settled, HHCCSS won the day with 57 points, expanding there over second place, GRNST, 78 points, CCSHQ in third, 85 points, Team NSR, fourth with 97 pointsm and Team VASA, fifth with 101 points. Overall HHCCSS increased their lead over GRNST to 68 points, Team NSR, 149 points, Team VASA, 249 points, and CCSHQ by 257 points.

Next race is Sunday at Forbush Corner, the 10K Chris Weingartz Memorial Classic. Chris was one of the founders of the Michigan Cup back in 1983, along with Don Kane and Scott Salik. Chris was a fierce competitor, student of xc ski technique and all around good friend. If you can come and remember him.

2025 Brumbaugh Cup Team Scoring to date after the Boyne Mountain Classic

	Team	Forbush Time Trial	Winter Wolf Skiathlon	Frosty Freestyle	Krazy Klassic	Cote Dame Marie	Boyne Classic	Brumbaugh Cup Total
1	Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop	50	53	81	79	48	57	368
2	Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team	64	58	71	76	87	78	436
3	Team NordicSkiRacer	123	101	48	36	112	97	517
4	Vasa Ski Club	79	109	126	124	78	101	617
5	Cross Country Ski Headquarters	123	117	89	89	122	85	625

About the Brumbaugh Cup

The Michigan Cup Series has three team awards: The Baic Cup for best junior team, the Brumbaugh Cup for best senior team, and the Michigan Cup for the best overall team.

The Brumbaugh Cup is a team scored competition with each designated race counting each team's top 5 senior male skiers and top 3 senior female skiers. It is scored like a cross-country running event with first place receiving 1 point; down through the max of 35 male skiers (7 teams x 5 skiers) and 21 female skiers (7 teams x 3 skiers). The lowest point total wins each race and the lowest point total of all designated races wins the Brumbaugh Cup. The designated Brumbaugh races include those races where there is a single Michigan Cup points paying event.