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2018 Race Pricing Schedule Youth (age 24 and under) get a $25 discount when signing up on line for 50K/24K/15 Mile events. 50K, 24K & 15 Mile Events (Saturday) $90 by November 30,2017 $95 by December 31, 2017 $100 by January 24, 2018 $110 on January 26, 2018 12K (Saturday) $40 by December 31, 2017 $45 by January 1, 2018 to Race Day Adaptive/Sit Ski $5 by January 26, 2018  “Wild Side of the Noque” (Sunday) Fee schedule below for the following events:  20k Snow Bike, 10K Snowshoe, 5K Snowshoe & 10K Skijor 1 dog, 10K Skijor 2 dog $40 by December 31, 2017 $45 by January 1, 2018 to Race Day

2018 commemorative posters will be available for purchase at bag pickup/ski expo

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Thank You To Our Major Sponsors

Things To Know - Noquemanon Course Safety, Communication, and Emergency Response

It takes many organizations and lots of planning to make, and keep, the Noquemanon safe for participants. Our partners include the Marquette Mountain Ski Patrol Members, Marquette County Search and Rescue, Ham Radio Operators, Michigan National Guard, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, Marquette Township Fire and Rescue, the City Police from Negaunee, Ishpeming, and Marquette, Michigan State Police, and Bell and Marquette General Hospital.    All of these agencies are in communication with each other on the day of the race. Many are on stand by - and we hope they are not needed. Most often seen on the trail during the race are the Marquette Mountain Ski Patrol, Marquette County Search and Rescue, Marquette Township Fire and Rescue, and the Ham Radio Operators.   Because of the amazing terrain that you all enjoy skiing on, we need to able to communicate extremely well (because it's not always easy terrain). Not only does this terrain present physical challenges, it presents communications challenges to us as well. That said we choose to communicate by using both the Ham Radio Operators, and Marquette County’s 800 megahertz radio system. The 800 system is what all EMS units have available to communicate across the whole State of Michigan. It really takes all the terrain challenges out of being able to communicate along the race course in anyone’s time of need. The Ham Radio Operators provide entire course back-up to that system, communication between aid stations, and are a fail-safe assist at all times.   We are pleased to tell you that Marquette County Search and Rescue provides the race with transportation for injured guests, and also provides an extracting trail sweep function at the conclusion of the race, so we have no racer left behind.   Planning for all of these agencies starts in the early fall so we can ensure that the skiing experience is wonderful, and if needed, you will be attended to as quickly as possible. It is very important to note that every racer has some degree of responsibility when it comes to communicating fellow racers that need help. Please share as quickly as possible with the nearest aid station whatever the issue is! Please also attempt to identify the place on the course as closely as possible. Between marker 15 and 16, or just beyond the 15 marker, or where the two trails merge, would be great possible descriptions that will speed up that injured racers rescue. If the issue is extremely serious please consider staying with the injured race if there are more skiers with you that can go for help.   In most cases rescue agencies will have an AED with them, and very possibly oxygen, plus of course first aid supplies. An AED is an “automated external defibrillator”. For those racers that would develop heart issues, this device will diagnose heart issues and potentially be able to return a beating heart to its normal beat patterns. We are blessed with agencies in the community that can loan AED’s in volume to the Marquette Mountain Ski Patrol for your race.   We are all looking forward to seeing you on the trail as friends and fellow skiers.   Jim Grundstrom Marquette Mountain Ski Patrol, Patrol Director   Side note: The National Ski Patrol has Alpine, Cross Country, and Snowboard members. If you are ever interested in joining the National Ski Patrol please feel free to contact me with your questions. Please e-mail me at  jimgrundstrom@freichevy.com . It is a wonderful way to “give back” to a sport that you love.

Accommodation Sponsors

Looking for a place to stay during your trip to Marquette County? The hotels below have partnered with the Noquemanon Ski Marathon and are available to make your trip as comfortable, and convenient, as possible. Race busing is available at these hotels and they are our preferred accommodation partners. Check the bus schedule and race packet at the Ski Expo/Bag Pick-up for more details on the perks these businesses are offering Noquemanon racers!

