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Great Lakes-Based Clubs and Race Teams

To add your team or club, or to correct any of the information below, 
send an e-mail to [email protected]

Lower Peninsula
Cross Country Ski Headquarters
Roscommon, MI. Contact Bob Frye, [email protected] 800-832-2663

Winners of the many Michigan Cups! Bob's team is notable for at least a couple of other reasons: They are by far the largest team on the Michigan Cup circuit, promote racing as another way to have fun on skis. Bob is also a strong supporter of High School racing. In fact, many people on the HQ's team come from high schools that don't have their own XC ski team. 
    The Team is also know for fun "Get-togethers", the Vaulti wax clinics and pre-race waxing help, and the Team's help in sponsoring the Kids Muffin Races.

Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team
Southwest Michigan. Contact Ernie Brumbaugh, [email protected], 616-691-7437

One of the original clubs when the Michigan Cup first started many years, GRNST has a long history of producing first-rate Michigan racers. A very active ski team with many weekly workouts during the fall. They routinely sponsor dryland racing clinic with nationally known coaches such as John Aalberg and Sten Fjeldheim.

Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop
Grayling, MI. Contact Gabe or Brian at [email protected], 989-348-8558

The XC Ski Shop Team finished first in the Michigan Cup Team competition between 2001 and 2003 - three years straight. Although the shop is in Grayling, team members come from all over the state. 

In 2005, the team added Hanson Hills Recreation Area as the co-sponsor, and are they ever hungry for a Michigan Cup win!

Kalamazoo Nordic Skiers
Kalamazoo area. Contact Zolton Cohen or send mail to "Kalamazoo Nordic Skiers, 1621 Prairie Place, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006-4442"

We are a group of Kalamazoo ski enthusiasts that had a desire to develop cross-country ski opportunities within the City of Kalamazoo; venues that could be used by anyone wishing to enjoy the great outdoors without having to undertake a long drive.

Whether you're a pro or a first-time skier, we encourage you to try out the venues we're currently maintaining, and enjoy the wonderful winter weather Kalamazoo has to offer. We've invested a good deal of time, money, and sweat equity into this undertaking, and we're trying to do it first-class.

Manistee Cross Country Ski Council
P.O. Box 169 - Manistee, MI 49660 

We are a volunteer organization working in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service.  We operate and maintain over 30 kilometers of track set trails. The Big M is one of the first great NORDIC trail systems in the U.S. in the 1970's.  It was professionally developed in the early 1950's as a downhill area.  We were also one of very first Nordic Clubs on the Web in 1995.  You can ski the Big M all winter and bike here all summer, so come on up and enjoy our splendid trails every chance you get! We are donation funded. 

Oceana Cross Country Ski Association
P.O. Box 138 Mears, MI 49436 [email protected]
The mission of the OCCSA is to enhance cross country skiing opportunities in Oceana County. The association maintains both the Pentwater Pathways and Crystal Valley cross country ski trails
Ogemaw Hills Ski Council
422 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 488661
The Ogemaw Hills Ski Council, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, maintains and grooms the Ogemaw Hills Pathway near West Branch in Michigan's lower peninsula. Private donations help fund upkeep and maintenance. If you would like to make a donation, please send to the address above.
Straits Striders 
Northern Lower Peninsula (Petoskey, Pellston, etc.). Contact Bob Vande Kopple
Pellston, MI 49769, Phone: (231) 539-8903, Fax: (231) 539-8785

A new team in 2002, and winners of the 2006 Michigan Cup. Bob says, "The Straits (as in Straits of Mackinac) Striders began this year. I had noticed that there were quite a few people from my area who ski race but didn't know about the Michigan Cup. This first year we managed to corral 14 people. Next year we'll work on recruiting." The team now counts over 90 members - and people are still joining.

Team NordicSkiRacer.com
Southeastern Michigan. Contact Mike Muha, [email protected], 248-960-9446

The NordicSkiRacers won the inaugural Brumbaugh Cup in 2008 as the Michigan CUp "power team" and won the Michigan Cup in 2005 - the first team from southeast Michigan to win the Michigan Cup in 14 years!

Not bad considering it's a relatively new team formed in 2003-2004 through the merger of Ann Arbor Cross Country, the great Ullr/Maybury team plus the addition of skiers from this web site. To generate a little excitement and get new people into racing, the team sponsors videotaped rollerski sessions, rollerksi clinics, and a series of 5 km run/5 km rollerski fall Duathlons.

