Ski Michigan

Tuesday December 16th, 2025 - 9:40 am

FROM Forbush Corner Cross-Country Skiing >> Forbush Opener Kicks Off Michigan Cup Season with Snow and Speed!.... #forbush #crosscountry #snowphotos #SkiMichiganForbush Opener Kicks Off Michigan Cup Season with Snow and Speed!

The 2025 Michigan Cup XC Race Series officially started with a bang at the Forbush Opener on Saturday, December 13, 2025! Hosted at Forbush Corner Nordic in Fredric, Michigan, the event saw pristine, snow-covered trails—a testament to Forbush Corner's excellent grooming and snowmaking capabilities.

A big thank you to Munson Medical for supporting this premier cross-country skiing event and the local Nordic community.

Long Race Highlights

The competition was fast and fierce:

Overall Winner: Jorden Wakeley, M, 35, took 1st place with a blazing time of 19:11!

Top Female Finisher: Kaitlyn Vanias, F, 35, impressed with a 9th place finish overall (22:08).

Podium: Alex Vanias (2nd, 20:40) and Kevin Tarras (3rd, 20:46).

Nordic Skiing: A Lifelong Sport Showcased

The Forbush Opener truly celebrated the multi-generational appeal of cross-country skiing, with athletes proving that fitness endures through the years!

We celebrate the incredible performances by our senior participants in the Long Race:

Dennis Paull (M, 61) finished an amazing 5th place overall with a time of 21:54!

Glenn Goodman (M, 59) cracked the top 10, finishing 7th overall at 21:58.

Ken Dawson (M, 75) finished the Long Race in a phenomenal time of 24:20.

Karin Gillis (F, 64) was the top female finisher in her age bracket and 22nd overall (24:57).

In the Short Race, Steve Smigiel (M, 80) and other racers in their 70s and 80s showed incredible stamina, reinforcing that XC skiing is the perfect, low-impact, full-body workout to maintain a competitive spirit for life.

Short Race Successes

Overall Winner: Zack Dunne, M, 15 (14:03).

Top Female Finisher: Lindsay Smith, F, 15 (2nd overall, 16:15).

📸 Photo Credit

Thank you to Jess Hartman Photography for capturing the determination and camaraderie on the trails!

We look forward to seeing everyone at the next Forbush Event, The Forbush Moonlight Snowshoe 5k! Keep training.

For more on Forbush Corner Nordic, visit forbushcorner.com

#ForbushOpener #XCSkiing #MichiganCup #NordicSkiing #CrossCountrySkiing #LifelongSport #WinterSports #PureMichigan #FitnessOverFifty #Michigan ... See MoreSee Less

Ski Michigan

Sunday December 14th, 2025 - 9:44 am

FROM Forbush Corner Cross-Country Skiing >> The fall cold and snow and consistent grooming are creating a solid trail system for winter. Pines connector and loop will get a fresh grooming this morning with additional trails on east and west, groomers choice. Check out Nordic Pulse on our website for the latest. Thanks to all the racers for participating in yesterday’s opener! #forbush #crosscountry #snowphotos #SkiMichiganThe fall cold and snow and consistent grooming are creating a solid trail system for winter. Pines connector and loop will get a fresh grooming this morning with additional trails on east and west, groomers choice. Check out Nordic Pulse on our website for the latest. Thanks to all the racers for participating in yesterday’s opener! ... See MoreSee Less