The Michigan Cup is a series of cross country ski races in Michigan's lower peninsula for skiers of all ages and abilities. More than 20 Michigan Cup races are scheduled from December through March at different XC ski resorts and trails throughout Michigan. Races are a variety of distances and difficulty, with a mix of classic and freestyle races, interval and mass starts, and some relay races.
The Michigan Cup aims to boost participation in cross-country skiing by making racing fun. The Michigan Cup is managed by five ski teams, and the teams provide a supportive environment for newbies and advanced racers. Joining a team is not a requirement but recommended.
The captain of each team is part of the Michigan Cup Committee. The Committee sets rules for the Michigan Cup, and selects which races will be included in the Michigan Cup series each season. The Michigan Cup does not run any races; it designates existing races as part of the Series. The Michigan Cup looks for races with proven grooming and timing. The type of race is completely up to race organizers.
The Michigan Cup Committee works closely with the Michigan Junior Nordic Ski Association to coordinate races and activities.
New teams and races are welcome! For more information or to make a request of the Committee, send an email to our Committee Chair, Ernie Brumbaugh, at [email protected].
Racers are divided into four categories:
- Senior Men age 20 and older
- Senior Women age 20 and older
- Junior Boys age 19 and younger
- Junior Girls age 19 and younger.
Individuals in each category earn points: 200 points for 1st, 199 points for second...down to 1 point for 200th place. An individual's best 5 races determine their overall standing in the Michigan Cup.
There are variations. For example, race organizers can designate a shorter or easier course as optional for Super Masters 70 and older. Skiers 70 and older can do either the normal race distance for full points, or do a shorter distance where 1st place gets 150 points (instead of 200), second place gets 149 points, etc. This is in recognition that some older skier no longer feel capable to longer distances.
There are nine age classes for each gender:
- Juniors: 13-19 years
- Seniors: 20-29 and 30-39
- Masters: 40-49 and 50-59
- Super Masters: 60-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 & older
The age class you belong to is determined by your age on December 31 of the winter season.
Relays
There are two relays races:
The Muffin Race is a junior-only sprint relay race with 2 skiers per team, each skiing 3 laps (6 laps per team). Laps are around ~2km. Individuals time in all three relay legs is averaged and the skiers are ranked based on this average. Individual points are the awarded, 200 points for 1st, 199 points for second...down to 1 point for 200th place.
The Michigan Cup Relays is our traditional end-of-season race and Michigan Cup awards ceremony. It's a huge party with lots of food!
Relay teams consist of three skiers skiing one classical leg (1st) and two freestyle legs (2nd and 3rd). The legs are usually 4-8 km. Only team-points are awarded.
There are three gender categories for relay teams - Men, Women and Coed. Coed teams must include at least one women and one man. There are two age groups for relay teams, determined by the total age of all three participants on the relay team: 164 & under, and 165 & over, for a total of six relay divisions.
Skip if scoring makes your eyes glaze over... Scoring begins with 600 points for first place in each of the relay divisions. Scoring for subsequent places will take place by the following formula: The number of teams in that division will be divided into 600 giving the number of points that each subsequent place will receive. For example: a division with two teams will be scored (600/2 = 300), 1st = 600, 2nd = 300. A division with 20 teams will be scored (600/20 = 30), 1st = 600, 2nd = 570, 20th = 30.
Where fractions occur the number will be to rounded up if the decimal is 0.50 or higher and down is the decimal is below 0.50. for example 49.57 would be 50 and 49.49995 would be 49. There may be a small discrepancy in the number of points for last place based on removing the decimal.
(Teams spend a lot of time trying to come up with the winning combination of male, female, and coed teams, strategizing for hours! The Michigan Cup Relay has determined the overall Michigan Cup Champion team in close years.)
Did we mention that there's a huge party after the race?
Awards for individual skiers
There are numerous awards handed out at the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the last race of the season, the Michigan Cup Relays:
- Michigan Cup Champion Mug. The top man and women in the Michigan Cup individual rankings wins the Michigan Cup Champion title and gets the coveted Champion Mug.
- Michigan Cup Classic and Freestyle Championship Race. The top man and women get a Michigan Cup Mug.
- Age Group Medals. The top three places in each age group win a large custom Michigan Cup Age Class medal.
- Top 10% Club. Get a nifty Michigan Cup pin if you are one of the top 100 skiers based on your age class. (The top 10% in each age group earns a pin)
- The Most Points Medal. This goes to the man and woman who gather the most points across ALL races! (Yes, we have skiers who ski almost every race. They're nuts, but in a good way...).
