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Kids - the next generation of racers - line up to race the 2026 North American Vasa!

Wax recommendations: Black Mountain and the HS Championships

2/26/2026 8:05:37 AM - By Mike Muha

Wax recommendations for this weekend's Michigan Cup races: Black Mountain and the HS Championships!

Brumbaugh Cup: GRNST and NSR fight for second place. HHCCSS leads.

2/24/2026 7:06:15 AM - By Mike Muha

Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop continues to lead the Brumbaugh Cup as of the Muffin Race, with 705 points. Grand Rapids Nordic is in second with 934 points, just 12 more than third place Team NordicSkiRacer.

DeBruyn, Smith, Davis, and Wakeley lead MI Cup as of Muffin Race

2/24/2026 2:05:40 AM - By Mike Muha

Check out the overall individual Michigan Cup standings with corrections and current team rosters as of Feb 23, 2026 (PDF). This includes all races through the Muffin Race and includes any corrections.

2026 Muffin Results, Recap, and Pictures

2/23/2026 2:00:00 AM - By Cross Country Ski Headquarters

We had 42 young skiers compete at the 33rd Annual Junior Muffin races this year! Some truly fast skiers out there, and everyone competed with Heart!!

UPDATED! Black Mountain race changes; new course for skate race

2/23/2026 - By John Gravlin

The Skate race on Sunday will feature a New 12km Skate Course located entirely on the Presque Isle Side of the trail system. It will be shorter, but nobody said it had to be easier.

Reid Goble wins Super Tour 10K Classic in Minneapolis

2/22/2026 4:00:15 AM - By Jim Pryor

Michigan native and former Michigan Cup skier Reid Goble was the overall winner of the Men’s Super Tour 10K Classic mass start race held at Wirth Park in Minneapolis MN.

A Korteloppet struggle

2/21/2026 1:00:00 AM - By Carol Mueller-Brumbaugh

Ernie and I agreed to start and finish the 2026 Korteloppet together as our first XC ski race skiing together in our 45 years of racing.

Muffin Race wax recommendations

2/19/2026 11:00:00 AM - By Mike Muha

Wax recommendations for this weekend's Muffin Race at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters.

A Small Town Dream

2/19/2026 12:02:50 AM - By Jake Ellis

This morning would be the 50th edition of the White Pine Stampede, one of the oldest cross country ski marathons in North America. For decades the race has started in my home town of Mancelona, MI. It is a true cross country race because you actually ski, well, cross country.

Latest update on the upcoming Muffin Race

2/18/2026 5:02:41 AM - By George Frye

After the warm up this week, it looks like we will possibly get some more snow later this week, so count on solid, fast conditions.

Weston Willoughby and Rebecca Davis win Vasa Classic

2/18/2026 12:10:06 AM - By Mike Muha

Weston Willoughby and Rebecca Davis were the top seniors. Bode Dykstra and Lindsay Smith won the junior titles.

Dawson and Nemeth win 50K Vasa; Davis and Ditty take 27K

2/17/2026 12:52:10 AM - By Mike Muha

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the North American Vasa brought back the 50k Freestyle and 50k Classic. In a salute to her father - co-race director Ken Dawson - Natalie Dawson won the women's 50k in 2:42:36.

More News...

UPCOMING

FRI, FEB 27, 2026

Michigan Middle School and High School Championships - Classic
Hickory Hills Ski Area, 2000 Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684

SAT, FEB 28, 2026

Michigan Middle School and High School Championships - Freestyle and Classic Pursuit
Hickory Hills Ski Area, 2000 Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684

Black Mountain 31K Classic
The Chateau at Black Mountain, 10621 Twin Lakes Road, Cheboygan, MI 49721

Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

SUN, MAR 1, 2026

Michigan Middle School and High School Championships - Mixed Relay
Hickory Hills Ski Area, 2000 Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684

Black Mountain 12km Freestyle
The Chateau at Black Mountain, 10621 Twin Lakes Road, Cheboygan, MI 49721

SAT, MAR 7, 2026

Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

Great Bear Chase
Calumet, MI 49913

SUN, MAR 8, 2026

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
Spring forward!

Michigan Cup Relays at XC Ski HQ
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

More events...

LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS

FRI, FEB 27

Hiawatha Highlands: Happy Friday Morning!! It's a perfectly gorgeous morning up here, sun is shining, wind is mild and temperature is perfect.....currently at -5 C.

The groomer is currently out -- the Pinder system and the 2k Lighted have been Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate. He is currently on the Crystal system, and the Red Pine system will be after that.

Mabel Lake Flats and Hills were groomed as of yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m.

We hope everybody has a fantastic day enjoying this weather :)

Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Groomer Dan will be out cleaning up skate lanes on the entire trail system and plans to set track on Wilderness later this morning! Tracks are set on RED, YELLOW, BROWN, BLUE, GREEN, M-93 and Easy Return.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: It's another sunny morning over here! Fresh snowcombing will make skiing in the morning the best. Things will warm up later in the day, softening the trails. Our recommendation is that the most ideal window for both skate and classic will be 9:30 - 12:30.

Huron Meadows Metropark: The classic tracks in Bucks Run were very well defined considering the sunny conditions they have been subjected to. The skate deck was mostly icy with a small portion of mashed potato - I am concerned about what today's warming temps will do. The connector to Buck's Run is at best very thin hardpack - no tracks.

