Middle school ski parents
Below is a middle school race schedule that includes a little more detailed information to help you plan ahead this winter. These races below are supported by the Lakeland Ski Team, and if your child chooses to race these that are listed, the registration is taken care of and paid for by the team. However, please watch for communications by your coaches through email as they will be needing a solid commitment prior to the race. (usually 2-3 weeks). Once we receive the commitment your child is registered and paid for, so it is important that they attend the race. When we register a child, if it is a 2 day race we are paying for both days. So it is appreciated if they can race both days. All information is subject to change especially on times, but his is a bit of a guideline based on the races last year.
If it is a 2 day race, the kids typically skate one day and stride the other-but it may not be in that order. At times the order also may change last minute due to snow conditions. It may be schedule to stride on a Sat and skate Sunday and race officials may change that with little notice. Also keep in mind that if your child would like to stay for awards that typically happens after the very last race. You might race early in the day but stay awhile for the awards ceremony, or leave and come back.
At the middle school level, transportation & lodging is not provided. However if it is just a day race please reach out to others on the team if transportation is a limiting factor on your child racing.. Racing is not mandatory at the Middle School level, but of course highly encouraged!
Tuesday December 19th 2017
Lakeland Inviteat Minocqua Winter Park
This is our first race of the season and participation of all middle schoolers is highly encouraged, even if this will be their very first time ever racing. It is a smaller race, so a great one to begin with. It is held right here at our very own Minocqua Winter park immediately after school. But in order to have time to warm up, your child may have to leave school slightly before the end of the day. Your child can either skate or stride, their choice. The Minocqua winter park chalet will be open to use for changing/eating. The parking lot right next to the chalet makes the race easily accessible.
Minocqua Winter Park, Minocqua WI
Saturday January 6th & Sunday January 7th 2018
Rhinelander Nordic ski Team hosts a Hodag Challenge at Havoc at Cavoc
This is a 2 day race with Classic on one day & skate another. Start times are typically in late morning on Saturday and early morning on Sunday. This is a fun race hosting 200-300 kids each year, giving them the opportunity to race the hilly system of the Rhinelander Schools school forest trails. It Is a great race as a spectater as you can see your child at several different viewing points. There is a large chalet with concessions/changing area. There is a large parking lot close to the race start, but that fills early and you may have to park further away and be shuttled over. Lodging is not necessary being close to home.
CavocTrails 4321 Shore Drive Rhinelander, WI Website –
Saturday January 13th 2018
Snekkevik Classic Nine Mile Recreational Area Wausau, WI
This is a fun one day race held at Nine Mile Ski Area-which is a short distance from Rib Mountain. There is a fairly large parking lot, and a large warming house with concessions.
Nine Mile Recreational Area 8704 Red Bud Rd. Wausau, WI
Website-
Sunday January 14th 2018IolaInvite
This is a one day Skate event, typically held in the morning. The set up is similar to Minocqua Winter Park, as there is a pretty small chalet, concessions & bathrooms available. Parking is close to race location as well.
Iola Winter Sports Club E. 398 Country Road MM Iola, WI
Saturday January 20th & Sunday January 21st 2018 Birkie Start Trailhead, Cable WI
This is the pre-state race, giving kids the opportunity to get to know the course prior to the State Championship, as this course will be pretty similar to the State race. This is a 2 day race with skate on one day and classic the other. There will be ample parking, warming shelter and concessions. It is located approx. 2 hours from Minocqua so if you are racing both days it may be a long trip back and forth. Lodging options include a few in Cable WI, but there are more lodging/restaurants in the nearby town of Hayward 18 miles away. We have room blocks for January 19th & 20th at the Comfort Suites in Hayward. 2 queens w/ sofa sleeper or 1 king w/ sofa sleeper for $119 a night. The block is under Group # 3005752 Lakeland Nordic Ski Team, and will expire on Dec. 17th. Also the race start time on Saturday is typically late enough that if you are traveling with a Middle School skier you can leave from Minocqua early enough on Saturday to make it to the race, if you are willing to wake early. *Note the high school team will be staying at the Telemark Condo’s.