Thunder Bay Trails Association
2703 Beebe Blvd., Ossineke, MI 49766. President: Randy Fairbanks - [email protected], (989)727-3702

The mission of the Thunder Bay Trails Association is to promote and protect non-motorized trail systems in Alpena county and adjoining areas and reflect their recreational significance for the enjoyment, education and adventure to area citizens. We groom and maintain the Nordic system, and upkeep the trails for hiking, mountain biking, etc.

Vasa Ski Club
Traverse City, MI. Contact: http://www.vasaskiclub.com/contact.html 

Formerly the "Traverse Nordic Ski Club", Powerhouse team, has usually finished on top or in the top three over the past many years in the Michigan Cup series. This team tends to have lots of depth. The club's redefined mission is to promote and encourage cross country skiing in the Grand Traverse region through recreation and competition.

Washtenaw Ski Touring Club
Ann Arbor area. Contact WSTC, P.O. Box 1967, Ann Arbor 48106. E-mail: [email protected] 

Mainly a recreational club, many members ski in one or more nordic races or belong to one of the other ski teams. The club offers many organized trips to races - recent examples include trips to the Noquemanon Ski Marathon and the White Pine Stampede. They also have a club "Snow Phone" - 734-662-SKIS - listing current club news and activities.

White Line Racing
Detroit Area. Contact Herb Ashbeck, 313-682-0739

White Line's been around for a long time, but I don't know much about it except that Herb goes to lots of races. Maybe I can get him to give us an update. 

Wolverine Sports Club
Detroit Area. Contact V. P. XC Skiing & Board Member Duane Menter (248) 496-1919 [email protected]
A sports club with a long-standing tradition of excellence and personal achievement, the WSC is dedicated to promoting cycling, speedskating, and cross-country skiing at all levels. A group of dedicated Nordic skiers travels Up-North each weekend during the winter to enjoy a vigorous workout on cross-country skis. Both the classic and skating styles are practiced by the Wolverine Nordic faithful. Recently on the world stage, Wolverine Scott Aimone took a silver medal in the World Skijoring Championships. (Skijoring is a Nordic sport which combines X-C Skiing with two harnessed dogs that pull the skier at high speeds around a closed course.)
Upper Peninsula
Copper Island Cross Country Ski Club
Keweenaw Peninsula P.O. Box 214, Calumet, MI 49913

The Copper Island CCSC runs the Swedetown trail system in Calumet. 

Copper Country Ski Tigers 
Shawn Oppliger, 482-6996 or shawnoppliger(at)chartermi.net
- change the "(at)" to an "@"

The Copper Country Ski Tigers provides young skiers (ages 5-17) with cross-country skiing instruction, fun on the snow and companionship. Everyone from first-time skiers to high school racers receives individual and age-appropriate instruction. Ski Tigers emphasizes families skiing together and having fun.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club
Hancock, E-mail (web form)

Founded in 1997, the KNSC works to promote and support the nordic ski tradition in Michigan's scenic Copper Country. In addition to the organization cross-country ski races throughout the winter, the club oversees the daily grooming of the challenging 15k Maasto Hiihto trail system, located in Hancock. The KNSC has a great web site.

Superiorland Ski Club
PO Box 864, Marquette, MI 49855
PHONE: 906-226-6591, FAX: 906-226-2099
E-mail: [email protected]

Since 1992, the club has provided instruction to youth skiers in the Marquette County area, supported local racers at national/international competitions, helped in the development of area trails, and sponsored some of the major silent sport events in this area (Noquemanon, Ore-to-Shore, Shore Run, etc.). The goal of the club is to continue this tradition and make cross country skiing a popular family sport throughout the area.

Wolverine Nordic Ski Club
Call Trek & Trail 906-932-5858 or send email to [email protected].

We are a non profit group that promotes nordic skiing in and around Gogebic County, which is located in Michigan's upper peninsula near the town of Ironwood. Our trail system consists of  five different loops that provide 17 kilometers of  skiing for both striders and skaters. 

Ohio
Ohio Nordic Ski Club
Ohio.
Email Contact: [email protected], Phone 216-392-6113

OK, not from Michigan, but historically players in the Michigan Cup competition. Talk about people who have to drive a long ways to race! The Club sponsors several races in Ohio.

Ontario
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Membership Chairperson: Tom Noland, 279 Shannon Road, Sault Ste, Marie, ON P6A 4K3. 705-949-3283

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario's premier cross country ski club with programs, lessons, and races that cater to all ages and abilities; located in the beautiful Hiawatha Highlands. These folks have a very nice web site.