US Nationals Preview
December 29, 2014
Events
This year's schedule:
Sunday, January 4 Freestyle 10km/15km races (5km and 7.5km courses, respectively)
Monday, January 5 Classic sprint races (sprint course)
Thursday, January 8 Classic mass start races [ 5km (5km course), 10 km (10km course), 20 km (10km course), 30 km (10km course) ]
Saturday, January 10 Freestyle sprint races (sprint course)
Trips
In addition to winning national titles, skiers will also be competing for births on a number of prestigious international competition teams:
U18 Nation's Cup (Scando Cup) - Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, Feb 1-11, 2015
Skiers under the age of 18World Junior Championships - Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan 26-Feb 11, 2015
Skiers under the age of 20 (minimum 5 women, 5 men)U23 World Championships - Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan 26-Feb 11, 2015
Skiers under the age of 23 (up to 6 women and 6 men)- OPA Cup (Europa Cup/Continential Cup) - Multiple European locations, Feb 24-Mar 16, 2015
Skiers from U18, U20, U23 and Seniors may qualify
More details on the trip qualifications. Skiers should plan to have the key information available at US Nationals, if qualifying for a trip.
And for all skiers, Nationals also offers a chance to earn some valuable points, which will help in seeding for future events.
Courses
Michigan Tech is well-known for offering some of the finest trails in the nation. This season has been good to the upper peninsula of Michigan, with plenty of snowfall to ensure the courses will have a great base for the competition. A good part of Michigan Tech's reputation is generated from the grooming efforts of their staff, led by Jeff Parker and Jim Meese. This staff is frequently grooming multiple times a day just to stay on top of the abundant UP snowfalls.
The sprint course looks to be a true sprinter's dream. It features a nice wide opening run (no need to battle for a hole shot into some sharp corner), it runs slightly downhill, then after a left turn it runs even more downhill, coming to a good corner that prepares the skiers for the first climb. That opening climb provides a gradual ascent up to the next corner, then shoots downhill to a sharp right turn. The next climb is definitely steeper, and may provide a launchpad for a breakaway. After that, the trail rolls a bit with a couple of turns, then hits the final straightaway. The finish line can be seen in the distance, but the final run is slightly uphill, ensuring the strongest will get the early jump. But it's a long straightaway, ensuring a fair sprint to the line, and most likely speed and stamina will reign.
Hover your mouse over the map numbers to see a course photo and short description from that location. The same sequence of images can be reviewed in the photoset just below this map.
Distance Courses
The distance courses primarily use the competition loops at Michigan Tech.
The 5K course provides the quick tour of some of the best Michigan Tech trails. After a good level section, new skiers will be treated to a great view of the long descent down Hairpin Loop. At the bottom lies a quick left turn, then begins the long climb back up to the nexus before descending again, along Hemlock and Skidder. Reaching the bottom of the downhill run, skiers will turn and begin the second sustained climb on the course. After taking a short detour onto the sprint course via the "Balsam Finger", the course comes teasingly close to the finish, then breaks away down Balsam Loop and take in one final climbing stretch on Linden Loop to bring the skiers to the finish.
Check out the awesome course preview, using drone and helmetcam footage, on Trail Genius: 5K Nationals Course
The 7.5K uses much of the 5K course, but adds an extra opening rollout on the Pine Loop (to hopefully thin the mass start fields), and then features the entire Maple Loop and Peepsock Loops to stretch the distance. The Maple Loop provides one of the steeper climbs on the course, which MTU skiers claim can be strided with some momentum and the proper kick wax.
The 10K course takes the 7.5K course and adds on long dog leg into Lower Trails section, utilizing the Down Under, Homestead and Racer's Return Loops.
There are also dedicated warm up and wax testing sections, and detailed maps of the start area, available on the Nationals maps page.
Spectating
For the sprint races, the stadium area obviously provides the best chance to see the start and finish of the events. If you want to be out on course, the junction between the Core Loop and Balsam Loop provides two opportunities to see the racers in the woods without having to move around.
For the distance races, there are two great areas to watch the race unfold. A relatively short race from the start, the "nexus" is the area on the Core Loop where the Hairpin and Hemlock/Skidder loops intersect, providing multiple chances to see the skiers for any of the distance events. A longer hike, and utilizing some of the snowshoe/MTB trails, spectators can catch skiers at the bottom of the Hairpin loop, then cut across and see them again on the Skidder Loop, and with just a little more hiking, one more time on the Maple loop.
Detailed maps of all the Michigan Tech trails, including the snowshoe and MTB trails, can be downloaded from their Maps page.
Weather
As of Tuesday evening, the weather for Nationals week was forecast to be cool, with temps ranging from the teens to single digits for some days. No need for zero skis, it appears -- pack the cold waxes! Some helpful links:
Race Coverage
Michigan Tech will be offering live video coverage of all four days of racing action, for a price. Check out their Athletic Streams page to subscribe (and to test out their video streaming on your device beforehand). There are also free two webcams in the stadium area: Webcam 1, Webcam 2.
Results should be posted on Superior Timing.
And this year, we plan to have same day coverage on Skinnyski of the first three days of race (Sunday, Monday and Thursday).
Things to Do
There are a number of days without racing, and perhaps you're just in town for the spectating? Michigan Tech's own Alice Flanders has put together a great suggestion of top 30 things to do in Houghton!
There will be a special Moonlight/Candlelight Ski (or snowshoe) on the Michigan Tech trails at the Nara Nature Center, Tuesday, January 6th, to welcome all the participants and their supporters.
And on Sunday, January 11th, just as US Nationals wraps up, Caitlin Gregg will be on hand to help host an Athletic Inspiration and Fun Event.
Best of luck to all the competitors, and safe travels for the families, friends and supporters.