Noquemanon races expand to second day, new biking and skijoring events

The Noquemanon ski races have become a U.P. tradition each winter, and they are only growing with each passing year. This year, the organizers have added snow biking and skijoring races, which make the races into an all-weekend event.

In years past, the Noquemanon Ski Marathon has been held on a Saturday, and brings quite a few people to Marquette and the surrounding area, typically booking up the hotels. This year’s event will be two days long, Jan. 28 and 29, both Saturday and Sunday, and attract whole new crowds interested in the less-well-known sports of snow biking and skijoring along with cross-country skiing.

The ski marathon itself takes place Jan. 28 and has a finish line at the Superior Dome in Marquette. It also is open to snowshoers and is divided by age and gender.

Sponsored by the Marquette General Health System, the new events on Jan. 29 are being showcased as the “Wild Side of the Noque,” and include a McLaren Cancer Institute World Championship Snow Bike 25K race, and the Animoosh Skijor 12K race. Last-minute registration is possible online up to Jan. 28, and costs $40.

Both new races will start on the same trails as the Noquemanon Ski Marathon the day before, in Forestville. The Animoosh Skijor race is capped at 50 teams, with male and female divisions, and one or two-dog options. It’s sponsored by the McLaren Cancer Institute and Dr. Tim’s Pet Food.

The World Championship Snow Bike race is sponsored by the McLaren Cancer Institute and has a mass start in Forestville, open to both fat bikes and mountain bikes. There are age groups and male and female divisions.

The Noquemanon organizers will welcome most of the racers on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Ski Expo, where participants can pick up race packets. More information can be found on the ski organization’s website or Facebook page.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Noquemanon Ski Marathon