Doug Cornell says Forbush Corner has been fantastic for skiing!
Skiing the Ski Fest zamboni course
10/28/2013 - By John Kostrzewa
Skiers warming up before the race on this little zomboni-made-snow cross country ski track...
Fat Bike vs. Skier: The winner is...
10/28/2013 - By Mike Muha
As part of the Ski Fest, a fatbike vs. skier competition was held. The biker and skier started on opposite ends of the course. First person to catch the other won. Who do you think won?
Ski Fest debuts twistier course
10/27/2013 - By Mike Muha
The 4th Annual First XC Ski Race in North America, the Party, the Swap and the Sale for the 2013-2014 season is over. The Eli Brown and the Vasa Ski Club built a small 100 meter course using Zamboni ice rink shavings...
Vintage photos from the North American Vasa
10/25/2013 - By Jeff Potter
I ran across everal press photos on eBay of the Michigan Vasa from 1979-84 or so...Can you find yourself?
Course being prepped for 4th Annual First XC Ski Race
10/24/2013 - By Eli Brown
The 4th Annual First XC Ski Race in North America is almost here...Ski and race this Saturday!
Kris Freeman gets a cold shoulder
10/22/2013 - By Matthew Futterman
Clearly, the USSA leadership has made some great decisions of late. But they made a bad call earlier this year when they cut national champion Kris Freeman from the U.S. cross-country team.
U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Named
10/22/2013 - By USSA
World Champions Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) and Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) highlight a team of 11 athletes named to the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team for the 2013-14 season.
Three new VASA Board members
10/20/2013 - By North American VASA
Dr. Bill Smith, Dr. Steve Andriese, and Michele Howard ring years of skiing experience to the table and a wealth of energy and new ideas to the party as new members of the North American Vasa Board.
Opening day on Frozen Thunder!
10/19/2013 - By Mike Muha
The Canmore Nordic Centre has taken out the stash of snow the squirreled away over the summer and have rebuilt the Frozen Thunder early season trail.
King Vasa Fatbike Race added to Vasa
10/19/2013 - By North American VASA
New this year as part of the North American VASA race weekend is a Fatbike race on Saturday afternoon February 8th. You now have the opportunity to do a Duathlon; a ski race in the morning and a bike race in the afternoon.
Moonlight Classic Marathon during full moon
10/18/2013 - By Alto Adige Moonlight Classic Alpe di Siusi
Equipped with head lamps, more than three hundred cross-country skiers will rise to the challenge of the two new 15 and 30 kilometre circuits at the Moonlight Classic cross country ski race on the Alpe di Siusi in Italy.
"Mr. Fischer" Peter Ashley to speak in Traverse City
10/17/2013 - By Mike Wagnar
I'm very excited to let you know that Peter Ashley (the Head of Fischer XC) will be in Traverse City on Friday, November 1st to do a "History Lesson" about Skate Skiing (FYI: he was the Olympic Coach when it all started).
UPCOMING
SAT, DEC 20, 2025
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SUN, DEC 21, 2025
XC Ski HQ Ski: George Frye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
THU, DEC 25, 2025
SUN, DEC 28, 2025
XC Ski HQ Ski: JoeFrye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
THU, JAN 1, 2026
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
TUE, DEC 16
Vasa Trail: Fairly fast conditions on a firm deck this morning. Rex blue was the glide wax. Completed the 25k and 5k loop. Some dirt showing from the grooming effort. Would recommend B skis. Otherwise a good course and fun ski.
Independance Oaks: Start@ 10:00 AM. Trail hardpack with 1/2" of powder on top. No tracks. Swix Blue worked well. Snow softened up a bit after noon. Overall, a good ski with full coverage and minimal leaves. Get it while you can.
Crystal Mountain: Thanks to a significant accumulation of natural snow, we are currently sitting on a deep, solid base. Our grooming crew has been out in full force, and we are happy to report that the entire 25 km network is 100% groomed and in peak condition.
Classic tracks have been set and are firm, and coverage is excellent. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy these great conditions while they last.
Nubs Nob: All trails power-tilled flat with a classic track and wide skate deck. Conditions are very good.
Boyne Highlands: Unfortunately, The Highlands will have limited XC skiing available this season. There will be a trail on the golf course. Rentals will be available through the downhill center. The XC shop will not open.
