Michigan State High School Cross Country Skiing Championships

The Michigan State High School Cross Country Skiing Championships will be hosted by the Superiorland Ski Club at the Forestville Trailhead on Friday February 19 and Saturday February 20.  The SSC encourages the ski community to come out and cheer on the racers for these events.  We have 90 registered high school racers from Marquette, Ironwood, Houghton, Traverse City, Petoskey and a guest team from Soo Canada this year, making it an international event as well as a State meet.  Volunteers are working hard along with NTN groomers to prepare good race course using the Noque, Boozhoo, Gookookoo, Migizi, Bagwaji and Chiwaji trail sections. The course maps and profiles will be posted on line on the SSC web site (www.superiorlandskiclub.com) and will also be on the bulletin board in the pole barn.

We ask that skiers using the trails respect the race courses and events (schedules below).  During the events the race courses will be closed to other skiers.

The Animoosh trail will remain open to skiers and spectators during the races.  There is a short section (about 200 meters) under the power line at the Lake Superior overlook where the Animoosh and Noque trails converge.  There will be pin flags along this section – please stay outside of the flags while skiing through that section during the races.  Also, if you enjoy skiing with your dog on Animoosh, please consider leaving them home during the races, or instead use the Tourist Park trailhead for dog walking during the races.

Schedule of Events:

Friday Feb 19.  Classic Sprints

Course:  Stadium and Boozhoo Sprint Loop (1.1 km)

Times:  2:00 – 2:45 Qualifiers

3:00 – 6:00 pm Elimination Rounds

Saturday Feb 20.  Freestyle/Classic Pursuit

Courses:  5 km and 6 km (Stadium, Noque, Gookookoo, Migizi, Bagwaji, Chiwaji, and Boozhoo loop)

Times:  10 am – 12 pm Freestyle Individual Starts

3 pm – 5:30 pm Classic Pursuit

The NTN announces the 2010 Snowshoe Challenge.
The Snowshoe Challenge is a non-race competition based out of the Forestville Trailhead, free to all members of the NTN.

It is a backcountry event with minimal usage of the groomed trails, allowing exploration  of the great terrain around the trailhead.  In addition to snowshoeing, it incorporates aspects of geocaching and a scavenger hunt.  There will be a small non-monetary prize for the winner.

Details:  the course-
Every 1-2 weeks a new course will be marked using a combination of temporary signs
and ribbons. Participants will sign in at the trailhead and be directed to the starting
point. The course will wind in the woods across varying terrain, including potentially
very rugged terrain. Participants will be able to give feedback about the length and
difficulty of the course and subsequent courses will be adjusted based on that feedback.

Along the trail there will be a designated number of waypoints. Each waypoint will have a posted question that participants will answer by e-mail. Waypoints can be found easily by following along the trail or, for those who choose, GPS coordinates of the waypoints will be provided and participants can navigate directly to the waypoints in the manner of geocaching.

the competition-
At each waypoint there will be a sign posted with a question. After completion of the
course, participants will submit their answers to these questions via e-mail. The winner of the competition will be the participant who answers the highest number of questions correctly over the course of the competition.  Notification of placement of a new course will be made on the NTN website;  in addition, once registered, participants will be notified by e-mail of a new course. In the event of a tie, the winner will be selected by a drawing from among those tied with the most correct answers.

For more information see our snowshoechalFAQ sheet.  More details to follow soon.

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Honey Bear Classic Ski Race set for February 27

Noquemanon Trail Network and the “Friends of the Pathway” will host the annual

Honey Bear Classic Ski Race in Big Bay, MI on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Racers of all ages will compete on the 15 K or 30 K classic course set around the scenic Big Bay Pathway.

Registration will begin at 10:00 am at the Thunder Bay Inn.. Races begin at 12:00 noon at the Pathway trailhead staging area.

Entry fee is $25.  Ages 10 and under ski free. Awards Ceremony with music, door prizes and refreshments will begin around 2:45 pm. Food tickets will be on sale for $5.00.

Entry forms are available at local sport shops and here 2010 Entry form HONEY BEAR.  Fill out and mail to: NTN, PO Box 746, Marquette, MI 49855.  Fax to: 906.273.1114.  Please follow up with a phone call to make sure fax has been received. 906.235.6861.

National Trails Day is Saturday, June 5th, 2010

The Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN) presented the Charter Township of Marquette a $1000.00 donation at the township’s special Planning Commission meeting on (2/3/2010) at 6:30PM.  The meeting was held to seek public input on the Township’s plan to purchase a parcel of land to expand Schwemwood Park and establish Trailhead #9 on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail.  The meeting was held at the Marquette Township Center at 161 County Road 492.  The Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to developing, maintaining, signing, and mapping a non-motorized land and water trail network throughout Marquette and Alger Counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

January- 14 paid and volunteer groomers meet at the Forestville Trailhead to discuss grooming quality, practices, and equipment.  The group discussed several topics but providing the best possible grooming and skier experience was at the top of the list.  After the roundtable the attendees watched and discussed the ABR Grooming tactics video.  NTN Ski trails represented at the summit included:  Forestville, Fit Strip, Blueberry Ridge, Saux Head, Tourist Park, and Valley Spur. The paid and volunteer groomers that made time to attend the summit are below, if you see them on the trail or around town, please make sure to thank them for their time and efforts.

