The 2018 edition of the UPHS Noquemanon Ski Marathon will see a number of course updates from the last full running of the race. Two of the changes stem from trail improvement projects that were supposed to be used last year. But, as many of you know, low snow conditions on on part of the course in 2017 required alternative routes to be utilized. This becomes important later!
Course update #1:
New 3K loop 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". This new section of trail is currently being cut! 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 24K and 50K skiers)
The biggest, and perhaps most exciting change is that both the 50K and 24K races 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 5K 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 love to see even more of it. 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 5K). Any negative course feedback we've received over the years from skiers tended to be concentrated on the final 5K run-in to the dome.
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!
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.
We look forward to having you here in January!
