Happy 50th Anniversary Cross Country Ski Shop! Northbound Outfitters purchased the Cross Country Ski Shop in the fall of 2011 from owner Dick Fultz and looked forward to carrying on his 34-year presence in the Grayling community. And they did!
Northbound Outfitters / Cross Country Ski Shop owner Heather Compton received a plaque from the Michigan Cup that she awarded to Dick in honor of his founding the Cross Country Ski Shop 50 years ago. And it was party party party at the store after the Cote Dame Marie!
Finland led much of the race to take the gold Thursday in the women's team event at the 2009 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in the Czech Republic. The USA finished 14th.
The USA suffered a blow in the nordic combined team event at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships when Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) was disqualified for not having a starting bib.
On March 7th, West Yellowstone will host the 30th annual Yellowstone Rendezvous marathon race on the Rendezvous Ski Trails. The Rendezvous Ski Trails has up to three feet of groomed packed powder on the ground and more is in the forecast.
Good stuff - Successful Birkie grinds, a new groind for warm/moist conditions, using respiorators in the wax room, notes about the Wolrld Cup at Whistler Olympic Park, and more!
Wax recommendations from Fast Wax, Solda, Swix and Toko for the weekend's Michigan Cup (and other) races. Check back for updates!
Finland with Aino Kaisa Saarinen and Virpi Kuitunen and Norway with Johan Kjoelstad and Ola Vigen Hattestad won the team sprint in Liberec and took the World Championship titles.
Kris’s preparation for the Championships has been defined by a very low level of training. While this has been the plan all-along - he compartment syndrome diagnosis made us even more cautious.
Swix Sport Racing Service was extremely confident in this glide wax recommendation. Beginning on Tuesday morning, Swix Racing Service staff in conjunction with the Saab Salomon Factory Team’s wax technician, Fabien Blondeau, began testing waxes.
Kikkan Randall skied to an historic 2nd place finish today at the World Championship Sprint. Quick Report by Nathan Schultz.
Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) and Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WA) narrowly missed qualifying in their semi-final head in the two-man team classic sprint at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Liberec.
A gold from Norway in the men's team classic sprint dropped the USA into second position in the medals count at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships. Both Norway and the USA now have three gold, with the Norwegians taking the edge on total medals, 7-5.
Reporters slather on the superlatives, use words such as unbelievable, amazing, or it's a miracle. The more enlightened types among us simply sit back with a wry smile and absorb it all with a kind of zen-like attitude.
Super Bowl Foodie Face-Off!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Forbush Memorial Classic Race
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)
Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's 10 + 10 km Skiathlon
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's/Women's Sprint qual.+ final
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle women
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Winter Fest Kick-Off
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle men
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
50th Annual North American Vasa Freestyle
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 E. Hammond Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour (JNQ) - Classic Mass Start
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
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)
2026 Winter Olympics - Women's 4x7.5 km Relay
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour (JNQ) - Freestyle Individual Star
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
50th Annual North American Vasa Classic
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 E. Hammond Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's 4x7.5 km Relay
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet & Prince Haakon Open Track
Hayward, WI
2026 Winter Olympics - Team Sprint Women's/Men's Qual.+ Final
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Kortelopet 29K Race
Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center, 12205 County Hwy-B W, Hayward, WI 54843 (OO Trailhead)
Prince Haakon 15K
Phipps Road, north of Hayward, WI
American Birkebeiner 53k Classic Race / 50k Skate Race
Cable to Hayward, WI
2026 Winter Olympics - 50 km classic style women
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - 50 km classic style men
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Ribs and Blues Celebration!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
33rd Annual Junior Muffin Race
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Independance Oaks: Trail was groomed but once again park staff drove a tracked vehicle over most of the trails after grooming creating ruts on the spring lake trail up the climb between and around most of the lakeshore loop. I wish they would groom and then park it. The ruts in the turns around the lake and going up the Spring lake climbs were frustrating. Skiable just not enjoyable. I picked up most of the sticks but the wind is still blowing so beware of fallen branches later on today.
Michaywe: The Michaywe Cross Country Ski Trails received a fresh grooming today. All of the ski trails have been combed for skating with new classic tracks set on the Lake Trail, Herringbone Trail, Rivers Trail and Golf Course Loops. Conditions are very good!
Hanson Hills: Typo... Lodge and trails open at 9am..
Hanson Hills: Lodge & trails open at 11:00 AM
Grooming is underway on windblown Red, Yellow, Brown, Blue, M-93, and Novice to get things dialed back in after the weather.
Forbush Corner: All trails groomed yesterday and in great shape including pines loop. Maybe a light touch up today on the east side. One last race on the schedule (SUNDAY) this year, the memorial classic for Mike Keenan. A limited number of candy bars are available for a minimum $10 donation which will go to the Sedona Wolf Sanctuary (you can also make a donation to them directly in Mike’s name). Open 9 to 5.
Huron Meadows Metropark: 29° and 10mph at 12:45pm. I classic skied with fresh Swix purple grip. Fast, flat, clean tracks were awesome at the start. I felt Olympian flying down the straightaways, my speed increasing as the temp climbed to 31° and the tracks acquired a subtle glaze. As the trail received more traffic, the curves lost their tracks and steep sides became shallow. Wind increased substantially over 2.5 hrs, but Buck’s was protected, and only when I skied back to the shop, did my speed slow significantly.
I had not been to HM in 3 years and yesterday explored Maltby Vista, Cedar trace and Coyote run, which were not recently groomed and frustrating due to stretches of grass in the track or tracks completely gone. With a couple inches of snow and a fresh groom, many more km should be good to go.
Big M: All the ski trails were groomed today and are looking great for another beautiful winter weekend. Enjoy!
Hartwick Pines: It was a little blustery but a warm day on the Hartwick trails. The sun even came out to add a warm glow to the snow filled air. Hit the Aspen and deer run loops they combed the 2” of reported snow from last nightand were just finishing up laying deep tracks as we were finishing. Thanks to all the crew we had a terrific ski!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Grooming Mike is out snowcombing the fresh bit of snow we received last night, and conditions are excellent! Looking like a wonderful weekend for skiing!
Hiawatha Highlands: Happy End of the Week Friday!! The sun is fabulously shining and it's a stunning morning up here.....temperature -4 C. We received a small amount of snow overnight, but nothing to slow us down :)
The groomer was out early this morning -- all systems were Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate, and are in prime shape.
Now, take a moment....imagine a life without winter. No slowflakes dancing on your eyelashes, no excuse to wear that questionable, but warm, hat your aunt knitted.....but, more important of all -- no skiing!! We can't imagine!
So, come on up and do something amazing today :)
Boyne Mountain: Trails freshly groomed this week (including Vistas). Touching up around the lower trails this morning. Should be another great week of skiing! Stay warm tomorrow!
Forbush Corner: Another winter day on tap, keeping the trail system in great shape. All terrain open, west side gets the fresh groom today. Open 9 to 5. Gates close soon thereafter.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM
Groomer Dan has been out since 3:30 AM laying down fresh comb and classic tracks in about 2 inches of new snow. Conditions are looking fantastic to start the day.