Location-Birkie Start Trailhead, Cable WI
Tuesday January 30th 2018 Northern Conference Championship Hayward, WI
This is a one day race held at the midway point of the American Birkibeiner. Kids will miss a portion of the school day to attend this race. Changing area available, and concessions as well.
Driving directions will be available to get before the race
Saturday February 3rd & Sunday February 4th 2018 State Sprints at Elver Park, Madison WI
This year the State Sprints will not be held on the same day as a CXC Youth cup race, so we are looking forward to everyone attending this super fun race. Because it typically starts later in the afternoon on Saturday, lodging is only needed for Saturday night. We have room blocks for Saturday February 3rd at the Radisson Hotel Madison, which is located fairly close to the park. 2 dbls at a rate of $109 a night. To book your room you can simply follow this link: This block will expire on January 13th. Note the high school team will also we staying here.
Saturday February 10th & Sunday February 11th 2018 State Race Birkie Start Trailhead, Cable WI
This is the State Race, and one you do not want to miss! This is the same location as the Jan 20/21st race BUT this is the big one! This is a 2 day race with skate on one day and classic the other. There will be significant parking, with overflow parking at the old Telemark location. Warming shelter, and concessions will be available. Again It is located approx. 2 hours from Minocqua, but middle schoolers race late enough on Saturday AM that you can drive very early that AM to get there in time for the race, and then stay the night on Saturday night.. There is an awards ceremony that night (location not announced yet, but possible they will be at the race venue), it is optional, but encouraged, for middle schoolers to attend. We have room blocks for February 9th & 10th at the Comfort Suites in Hayward. 2 queens w/ sofa sleeper or 1 king w/ sofa sleeper for $119 a night. The block is under Group # 3005753 Lakeland Nordic Ski Team, and will expire on January 9th. *Note the high school team will be staying at the Telemark Condo’s.
Location-Birkie Start Trailhead, Cable WI
Saturday March 3rd 2018 Squirrel Hill Pursuit Winter Park, Minocqua
Our last race of the season, ending where we started back at Minocqua Winter Park.
This one day race is considered a fun race, and kids are encouraged to dress up for the event in any costume they choose. The chalet will be open for warming and concessions.
There are additional races available in our State and surrounding states as well. These are not team supported, but your child may register on their own if they desire. Here are a few that we want to share with you. Contact information is included.
Minocqua Winter Park
In addition to the room blocks here are a few other suggestions for the State and Pre-state Race.
There are other various option of smaller hotels in Hayward as well
Telemark Condos-cable
Lakewoods resort-cable
Americinn
Additional CXC Youth Cup Races
If you would like more information on the CXC Youth Cup races, and what it is all about..you can visit Now in its third season, the CXC Youth Cup offers athletes ages 10-13 (U12 and U14 age divisions) an opportunity to experience and explore the excitement of travel, friendship, and competition associated withCXC / USSA events and races. You can also talk with your child’s coach to see if this race series is a good fit for your skier, as it is a higher level of competitive racing.
Of the CXC Races, there were 2 with limited lodging availability. Please see the below room blocks I have set up
December 16th & 17th Michigan Tech Trails Houghton, MI
We have room blocks at Magnuson Hotel Copper Crown in Hancock, which is just across the bridge from Houghton. 2 Queens at a rate of $107.99. Note there are very few rooms left in Houghton, and almost double this rate. For this reason they would not allow me to actually block the rooms, however I could book them. So they are all under my name, Heather Van Hefty. To book it you need to call the hotel and ask that a room in my name, be switched into yours. At that time change the payment form to your own credit card please! Cancellation policy is before 2pm on December 14th.
February 17th & 18thMt. Itasca Winter Sports Center Coleraine, MN
We have rooms blocked for February 16th and 17th at the Country Inn by Carlson in Grand Rapids MN 2 queens at a rate of $105 a night. Block is under Lakeland Nordic Ski Team and will expire on February 15th