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START THE SEASON BY SKIING THE NOQUE
Michigan The seventh annual Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon, January 29, will be one of the first major
ski marathons of 2005. The Noque is expected to attract over 1,000 skiers and snowhounds looking for their early season fix.
The 51K journey begins in Ishpeming, Michigan birthplace of organized skiing in the United States and home to the National Ski Hall of Fame and continues through the Upper Peninsula wilderness before
reaching the finish line just outside the Superior Dome in Marquette.
The Noque and its sister event, the Ski Hall of Fame 25K Half Marathon, offer eight races in all, rewarding
the top male and female, classic and skate skiers.
The classic skiers get first shot at the race course with an earlier start. But the skiers aren't the only winter
recreationists out on the trail. The 25K half marathon has been opened to snowshoers the last several years, with a dozen or so snow runners taking part in the event.
"We're always looking to improve this race and open it up to a variety of ski levels and snowshoers," race director Jon Mommaerts said.
"The course is where we're concentrating the majority of our efforts. Our legacy skiers the ones who have
competed since the beginning will tell you we've come a long way," he said. "We've smoothed out many
sections of the trail, widened the hills, routed around the spillway and, this year, we've snaked around the sand pit. We will continue to look for stimulating routes that make the most out of our rugged terrain and
scenic vistas while bypassing some hard-to-groom areas."
While not a legacy skier, Milwaukee resident Greg Wyder has skied the Noque since 2001. Having never
skied a race before, he tried the Noque for sentimental reasons.
"When I was 11 and 12 my family lived in Ishpeming, right across from Al Quaal," he said. "Near the
elementary school the course takes a slight dip, and in an expected moment of déjà vu, I realized that we were going down the very hill where 40 years ago I skied for the very first time. What a thrill it was to ski
that hill again, with better technique and equipment. This time it was me that was old and well-used."
The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is now in its second year of sharing the weekend with the U.S. National
Ski Hall of Fame inductions. Noque marketing director Carol Fulsher said last year the event hosted ski legends Tommy Moe and A.J. Kitt as they were inducted into the hall. the inductees this year will include
Picabo Street and Donna Weinbrecht.
"For me, it was a personal thrill to meet (Moe and Kitt) who brought excitement back to the U.S. Ski
Team," Fulsher said. "Even though they excelled in downhill, and I'm a converted skinny skier, I use them as
motivation to try and get better each year while continuing my efforts to defy this aging process."
For registration and race information, visit www.noquemanon.com or call 866/370-RACE.
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24 HOURS OF TELEMARK
SET FOR JAN. 8-9
Wisconsin Looking for a cross-country skiing adventure? Then mark your calendars for the 24 Hours of Telemark, America's first 24-hour ski race, January 8-9, 2005, on the Telemark Lodge trail system near Cable, Wisconsin.
You can ski three, six, 12 or 24 hours solo or taking turns with teammates. The race is for all abilities and
motivations whether you want to be competitive or just get in some distance in a low-pressure, supportive environment. 2005 will mark the fifth year of this event.
A 5K loop on the Telemark trail system provides a "nearly endless" roller coaster that skis beautifully for both classic and freestyle techniques.
"You can make this race your ultimate personal challenge or take a more laid-back approach," event organizer Dennis Kruse said.
As a member of the Birkebeiner Foundation board of directors, Kruse knows what it takes to put on a top-notch event and how important it is to provide a range of options for skiers of all abilities.
"Skiers can choose to spread the work among a team with up to six members or select one of the shorter
race categories," he said. "Or you can enter as a team of one and really challenge yourself in the 'Solo
Freak' category. The race is against the clock. It comes down to how many 5-kilometer laps you complete in 24, 12, six or three hours."
The 24 Hours of Telemark offers one of the few team events in cross-country skiing and adds the excitement of skiing at night if you choose the 12- or 24-hour option. Add to that the camaraderie of skiing
in North America's first 24-hour ski event and you've got a combination that's hard to beat.
If you hurry you can get lodging right at the venue by placing your reservations with the Telemark Resort
and Condos. Call 877/798-4718. Nearby lodging can be arranged through the the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce at 800/533-7454.
For more information about the event, contact Dennis Kruse at 715/798-3571 or kruseski@cheqnet.net.
For race registration information, visit www.teamsportsevents.com or www.active.com.
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MINNESOTA GROUP EXPANDS TO PROTECT NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation is expanding from its base in Duluth eastward across the St. Louis and St. Croix rivers to work toward protecting special places shared and enjoyed by Wisconsinites and Minnesotans alike.
MRR members in Wisconsin will focus on the Apostle Islands, Chequamegon and Nicolet national forests, the St. Croix scenic river, state and county parks and natural areas.
Since its founding in 1996, MRR has been dedicated to preserving peace and quiet and healthy environments in Minnesota's communities, parks, forests, trails and waterways. The organization has lobbied
for state regulation of off-highway vehicles, campaigned for "quiet lake" designations in every county and given voice to the interests of all silent sports enthusiasts.
MRR has a Wisconsin page on its Web site. Go to www.mnresponsiblerec.org/indexwi.htm for information on its initial campaigns and latest action alerts.
