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!
Hakkinen Charges to 11th in Biathlon Pursuit
12/8/2008 - By US Biathlon Association
Ostersund, Sweden December 7. Jay Hakkinen of Kasilof, AK moved from 24th to 11th in todays World Cup Pursuit Competition where athletes start based on their time behind in the Sprint competition.
La Clusaz race report
12/8/2008 - By Zach Caldwell
Well, it wasn’t a good day at the races for Kris. His fitness appeared to be right where we expected, but the combination of an average (not better) fitness day a raging blizzard, and a crash in the first 200 meters made for some frustration.
Norway Sweeps Wins in France
12/8/2008 - By US Ski Team
Petter Northug and Kristin Stoermer Steira led a Norwegian win sweep Saturday as a cross country World Cup got underway in France. The U.S. Ski Team's Kris Freeman was the sole representative for the states, finishing 43rd in the 30K freestyle mass start.
White Pine Stampede registration update
12/8/2008 - By White Pine Stampede
Early discount ends on Dec 15 and a discount or donation option for some skiers from last year.
Give to TART
12/7/2008 - By Bob Wick
Many are prepping for taxes and planning their year end philanthropy. At TART Trails, year end is the most important time of the year to be remembered by our friends.
KUUSAMO
12/6/2008 - By Andy Newell and Peter Vordenberg
Despite the really hard course this year in Kuusamo (one extra big hill) many of the top distance skiers didn't make it into the rounds.
La Clusaz
12/6/2008 - By Zach Caldwell
Kris is in La Clusaz with Justin Wadsworth and Oleg Ragila as his support staff. As of now it’s dumping down heavy moist snow.
Winter Camping in Michigan Parks
12/6/2008 - By MDNR
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to remind winter outdoor enthusiasts that there are state parks and recreation areas that remain open to offer camping opportunities throughout the winter season.
Lowell Bailey 15th in Biathlon World Cup Opener
12/5/2008 - By US Biathlon Association
Amid the falling snow and under the bright lights of the biathlon stadium in Ostersund, Lowell Bailey, of Lake Placid, NY started the season with his second best World Cup finish ever.
Kuusamo Classic Recap: First World Cup victory for Sundby
12/5/2008 - By FIS
Martin Johnsrud Sundby from Norway won his first World Cup victory in the 15 km Individual start race in classical technique in Kuusamo/Ruka (FIN), 3.5 seconds ahead of Lukas Bauer.
Kuusamo Sprint Recap: Triple for Majdic, Hattestad men’s winner
12/5/2008 - By FIS
Petra Majdic from Slovenia and Ola Vigen Hattestad won the first sprint competition of the season over 1,2 km (ladies) and 1,4 km (men) in the classical technique in Kuusamo/Ruka (FIN). Interviews.
Interview with Vincent Vittoz – top skier of France
12/5/2008 - By FIS
33-year-old Vincent Vittoz is already a ski veterans. In 156 World Cups starts, he has collected 7 World Cup victories, 18 World Cup podiums and, last but not least, he won the Pursuit race in the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
UPCOMING
SUN, FEB 8, 2026
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
TUE, FEB 10, 2026
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's/Women's Sprint qual.+ final
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
THU, FEB 12, 2026
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle women
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
FRI, FEB 13, 2026
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
SAT, FEB 14, 2026
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
SUN, FEB 15, 2026
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
MON, FEB 16, 2026
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
WED, FEB 18, 2026
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
FRI, FEB 20, 2026
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
SAT, FEB 21, 2026
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)
SUN, FEB 22, 2026
33rd Annual Junior Muffin Race
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
SUN, FEB 8
Vasa Trail: Lots of skiers were enjoying the Piston Bully groomed trails from Timber Ridge this afternoon, esp as the temps reached 20 in the sunshine. It was a great day gliding in the classic tracks on skins. Vasa weekend is coming up 2/14-2/15, so get registered to race or volunteer. You don’t want to miss the fun!
Vasa Trail: Plenty of happily sun-drenched skiers were out today as evidence by the parking lot being 95% full after my late morning ski. Trails were as good as they've ever been this year with another full PistenBully grooming of both the skate lane and resetting the classic tracks. Temps were 13F at my start, probably 5-10 degrees colder than that in the woods that holds the cold overnight temps, but skating was surprisingly fast as your skis are mainly riding the frosty crest of the corduroy wales. LF7 worked well. Hoping in the classic tracks on the downhills was super fast. It seems like most of the skiers I chatted with in Lombard's Lodge are planning on racing the Vasa next weekend, one skier actually doing both the Saturday 12K freestyle, then the Sunday 15K classic for the first time, another skier doing his first 50K classic in many years. At noon finish the temps were 20F but in the sun felt warmer than that.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Near perfect conditions Bucks run has a groomed skate deck and perfect classic tracks. Classic tracks good all the way around Hawk hills. Hawk hills is skateable but hasn’t been groomed in a couple days. Great skiing big thanks to the groomers.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: All trails open with fresh grooming! Come on out!
Corsair Ski Trails: Saturday evening update: The Silver Valley and Corsair trail sections have just been graded and new tracks have been set. Groomers Dan and Karl will be back out early Sunday morning to have the Wright’s Lake section completed by 10am. The trails are in great shape!
Forbush Corner: Memorial Race Day for Mike Keenan! Classic technique so the race course is groomed with two tracks for best line. The race should be finished by noon, and the course will be regroomed for skating and classic. Open 9 to 5.
SAT, FEB 7
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.
FRI, FEB 6
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.
More trail reports...