Forbush Corner: West side trails and a few more of the well used trails yesterday on the east side will get the fresh skate and classic groom today. The short warm up today will not hurt the trails much because we have plenty of base. Open at 9. Trails and building close at 5.

West side trails and a few more of the well used trails yesterday on the east side will get the fresh skate and classic groom today. The short warm up today will not hurt the trails much because we have plenty of base. Open at 9. Trails and building close at 5.

THU, FEB 26

Huron Meadows Metropark: Skied Thursday evening. With the slightly warmer weather, the snow was slightly soft, which was actually from the somewhat icy conditions we've had lately. Skate deck was still very skiable. The classic tracks had a few parts that were getting a little thin, but no bare spots yet. Good skiing.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail: 5" of sunken, heavy, transformed snow at the Rte. 653 area (I purposefully avoid the ridiculous laurel-everything nomenclature of the laurel highlands). Fine, Klistery skiing on the ungroomed xc ski trails. Is your klister creosote based? Effective, but Phuew, stinky--don't bring those skis in the house!

Stokely Creek: Continuous light lake effect since the last system snow passed through Tues night. Erling Strom, Hakon Lien, Trappers and Pickard Lk were all freshly tracked this morning. Kinda slow downhills but on the plus side never had to get outta the track on even the steepest climbs. Should be great for a while depending on the grooming schedule.

Michaywe: Groomed and set track on the south side of the lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and the front 9 loop. Conditions are good.

Forbush Corner: Shaping up to be a wonderful 5 day stretch of xc skiing at the corner. We have plenty of snow on the trail system. The brief warm up into the 40s on Friday will be short lived with colder temps returning overnight and into the weekend. The east side trails will get a fresh groom today including the crowd favorite Pines Loop. Need some advice on how to improve your skiing? Head to our website and sign up for a lesson under the ski school tab in the drop down menu. Open at 9. Gates close at 5.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: It's a beautiful sunny morning out there with fresh snowcombing and nice firm tracks on all trails. Get out there and enjoy the rest of this winter while you still can!

Hiawatha Highlands: Soooo, we got more snow overnight, and it's still coming down ever so lightly.....it's absolutely beautiful!! The temperature is -9 C.

The groomer is currently out -- the Pinder system and the 2k Lighted have been Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate. He is heading to the Red Pine system, followed by the Crystal system. Note: Nordic Pulse live tracking seems to be having issues so may not show green on the map.

Come on everybody, get yourselves up here....it's going to be a glorious day with all this new snow!

Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open 9am. Groomer Dan will be out with the PB100 Setting fresh track and Comb on Red and Jugivny, first thing this morning.
Senior Thursday: (65+) $13 Trail Passes!

WED, FEB 25

Huron Meadows Metropark: Perfect classic tracks! Thank you to the groomers at Huron Meadows. The skate lane was also great.

Vasa Trail: So proud of our grooming crew and the job they did all year long. They always stuck to their plan even if the ski community didn't agree. Grooming with the sleds early season provided a great base until the major snow began to fall. Once it was suitable for a piston bully groom, they were able to continue that process all of January and February. The result was the best grooming the Vasa Trail ever had in its history. Today it skied like they were grooming for the Vasa race and we all know how great that was. I worked with Dave Hunter a lot during the preparation of the Vasa race and I can't say enough about what a team player he is and such a nice guy. It is a reflection of the great staff who has provided so much enjoyment for the skiers in our community. Sometimes like today when it is late in the season, we forget to comment or write a report about trail conditions which sometimes we take for granted. I know I speak for a majority Vasa skiers when I say we are so appreciate of the job our groomers have done so far this season and we still have a lot of skiing left.

Big M: All the XC ski trails were groomed today Feb. 25th. The tracks look great and bonus that there are not so many snowy, droopy trees over the trails as there have been this winter.

Michaywe: Received about 3" since yesterday so far. Groomed skate deck and reset track on the lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops. Open areas are getting a little drifting and we are still receiving snow. Full-service bar & dining located on the ski trail at Michaywe. "Inn the Woods" Restaurant is open Tuesday - Saturday. Visit www.michaywe.com for hours & menu.

Hanson Hills: An early start in Grayling allowed an early ski. Trails were freshly groomed. A beautiful ribbon of corduroy snaking trough the woods. A couple of inches fresh snow were groomed in creating the perfect trail. I did yellow, brown, blue and 93 hills. I felt like it was all groomed for me. What a feeling! No leaves or debris. Solid skate deck and firm track. Our days are limited as March is coming so come out and enjoy!!

Hiawatha Highlands: Yay!!! We got snow :) It's looking beautifully white outside, and it has warmed up.....currently at -7 C. Plus, the sun is supposed to peak this afternoon.

The groomer is currently out on the trails -- the Pinder system has been Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate. He is currently on the 2k Lighted, the Red Pine will be next, followed by the Crystal system.

We hope everybody has a fantastic snowy day enjoying the warmer weather :)

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received about 1-2" of fresh snow last night and the grooming team is out snowcombing the trails as we speak. The tracks should be much nicer today with the addition of the snow, and the skiing should be just lovely!

Crystal Mountain: We finally got our utv fixed so i was able to groom everything yesterday. Got a decent trackset but by time i got done some were drifting over. Skating lanes a little soft. Some debris but not as bad as i thought. Tim is regrooming today as we got several inches over night. Should be good

Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open 9am. 2 inches of new fluff overnight. PB100 was out this morning combing and setting track on Yellow, Blue, Brown, M-93 and Easy Return.