Feature Heading Upper Michigan's only upscale extended stay hotel. Architecturally reminiscent of Marquette's historical downtown, and with interior spaces reflecting the region's heritage, we offer our guests an upscale local experience. The hotel offers plenty of temperature controlled, underground parking units, to keep our guests warm and dry in the winter, and cool during the hot summer Book Now!

Feature Heading Make yourself at home in one of the 84 rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed, complimentary wired and wireless Internet access and satellite programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Don't miss out on the many recreational opportunities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center, and a fireplace in the lobby Book Now!

Feature Heading Amidst the shops, restaurants and theaters of downtown Marquette, overlooking Lake Superior, discover a place that time forgot but that you never will — the Landmark Inn, featured in the  New York Times . Old-world European splendor and charm meet modern convenience at our AAA Three-Diamond Marquette, MI hotel that welcomed its first guests as The Northland Hotel in 1930. Book Now!

Feature Heading A pleasant blend of rustic charm and modern accommodations awaits you at the Cedar Motor Inn. Family-owned over 45 years, our small-scale AAA diamond approved hotel is in Marquette, nestled against the north woods near the shores of Lake Superior. We offer the vacationer, the traveler or a business person 43 rooms to choose from, including a housekeeping cottage suite that can accommodate 2-4 people. Book Now!

Feature Heading Located within close proximity of Ojibwa Casino, Superior Dome, Lake Superior and Westwood Mall, our Marquette, MI Inn places guests close to all area business, dining and entertainment districts. Enjoy year-round activities in hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowmobile trails to discover why we're a big hit with outdoor enthusiasts. Book Now!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 2018 Course Updates - Improvements Galore! The 2018 edition of the UPHS Noquemanon Ski Marathon will see a number of course updates from the last full running of the race and we are very excited about this 2018 course. Our course changes stem from major trail improvement projects that have been several years in the making. START WAVES: The 50K Classic will now include 2 waves of 200 skiers . Wave 1 is the elite wave with the top 50 skiers from 2017 wearing bibs 1-50 along with the top times that were 40% back from 2017’s Noquemanon winner. The top 50 skiers from 2017 will get front/preferential seeding. New skiers to the Noquemanon who wish to begin in Wave 1 must petition for Wave 1 placement. See race website for more details. Wave 2 (and the first relay skiers) will begin approximately 10 minutes after wave 1. Additional waves will be added as needed.   The 50K Freestyle/Skate will now include 3 Waves . Wave 1 is the elite wave with approximately 100 skiers. Wave 1 placement is based on the top times that were 25% back from 2017’s Noquemanon winner. New skiers to the Noquemanon who wish to begin in Wave 1 must petition for Wave 1 placement. See race website for more details. Wave 2 will include approximately 180 skiers at 45% back. Wave 3 will contain 180+ skiers. Additional waves will be added as needed Bussing will be increased to accommodate more skiers being at the start earlier.   Wave size changes only impact the 50K ski events. The 24K Half Noque will see no wave size changes. COURSE UPDATES:   Course update #1:   New 3K section at the start of the 50K race This improved start area is part of the FIS and NCAA race loops at the Al Quaal Recreation Area. It was designed to be wider and help give racers more room to maneuver the larger starting waves. When the race begins, skiers will head east towards Teal Lake and then loop back towards the starting line area where they will pick up the historical Noque race trail.

Course update #2: New 3K Granite Point section (impacts 50K skiers only) This beautiful new section is wider and much more skier friendly than our historical route though Granite Point. It eliminates most, if not all, of the technical downhills with the added benefit of requiring less snow to groom. This section of trail will also hold up better with an increased number of skiers.

Course update #3: New Mead Hills Bypass (impacts 24K skiers only) After the traditional start at County Road 510, skiers of the 24K will follow a new bypass route that replaces the previously used "Mead Hills Bypass". Our new bypass alleviates some of the low/wet problem spots that existed in the old short section of trail and we will also have year-round access for grooming and trail maintenance.

