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!
MacLean. Powell, Endicott, & Hemming Win Season Opener at Crystal Mountain
12/17/2005 - By Roger Putman
The first lower peninsula race of the season! Thanks to Roger Putman and Crystal Moutain for putting it on.,
Marshbank Groomer Down with Transmission Problems
12/15/2005 - By Mike Muha
Several few skiers have wondered why the Marshbank trails have not been groomed yet this winter given the early season blessing of snow. The reason: transmission problems. But you can help.,
Hotbox vs. Iron Shootout!
12/14/2005 - By Mike Muha
What the advantage of hotboxing your skis over ironing wax into the bases? What's the advantage of ironing over hotboxing? Find out!,
Champion Hill Opens for XC Skiing
12/13/2005 - By Amy Stone, Nordic Director
A new place to ski this season in the lower peninsula! Champion Hill opens with 22km of trails groomed for classic and skating 30 miles southwest of Traverse City.,
Build Your Own Hot Box
12/10/2005 - By Rob Blazoff
Here's the story of how I built a wall-mount wax box based on instructions provide by Nat Brown, former owner of Nordic Ultratune. I can probably put 6 pairs of skis in the box at one time.,
Endestad – Atomic Fairbanks November Ski Camp Trip Report
12/9/2005 - By Curt Peterson
The Endestad camp usually has around 20-25 people in attendance with all abilities represented from beginner to racer. The number of repeats is quite high and the furthest camper comes from Sweden most every year.,
Where are the Skating Trails?
12/8/2005 - By Mike Muha
By popular demand. you can now search for trails by type of grooming on NordicSkiRacer.com,
Jenex 100SR Issues & Recommendations
12/7/2005 - By Nathan Caproni
I have owned the 100SR (with both ATRA speed reducers and the brake system) this entire past dryland season and skied a few hundred Ks on them. I have a recommendation and a couple issues with the 100SR that need attention.,
Vasa Trail Early Season Grooming Woes
12/6/2005 - By Missy Luyk
A short note on our grooming last Friday/Saturday. A handful of unhappy skiers called and e-mailed the TART office to express their displeasure with recent grooming on the Vasa Pathway. Here's what happened.,
Vasa Gets New Race Director
12/5/2005 - By Jim Dombrowski & Pete LaPlaca
Pete Edwards has been named Race Director for the 2006 North American Vasa plus special savings: The 30 year, 30 dollar, until 30 Days special.,
New Swix Racing Service and US Web Site
12/4/2005 - By Mike Muha
Swix develops racing service team to support major Nordic events in the US and launches a Swix Racing USA web site that will post wax reports, recommendations, and racing service notes.,
CBC Pre-Olympic TV Broadcast Plans Include Canadian World Cups
12/4/2005 - By CBC Television
Cross Country Canada and CBC Television are pleased to announce that CBC will provide national coverage of the Nordic World Cups from Vernon and Canmore in December.,
UPCOMING
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
THU, FEB 26, 2026
CANCELLED: Detroit Public Schools kids learn to ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
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)
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
THU, FEB 12
Reindeer Run Nordic Center: Empire airport snowmobile trailhead, benzonia highway and Osborn rd.
Fantastic skate deck with unbelievable snow conditions.
A ski worthy. Warming afternoon sun made for forgiving snow and great glide. Get it while you can. The goodest trail conditions ever!
Machine groomed on a flat surface.
Strider activity with minimal snow machine activity
Parking at trailhead
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: A perfect skiathalon day. Classic trax were perfection. Skating in my Jarvinen 215's. It has to be perfect for that to happen. Add a blue sky, no wind and 28 degrees. Thank you.
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail: Route 271 trailhead. Two feet of snow in the Laurel Highlands has settled, after wed warm up, to a foot of dense pack, with 1” of fresh on top. Not dust on crust, more like dust on mashed potatoes. LHHT is very skiable now on wider gear, with easy trail breaking and uphill skiing without skins. as is lower angle off-trail skiing. Lower elevations are degraded, stay high.