Boyne Mountain: Lower trails are groomed and good to go! Upper trails need raspberries trimmed, which will happen soon. The shop and trails will open on Friday, December 19 for the season, from 9 to 5 daily.
Huron Meadows Metropark: I started skiing about 12:30, classic. Skate lanes were hard and fast - pick out your most stable skis of you plan to skate anywhere but Buck's Run.
There are classic tracks beside all skate trails. They vary from rock hard nice tracks (Cedar Trace / contractor's trail) to a mix of nice track/skied -in snow-blow track (golf course trails) to deep perfect tracks (Buck's Run). Connector trails did have track: the trail to Cedar Trace had no track, and the trail directly adjacent to Buck's Run had no track. No track was set where the snow depth wasn't there.
Overall, I had a good classic ski! It's was already 28 when I got to the park, but Toko Yellow kick wax worked pretty well on the mix of snow conditions.
Huron Meadows Metropark: I skied from 10-11:30 today. A very icy wind blown skate deck but still fun. Classic tracks were mostly intact on cedar trace and coyote run, but wind had filled them in on hawks hills. I had a very nice ski.
Hiawatha Highlands: Hey everybody....happy Tuesday :)
The groomer was out last night -- the entire Pinder system and the 2k Lighted were Piston Bully groomed both classic and skate.
We hope everybody has a fantastic day!!
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails Open 9am.
Fresh corduroy is laid down on Blue, Brown, Yellow, and M-93 Hills this morning.
Wilderness has fresh classic tracks set yesterday—prime conditions to get out and ski!
MON, DEC 15
Kensington Metropark: Excellent classic conditions on back loops. Good track set, I would not recommend skating…deck is hard and a little narrow. The dusting of snow made great kick with swix blue extra, what else? Golf course looked good for skating.
Crystal Mountain: We were blessed with about 10 inches of snow over the weekend which is a good thing except now the skating lanes are soft again. I got everything groomed and trackset but it was so windy a lot of spots got drifted over. This new snow will help us get through the predicted warm up and rain on Thursday. I will regroom everything again tomorrow. Did I mention that we widened all the hills? They should be better for the skaters and herringboning. We also have some nice retail items in the tent-sweaters, hats, gloves etc. Come check it out.
Dunes Golf Club: Fantastic classic conditions continue. It is a great that there is plowed at the entrance!
To really get out of the gusty winds the back half that is not visable from the road is fairly protected the way that the fairways situated.
Wilderness skiing on a mowed base.
still no charge or park pass
4mi east of empire on m-72 (the original m-22 bypass)
Sleeping Bear Dunes: Finally the friends group started posting trail/grooming on their website only, sbht winter page is where you can find semi current trail conditions.
Grooming is on Fridays only on the heritage trail as per friends group which is better knowing when to expect this activity. They also groom Palmer woods mid week. If you look Palmer woods shows up with Palmer woods ski trail report.
Both areas have had decent snows with Palmer woods winning on depth. For years I have tried the group post o NCR but no luck.
That said , Friday's groom lasted through today, monday. Strider tracks were nice while the narrow skate deck was doable but has the same challenges.
Too bad the weather forecast has not been positive and we'll see what develops of course. This is the best for early December ever and hopefully nature will repair this.
Sign up for e-mails from the friends site
Michaywe: Received a dusting of snow overnight. Groomed skate lanes and set track on the lake loop, maple ridge, herringbone, the river trail, and the front 9 loop. Conditions continue to remain good.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received 1-2 of inches of snow last night. All trails have firm, deep classic tracks and snow-combed skate lanes. Prime conditions prevail! The Stone Turtle Cafe is open for lunch, snacks, and beverages.
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Monday Morning!
FYI: We've had machinery failure out on the Pinder 4K, so be careful as the groomers are out there retrieving the machine. They hope to be able to take the Piston Bully out afterwards, watch for further updates.
Have a great day :)
Hanson Hills: A light dusting of snow overnight was just what the trails needed. Conditions are dialed in, so we’re giving them the respect they deserve and keeping the big machine off for now.
Groomer Dan is out exploring and breaking trail on Wilderness, with hopes of setting fresh tracks.
Lodge & Trails Open at 9am
Smooth skiing, great coverage, and that quiet-up-north magic. Get outside and enjoy it while it’s this good
Forbush Corner: Mid winter conditions continue today at the Corner. No new grooming planned today as trails are in really good shape from efforts over the weekend. Open 9 to 5.
More trail reports...
