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March 26, 2003--Michigan Tech's ski trails still have a foot of snow. And it is a good thing. Marquette and Ironwood were slated to host the 2003 International Spring Series, an international cross-country ski competition. But race officials have watched conditions deteriorate and decided they could not put together a quality race course. This past Monday, organizers turned to Michigan Tech and its renovated ski trails to host the event. As a result, local enthusiasts will have the chance to see an event that includes seven members of the U.S. national ski team, seven members of the Canadian national ski team, and two members of the Norwegian national team. Members from both the Michigan Tech University and Northern Michigan University ski teams will also compete. NMU boasts three All-Americans between their men's and women's teams. Events this weekend include a freestyle race on Saturday and a classic-style race on Sunday. Both races start at 9 a.m. and are 10-kilometers for men and 5-km for women. The stadium area of the Michigan Tech ski trails provides excellent spectator sightlines for both the start and finish of the races. Sunday at 2 p.m., the competitors will participate in a recreational ski with youth skiers from the area. Any youth cross-country skier is welcome to join in the event at the Tech trails. The event will continue next week, with sprint qualifying races on Wednesday, April 2, a longer freestyle race on Thursday, April 3, and the International Sprint Relays on Saturday, April 5. All of the events begin at 9 a.m. The International Spring Series is sponsored by Marquette General Health System and hosted by the Superiorland Cross-Country Ski Club of Marquette. |