Racing Returns to Stokely Creek

Mon, Feb  7, 2005 - By Kathy Conway

Saturday February 26, Stokely Creek Club is sponsoring a new 15-kilometer Nordic Time Trial. If you’ve never been skiing at Stokely Creek, 20K north of Sault Sainte Marie Ontario, it is a great venue for a ski race with 120k of trails. As the race director, I want to spread the word about how much fun is to be had, thus I’ve compiled 10 good reasons to drive up for the weekend:

1. The snow base is awesome at Stokely in February making all best lookout points well groomed and accessible. The entire 120-kilometer system is open including the system of secondary trails. This includes a view of Lake Superior, the summit of King Mountain, and Robertson Lake Cliffs.

2. A visit to Sault Sainte Marie means you can ski two great trail systems in one weekend, STAR (Hiawatha) and Stokely.

3. Stokely is a good place to bring the family. There are equipment rentals and polks for kids, a day skiers cabin, Norms cabin, warming huts and the ever-famous hot chocolate machine for lodge guests.

4. 15K is great distance with enough hills to make it challenging without wearing you down, not to long that you have to be in great shape but long enough to get a good workout.

5. It’s closer to Michigan than driving to the Hayward, Wi for the Birkie.

6. Great prizes combined with a small first year entry field means greater chance of winning a free night stay at Stokley Creek Lodge or a fluorinated wax package.

7. There are lots of raffle prizes for those that don’t win overall prizes including two pair of Rossignol graphite ski poles and Swix merchandise.

8. The Stokely Creek Club house will be hosting an open house after the race. It’s a comfortable place to store gear, wind down after a ski, shower and sauna.

9. The race follows an uncrowded staggered start format. Racers will start at one-minute intervals so as to give each other a little room and allow for both skate and classic skiing styles.

10. Free hot food and cookies. We were told not to serve hotdogs so its been switched to Brats and Chili.

 - Cathy Conway ( [email protected] )

More info and the official flyer at http://www.nordicskiracer.com/cgi-bin/Calendar/default.asp?date=2/26/2005 .