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!
Go Faster lets ski stay flat, longer
12/27/2007 - By Kevin Brooker
I noticed the flexible boot cuff allows the foot to ride flatter longer. Without a stiff cuff, when I tip my ankle the foot and the ski stays flat for a bit before beginning to tip onto the edge. A flat ski is a fast ski.,
L as in leader bib
12/26/2007 - By Tour de Ski
To make it easy for the viewers and spectators to identify the current leaders – the overall and sprint ranking leader - of the Tour de Ski, FIS spent considerable effort to re-design the Tour leader bibs.,
The Whitest of Christmases and Other Christmases Past
12/25/2007 - By William R Deedler
Based on the Detroit records, the Santa award for the "whitest" (most snow on the ground) and also the second snowiest Christmas (snow falling on Christmas) goes to the Christmas of 1951!,
Glide Waxing for Man-Made Snow
12/24/2007 - By Dan Meyer
Artificial or man-made snow is a combination of snow, dirt and oil. Man-made snow is a hard particle of ice, not a hollow flake of snow. For this reason, wax recommendations will change slightly from those for natural snow.
Back home - fighting a cold
12/23/2007 - By Zach Caldwell
Kris got home early this week, and arrived with a cold. There’s a good reason to try to avoid international travel when you’re run-down. In this case there was no option...,
Four questions to Astrid Jacobsen
12/23/2007 - By FIS
The 20-year old Astrid Jacobsen from Norway has been the surprise of the Cross-Country season so far. The Sprint World Champion from Sapporo 2007 has made her mark in the distance races as well and is the current leader of the overall World Cup.,
Ernie Brumbaugh recovering from heart attack
12/22/2007 - By Carole Mueller-Brumbaugh
Ernie was released from Spectrum Butterworth Meijer Heart Center about 7:00 PM last night. He still has the pneumonia from aspirating before/during his heart attack. ,
Alaska Pacific Leads Through Soldier Hollow
12/22/2007 - By USSA
The Alaska Pacific Nordic Ski Team leads the SuperTour Team Classification after four races. The ranking is based on the cumulative total of all points scored by the team members. ,
Four US Skiers in Red Group
12/22/2007 - By Pete Vordenberg, TeamToday.org
Andy Newell, Kikkan Randal, Kris Freeman, and Torin Koos are all in World Cup Red Groups.,
Hayden Table Tennis sponsors Vasa
12/22/2007 - By Pete LaPLaca
We are very pleased to announce our newest sponsor for 2008...the Hayden Table Tennis Training Center. They are located a few minutes from the Vasa trailhead at 5549 S. Bates Road in Williamsburg.,
GLD Points for MTU JOQ races
12/21/2007 - By Nick Baic
Great Lakes Division point standings after the Michigan Tech Junior Olympic Qualifer races last weekend.,
UPCOMING
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)
TUE, FEB 24, 2026
CANCELLED: Detroit Public Schools kids learn to ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
WED, FEB 25, 2026
CANCELLED: Detroit Public Schools kids learn to ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
TUE, FEB 10
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Conditions are fabulous. Our base is very strong and the trails have a fresh snow comb as of this morning. Temps will rise today, so best conditions will be earlier. Enjoy lunch at the Stone Turtle Cafe today, and demo a new pair of skis for free!
Hanson Hills: TUESDAY UPDATE — FEBRUARY 10, 2026
Nordic Trail Report:
Fresh classic tracks are set on Yellow, Brown, Blue, and M-93 Hills. Skate lanes are looking great across the entire trail system, making for solid conditions no matter your style today.
Nordic Tuesday Special:
Enjoy the trails with $13 trail passes every Tuesday.
A great day to get out and ski—see you on the trails!
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Morning Snow Lovers!! We got quite a bit of snow overnight, but it's shaping up to be a fantastic day (but isn't it always if you're up here skiing?!). The temperature right now is -4 C.
The groomer is currently out -- the Pinder system is complete, both classic and skate, he is currently on the 2k lighted. The Red Pine and Crystal systems will follow. All systems Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate.
Mabel Hills is now open as of yesterday afternoon :)
Have a great Tuesday....come on up and enjoy this awesome day!
MON, FEB 9
Independance Oaks: All trails freshly rolled this morning. No classic trax to speak of. Slightly softer with temps up to 25 degrees. Saw a pair of Asnes wood skis gliding through the woods. The good old days.
Forbush Corner: Excellent grooming, great snow
Forbush Corner:
Hanson Hills: After yesterday’s -14F start in the Forbush Classic, today’s balmy skate at Hanson at 28 degrees almost felt tropical. Flew around the red trail on immaculately groomed system. A few leaves on the skate deck which caught me on an uphill ( ugly) but not an issue elsewhere. Tracks were concentrating the leaves. I wish I knew what was on my skis as I was flying. Thank you for the excellent ski!!
Hanson Hills: Best grooming of the season. First tracks after 10 am every trail. Immaculate conditions today and great last week. Feeling so blessed to skate ski at Hanson this year!!!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: After a great weekend of skiing, we're ready to get back at it! Groomer Butch is out freshening up all the trails and this week surely looks warmer than the last, with good skiing ahead!
Hiawatha Highlands: It's Monday morning....we hope everybody had a great weekend! The temperature right now is -11 C, with no snow overnight.
Due to the cold temperatures overnight, keeping the trails stable, no grooming was done.
In the words of the groomer, "the skate lanes and tracks are in immaculate shape."
Now, I'm no expert, but I am pretty sure that we'll never look back thinking "we went skiing too much!" So come on up and enjoy another fantastic day on the trails :)
Hanson Hills: Lodge and trails open at 9:00 AM. Grooming operations are underway this morning with fresh corduroy being laid on Red, Yellow, Brown, Blue, and M-93—great conditions to start the week.
Forbush Corner: After a very busy day yesterday, east trails and pines loop were regroomed after the classic race. The west side will get the fresh groom today along with the 240 loop. Conditions continue to be the best ever. Open 9 to 5 today. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday per usual.
SUN, FEB 8
Huron Meadows Metropark: 20° and no wind at noon. Clear blue sky and fresh groom on Coyote Run and Hawk Hills. Most of trail had clean, deep packed powder track, short stretches of grass or blown in oak leaves, mostly avoidable in open areas. I used Rode super blue 1st, later Swix purple as bright sun warmed the track. Still by 4 PM, 24°, the snow remained dry and fast. Warm shop with helpful ppl, clean bathrooms, large seating area for resting, eating; I bought a year pass! 12.5miles/20.1km
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.
More trail reports...