Michaywe: Received a little over half an inch of fluff since yesterday. Combed out the skate deck on maple ridge. Combed the skate deck and reset track on the rest of the trail system. Conditions are excellent! 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.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Attempted an early morning classic ski on the golf course. Iceland! Lot of grass burning through too. Don’t bother. Skate deck was ice as well. I expect the woodland trails to be very dicey.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: A little dusting of snow last night and some cool temps have the trails looking stellar! All trails are freshly snow combed as of this morning. Classic tracks are still in good shape. Enjoy!
Hiawatha Highlands: Happy Thursday!! It's a fabulous bluebird-sky morning up here, the wind is calm, with the temperature sitting at -14 C.
There was no grooming overnight as the trails are in excellent condition.
Mabel Lake (Flats and Hills) was groomed as of 11:30 a.m. yesterday.
Come on everyone, get yourselves up here....it's going to be a glorious day!!
Hanson Hills: Groomer Dan is out this morning cleaning up skate lanes on Red, Yellow, Brown, Blue, and M-93 Hills, keeping the trail system in great midweek shape.
Senior Thursday Special (65+):
Enjoy the trails today with $13 trail passes.
Forbush Corner: Several inches of lake effect snow over the last few days have added to already excellent trail conditions. East side trails get the fresh groom for skate and classic. Open 9 to 5.
WED, FEB 11
Pigeon Creek: North side received the early groom and was really nice and stable to skate. Still can use good skis but oak leaves are falling getting into the classic tracks so beware. Skied a couple laps on south trails and they were approaching boiler plate status. Should be good again tomorrow.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Just got off the trails 4 30. Light snow all afternoon. Beautiful groom with solid Trax. 27 degrees, Swix blue with a little blue Xtra for Rolling Hills. If it keeps snowing tomorrow could be special. Get it while you can.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Snow was added to trail today. So it is a little soft for skating. But still very skiable from building and back is still there.
Disappointing to see the snow guns put away today. Long term forecast shows cold for several weeks after this few day warm up. Looks like they are giving up already.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Independance Oaks: Icy boiler plate around the lake but the Spring Lake loop is more skate-able. It is not ideal for skating but doable, classic skiing would be better if you are double poling but diagonal striding will be a challenge with no discernible set tracks. The skiing is best in the woods west of the lake as it is more crusty than icy. Please be cautious on the down hills.
Boyne Mountain: Trail conditions are excellent! Nice deep base. A little crusty this morning, but it has softened up since then.
Stokely Creek: Primo untouched fresh tracks and corduroy on the Hakon Lien this morning, plus sun. I would have recommended it to Klaebo with complete confidence that he would have found it a pleasure to ski. No pressure, just creamy snow perfection.
Michaywe: Combed out the skate deck and reset track on the lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops. We are getting some light lake effect with wind, so there is some drifting in the open areas on the golf courses. Conditions remain good.
Hiawatha Highlands: It's a gorgeous sunny morning -- happy happy!!! It's a beautiful -6 C.
The groomer is currently out -- the Pinder system was fully Piston Bully groomed for both classic and skate, as was the 2k Lighted. He is currently on the Crystal system. Stay tuned for an update on the Red Pine system.
We hope everybody has a fantastic day!!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: After some slightly warmer temps yesterday, below freezing temps overnight, a bit of fresh snow, and fresh grooming this morning, the skating is the best of the season! Classic tracks are also intact and in good shape on all trails. Watch for oak leaves in the tracks on Manitou. Enjoy it out there, it's fantastic!
Hanson Hills:
Nordic Trail Update:
Fresh grooming is underway this morning on Red, with new corduroy and classic track being set to keep conditions in top shape.
A great midweek opportunity to get out and enjoy the trails—see you at Hanson Hills!
Huron Meadows Metropark: Any update on conditions at Huron Meadows for a late afternoon or early evening skate today would be much appreciated
Huron Meadows Metropark:
More trail reports...
