Noquemanon Race Day November 26 2008 Marquette Michigan Upper Peninsula MI

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Noquemanon Race Saturday!
Friday, January 25, 2008
by Michaeleen O'Sullivan, UPfirst feature writer
Photos by Todd Carter, UPfirst photographer

Marquette County, MI--Racers ready! Tonight nearly 1200 cross-country ski racers are getting ready to fly across remote Upper Peninsula wilderness in the 10th Anniversary Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon and mBank Half Noque Saturday.

Special Feature
2008 Noquemanon Photos
Saturday, January 26, 2008

Noquemanon racers in Forestville Location, 2001

Groomer entrance to the Noquemanon Trail Thursday from Forestville Basin Trail
Noque Trail stretches across Little Cranberry Lake (on the north side of the tracks)
and winds uphill a bit, then downhill to Lake Superior

Both marathons are for the very strong and adventurous, with well-groomed 51K trails for the super skiers, and 25K for the just plain dynamic.

The 51K marathon begins early Saturday in Ishpeming, the birthplace of organized skiing and home to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. The 25K race begins at County Road 510.

Racers finish at Marquette’s Superior Dome on the shores of Lake Superior.

Noque racers coming across Little Cranberry Lake, Forestville, 2001

Tomorrow morning by 10:00 am, Forestville fans will be gathering. It's always a thrill to see the very first seasoned athletes come flying through. An almost constant line of racers entertains between about 11:00 and 2:00.

A lead Noque racer, 2000, Forestville location

If you're not skiing tomorrow, venture to the trail and give a hoot for the Noque athletes. Every racer in the 10th Anniversary Noquemanon Ski Marathon deserves a winning cheer.

Our community owes a big debt of gratitude to all of the organizers and sponsors of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon. It takes a ton of work to make it all happen.

Remember the warm winter--we think it was 2000--when the groomer went through the ice on Little Cranberry Lake? It didn't come out easy, either. Many workers struggled for days to retrieve it.

It's tough work at times, but the race always goes on, thanks to the Superiorland Ski Club and the Noquemanon Trail Network.

Special thanks to friend and dedicated trail-keeper Richard Burkman; to Noque pioneer Craig Stein; and to all of the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and racers.