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2005 CITY OF LAKES LOPPET RACES WILL BE OLYMPIC QUALIFYING EVENTS
Twin Cities, Minnesota The City of Lakes Loppet has reached an agreement with the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association (USSA) to make the Finn Sisu Sprints and the Loppet freestyle race USSA SuperTour events and qualifying races for the 2006 Olympic Team in Torino, Italy. This means that the best
skiers in the country will be competing in this year's Loppet events, February 5-6, 2005.
"Holding these Olympic-qualifying events in conjunction with the Loppet is a great combination for the sport
and for the Twin Cities," Luke Bodensteiner of USSA said. "The Twin Cities is one of the biggest hotbeds
for cross-country skiing in North America. This will give Twin Cities' residents a chance to preview the athletes that will represent the United States in the 2006 Olympics."
Finn Sisu Sprints
As in previous years, the finals of the Finn Sisu Sprints will take place on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown. This
time, however, the event will be open to all comers with preliminary heats occurring earlier in the day at a
different venue. Only the top 16 male and female skiers will make it to the finals in Uptown. There they will compete for over $4,000 in prize money and a chance to represent the United States at the 2006 Olympics
in Torino, Italy.
Organizers expect thousands of fans to line the snow-covered streets in order to see future Olympians compete in these high-stakes races.
Loppet Freestyle Race
The Loppet freestyle race will run the same course as in years' past but the stakes will be much higher. Similar to the Finn Sisu Sprints, the skiers in the lead pack will be competing for over $4,000 in prize money
and a chance to represent the country in the 2006 Olympics. Organizers expect fans to line the course from Theodore Wirth to Uptown in order to get a chance to see the drama unfold.
Hoigaard's Classical Race
While the classical race will not be an Olympic-qualifying event, organizers expect this event to attract more
skiers as well. This year the Loppet's grand-prize trip to Norway will be awarded to the top male and female classical skiers.
Participating in the classical race will also provide an excellent opportunity to see the freestyle race unfold.
The classical race will start one hour before the freestyle race this year, so most classical skiers will be in Uptown in time to see the sprint down Hennepin that will help determine who makes the 2006 Olympic
Team.
REI Tour
Like the Hoigaard's Classical Race, the REI Tour provides a great opportunity to ski on some of the same
terrain as the country's best skiers. With the Tour starting one hour before the freestyle race, participants will arrive in Uptown in time to enjoy watching the the Olympic hopefuls finish.
For more information, or to register for the Loppet, go to www.cityoflakesloppet.com or call 612/715-1479.
The Loppet runs over 20 kilometers of wooded trails, under seven bridges, over one Interstate and under
another highway, through one tunnel, across five frozen lakes, through two frozen channels, over two roads, around one island, and finishes on 1 kilometer of snow-covered roadway in the heart of Uptown.
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WIN CAMPING GEAR WITH BEST WILDERNESS ESSAY
Do you love the outdoors? If so, you are invited to enter the Wilderness Trails Essay Contest sponsored by the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee and the 3M Outdoor Club.
The grand prize for the author of the winning essay is $1,000 worth of camping gear. Second prize is $250, third prize, $100.
BWAC President Martin Kubik explained the motivation for the essay contest. "The storm of the century in
the Boundary Waters put increased maintenance requirements on trails damaged by it. In addition, there are
a number of existing and unprotected hiking trails in the BWCA," he said. "While moose hike on these trails,
not too many of them write essays. We are opening up this contest to the general public to promote BWCA hiking opportunities and increase awareness of the need for trail maintenance."
Kubik founded the Kekekabik Trail Club which maintains the 40-mile-long Kekekabik Trail and other BWAC trails in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. Kubik started the Boundary Waters Advisory
Committee two years ago.
Essay contest entries must be original works, 300 to 500 words in length, that answer one of the following
questions: 1) What are the benefits of having hiking trails in the wilderness? 2) How can we best protect and preserve our wilderness hiking trails? 3) What is your favorite wilderness hiking experience?
The essays should be submitted by e-mail to bwactrailessay@aol.com or mailed to Boundary Waters Trails Essay Contest, 309 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55454.
The deadline for all entries is March 31, 2005. Winners will be announced on National Trails Day, June 4, 2005, at the Wilderness Trails Conference, Superior National Forest (location TBD) and online at www.bwac.homestead.com.
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MARINETTE COUNTY XC SKI CLUB READIES TRAILS
Wisconsin The terms have been set for the grooming of cross-country ski trails in Marinette County, Wisconsin, between the DNR and those who will do the grooming: members of the Marinette County Cross-Country Ski Association (MCCCSA).
A connecting link between two trail systems, including those surrounding Kirby Lake, will be open this year.
Kirby Lake offers a 5-kilometer loop suitable for diagonal skiers. The parking area at the lake will be larger, and portable restroom facilities will be on hand there for skiers.
Also in Marinette County: Goodman Park, 4K of diagonal and skate skiing trail; Lake Nocquebay, 5 miles of diagonal and skating trail; and Sandstone Rapids Trails, 6.2K of diagonal trail.
The DNR has provided upkeep within its jurisdiction. The MCCCSA's "main mower man," Joe Krzewina, has also done considerable clearing, mowing and brushing.
MCCCSA vice-president Tom Collins, the "main mechanics man," has maintained the group's grooming equipment so drivers will be ready throughout the coming ski season.
The MCCCSA can be reached at P.O. Box 242, Crivitz, WI 54114.
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