Thanks,

Michael Sauer,

NTN Ski Operations

Andrew Beck

Dan Jahnke

Craig Stein

Mike Cousineu

Nate Demurs

Aaron Stoudt

Doug Weesen

John Swanberg

Larry Lawless

Bob Cisluycis

Greg Borzick

Mick Kipela

Paul Johnston

Michael Sauer

Marquette- Plans are well underway to make this year’s Marquette General Health System Noquemanon race(s) set for January 30, 2010 the best ever. As of January 1, 2010, we have 838 people registered.  This is on pace for our largest event yet.  This year we are working on growing this event, mainly by providing increased racer services and benefits.  Some of the additions for 2010 will be a new Marquette Sports Medicine Institute 12k, a 15 mile/10k snowshoe, a pasta feed on Friday night, (inside the dome) and additional busing to and from our events from select hotels.

Year in and year out our volunteers have been there supporting our skiers in all types of weather, wearing costumes, playing music and making the day great!  Each year, the skiers overwhelmingly admire the spirit our community shows.  Again…with your help we can continue to offer a premier skiing event.

If you are willing to volunteer or gather a fun group of friends to volunteer for the Ski Expo on Friday night or on race day, Saturday, January 30, 2010,  please reply to 906.235.6861 or sscntnadmin@gmail.com.

Include your contact info: address, phone, email and what capacity you would like to volunteer.  We will then reply to you with areas of interest. Thank you for your support and consideration for the 2010 race. We simply cannot put on this quality event without you.

For more information on the Marquette General Health System Noquemanon Ski Marathon, mBank Half Noque and Noque 12K, call 906-370-RACE or visit
www.noquemanon.com

Marquette, Michigan – The Noquemanon Trail Network has unveiled a new trail map featuring newly constructed trails and a Native American naming theme at its Forestville facility. The new terrain provides additional kilometers of easy to intermediate trail bringing the total number of groomed kilometers at Forestville to 35k. All trails are groomed almost daily with NTN’s fleet of Bombi Snow Cat and snowmobile grooming implements.

The new trail signs show distances, difficulty and designated dog trails.  Most of the trails use Ojibwa names such as Boozhoo (Welcome), Zhing (Flat), Animoosh (Dog), and Bawagi (Into the Wild) to name a few.  Confidence markers at each major intersection with full color maps vastly improve way finding within the Network.  The expanded trail system – added 4 km of new trail this year, with a total of 12k for beginner skiers.

The Noquemanon Trail Network is supported by donations, memberships and day passes. The entire ski operation is spread over 6 trail systems in Marquette and Alger Counties and encompasses more than 100K of groomed trails. Memberships and day passes can be purchased at local sports shops and at the heated Forestville trail head facility.  Ski and snowshoe rentals are available for youth and adults.

Free trail map brochures will be available in time for the MGHS Noquemanon Ski Marathon and mBank Half Noque on Saturday January 30, 2010.

The Noquemanon Trail Network is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that promotes development of integrated, multi-use, non-motorized trails.  For more information on the NTN visit www.noquetrails.org.  For a daily trail grooming report call 906.221.0222.

Yes, the Wednesday night relays are back.  We are going back to the roots of the fun Wednesday night relay series that we all loved.  Greg Nelson will be back at the helm and the format, timing and fun will be like it used to be.

The relays will be three person teams.  Two of the skiers will freestyle and one will stride (some nights will be all one technique as the trail demands.)

The Relays will be FREE for any Superiorland Ski Club members.

Time will be at 6pm weekly to keep it more comfortable for participants.

Locations:

January 6^th:  BB Ridge (lighted loop)

January 13^th:  Fit strip (Marquette)

January 20^th:  NTN Trail head (Forestville)

January 27^th:  BB Ridge (classic parking lot) (bring headlamp!!)

February 3^rd:  Marquette Mountain (all skiers Freestyle)

February 10^th:  NTN Forestville Trail head

February 17^th:  Al Quaal (all classic-bring a headlamp)

February 24^th:  Fit Strip (Marquette)

Register your teams at the first event and make sure you are signed up for the Ski Club this year so you can enjoy the fun.  Sign up for the club today at Superiorlandskiclub.com

Jeff Stasser 906-226-7112 (for questions)  jeff@downwindsports.com

Free Skate Ski lessons.  7pm @ Forestville NTN trailhead

There will be 3 classes each night to help all levels of skiers learn and improve their skating technique.  Beginners are welcome!  Free rentals are available for people wanting to give skating a try for the first time.  Skiers can also request a demo on that night of the new X.ium Skate ski from Rossignol.  Skiers must display trail pass.

Lessons take place each Monday night from January 4^th and end on February 15^th.

Bassic x-c ski lessons ($10 donation to NTN required)

January 16^th 10am Forestville NTN Trail head  (rental gear available at NTN trailhead or Down Wind Sports) (trail pass required)

Advanced Classic ski clinic ($10.00 donation to NTN required)

January 16^th -Noon – NTN Trail head Forestville   (trail pass required)

Basic Wax Clinic (X-C)

December  14^th (at Down Wind Sports) 9:30am

December 28^th (at Down Wind Sports) 9:30 am

January 16^th (at Down Wind Sports) 9:30am

Advanced Wax Clinic (with Toko Race Prep Team)  Jan 29^th (at Down Wind Sports) (Time TBD)