Team awards
There are three team awards:
- The overall Michigan Cup for the best cross country ski team. All points earned by an individual from all completed races go toward their team"s Michigan Cup points. If a racer completes 10 races, the points earned from all 10 races go toward Team Points. For the overall Michigan Cup, a team's total points will be the sum of it's Junior points x the percentage of Junior racers plus it's Senior points x the percentage of Senior racers, plus any team points earned from relay races.
- The Baic Cup for best junior team. The sum of all points earned at DESIGNATED BIAC CUP JUNIOR races on a team determine the team's total Baic Cup points.
- The Brumbaugh Cup for the strongest senior team. Each designated Brumbaugh Cup race counts each team�s top 5 senior male skiers and top 3 senior female skiers. It is scored like a cross-country running event with first place receiving 1 point; down through the max of 25 male skiers (5 teams x 5 skiers) and 15 female skiers (5 teams x 3 skiers). The lowest point total wins each race and the lowest point total of all designated races wins the Brumbaugh Cup.
Join the Michigan Cup
The Michigan Cup by design is a team endeavor. Join a team (hey, you can go ski with one first). The team probably has a team dues, and part (or all) of those dues go to the Michigan Cup. Teams must submit a roster of skiers by December 31 to be scored for the season. (Teams may add members up to January 31). Registration and payment must be postmarked no later than December 31/January 31!
You don't have to join a team. You can still race for individual points and see where you stand. Independent skiers just need to send $10, plus their name, address, and birth date to:
Michigan Cup Cross Country Ski
Association
9790 White Eagle Bend Trail
Grayling, MI 49738
Independent skiers must join by December 31 to be scored for the season. Registration and payment must be postmarked no later than December 31!
The teams runs the show.
The Michigan Cup Committee, composed of the team captains from each Michigan Cup team, sets the rules and determines which races will be part of the series during a Committee meeting each fall. For more information or take make a request of the Committee, send an email to our Committee Chair, Ernie Brumbaugh, at [email protected].
The Michigan Cup does not run any races; it designates existing races as part of the Series. The Michigan Cup looks for races with proven grooming and timing. The type of race is completely up to the race organizers.
New teams are welcome!
Michigan Cup Teams
Cross Country Ski Headquarters
The Cross Country Ski Headquarters Team is not only a force to be reckoned with in the Michigan Cup Race Series, but is also composed of the most fun-loving, friendly and passionate XC skiers you could imagine. Our team is made up of men and women of all ages, from junior skiers to racers who are still going strong into their 80's.
With over 150 team members from not just Michigan, but Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, our team is just as diverse as it is welcoming. We greet new racers with open arms, and are a tight-knit, supportive group. There are no pre-qualifiers for joining Team XC Ski HQ, though we tend to attract fun people who love to ski, compete, and who enjoy a team environment.
Contact Cross Country Ski HeadquartersAnyone at the shop
[email protected]
(800) 832-2663
Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team
Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team is available to anyone in the Grand Rapids Michigan and surrounding area! Including, all of Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and the remaining 45 states. Anyone can participate with the intention of having fun in the snow. Most of us ski on the Michigan Cup Races taking place in Northern Michigan.
Contact Grand Rapids Nordic Ski TeamErnie Brumbaugh
[email protected]
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop
The Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop Team is located in the very heart of Northern Michigan in Grayling, MI. We are a loose group of competitors both young and more mature, with very novice beginning ski skills to the expert class. We openly welcome anyone who has an interest in nordic skiing or becoming a nordic skier. Our nordic skiers come from many regions of Michgan to enjoy both the competetive and the social aspects of nordic skiing
Contact Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop TeamChris Jones
[email protected]
(989) 275-6247
Team NordicSkiRacer
Team NordicSkiRacer is a loosely grouped set of skiers located mainly in southeast Michigan, committed to helping promote cross country skiing and racing. Each year, we have learn-to-ski classes for kids and their parents, direct and staff the Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic ski races, and promote skiing at Huron Meadows Metropark (Hey, did you know Huron Meadows has snow-making and skate rental skis?!). Off season, groups of us bike, rollerski, or do other activities.
Contact Team NordicSkiRacerMike Muha
(248) 535-9351
[email protected]
http://www.NordicSkiRacer.com/Team
Vasa Ski Club
It is the mission of the VASA Ski Club to promote and encourage cross country skiing in the Grand Traverse region (and beyond!) through recreation and competition. All Vasa Ski Club members are automatically enrolled in the Michigan Cup and encouraged to represent our club at ski races throughout the state! Members range from seasoned recreational skiers to beginners, and the goal is Nordic ski FUN! Check out www.vasaskiclub.org for membership information and to sign up. We welcome you!
Contact Vasa Ski ClubGussie Peterson
989-600-2180
[email protected]
http://www.vasaskiclub.org/