Course update #4: New finish line (impacts all Saturday events - 50K/24K/12K/15 Mile Snowshoe/Adaptive Ski)   The biggest, and perhaps most exciting change is that all races held on Saturday will no longer finish at the NMU Superior Dome! The new finishing line will be at the "Log Yard" which is where aid station #7 has been located - approximately 4K from the Superior Dome. To make up the distance we will be utilizing more of our existing ski trail in the NTN Forestville system! During the 2017 edition of the race both shortened courses utilized some of our Forestville ski trails. The feedback we received from racers was that they LOVED seeing more of the NTN ski trails and that they would like to see more of them. Using more Forestville ski trails affords us the opportunity to move the finish line back up the trail which has the added benefit of eliminating the section of the course that is typically lowest in snow cover (the final 4K). Any negative course feedback we've received over the years from skiers tended to be concentrated on the final 4K run-in to the dome. To further improve the skiing experience we've recently widened this portion of the trail and flattened out the entry into the clearing to provide a great launching point for your finish.   The 12K racers will have a new course over the first 4K and the Adaptive Ski will also have a different course than has been used in the past. More details on these races will be made available at a later time.   Don't worry - we will still have the NMU Superior Dome  for the Ski Expo/Bag Pick-up, start line busing on race day, aid station #8, ski valet, awards ceremony, hot showers/locker rooms, etc. We will simply be busing from the new finish line back to the Dome - a very short commute! (ie 5 or 6 minutes)   This is a very exciting time for the UPHS Noquemanon Ski Marathon. We feel that the four major course improvements listed above, along with our larger starting waves (and larger starting areas), are major developments that will improve the skier experience and allow us to grow responsibly. 20 years is a major milestone for an event - we look to the future while celebrating the past and we feel these new sections of trail and improvements help us do both. We look forward to sharing this amazing and special trail with you in January!

Announcing a fun new (somewhat informal) competition! Our NTN friends at  Marquette Trail 50  have partnered with us to offer a combined competition. We'll offer a yet to be determined prize to the lowest combined time for the 50K at the Marquette Trail 50 Ultramarathon and the 50K Noquemanon Ski Marathon. 1 prize for lowest combined time male and 1 prize for lowest combined time female. The 50K ski can be skate or classic - skiers choice for which one you think will be faster. Please note...registration for the Marquette Trail 50 opens this Friday - November 24th at 8:00 am EST. Registration WILL FILL QUICKLY (there is a cap of 250) - if you want to jump on this you'll want to be ready to register right away on Friday at  https://www.marquettetrail50.com/  and take advantage of their Black Friday rate of $80. It will most likely sell out within a few hours. The MT50 is another great  NTN  event and one of the best value Ultras out there! This is a trial run to see if there will be more interest for future events. Please let us know how it goes for you!

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is pleased to once again be a part of the CXC Marathon Cup Series. The CXC Marathon Cup connects the premiere cross country ski events across the Central region. Sanctioned and scored by the  Central Cross Country Skiing, presented by  AVANT Techno, the Cup includes races in each of the three main states in the region - two races in Michigan, two in Wisconsin, and two in Minnesota.  The 2018 series is split between classic and skate racing, with two classic races, three skate weekends, and one skiathlon weekend.

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon also continues its long tradition of being a part of the ASM Series. Beautiful backdrops in America's most incredible winter playgrounds...courses that both challenge veterans as well as welcome novices...unparalleled organization at every event...world-class racers and entire families all with smiles from ear-to-ear. This is the American Ski Marathon Series! Founded in 1978 as the "Great American Ski Chase". the American Ski Marathon Series (ASM) provides every level of cross country skier a thrilling chance to be part of a nationwide series of adventure, winter festivals and fun. Whether beginner, weekend warrior, casual tourer or professional racer -- every ASM event has something to offer you and your family.