Summer isn’t the only time to get outside and play. The Pincushion Winter Festival is coming February 12 with a race for those who ride fat tire bikes, or cross country ski, or skijor, where your dog pulls you as you cross country ski. Oh, and there are also races for the kids. This group of kids strapped on the boards last year and had a great race at the Winter Festival.
The North Superior Ski and Run Club announces that the 2017 Pincushion Mountain Winter Festival will be held on Feb. 12 at the Pincushion Trails in Grand Marais.
This is the 33nd consecutive year the club has sponsored ski racing at Pincushion. This year’s event is focusing on winter activities for the entire family. Parents, grandparents, spouses, kids and even the dog will find something to do on the excellently maintained and groomed trails, with a wonderful view of Grand Marais and Lake Superior from the overlook parking lot.
The 32K classical race will start at 10 a.m. The course will feature the large, open stadium for a good starting position and a beautiful, double track course. The first lap will be the scenic 7K Pincushion Loop, then after returning to the stadium, participants will head out the North Advance trail, adding the challenging Ole Hyvaa loop and the beautiful Canyon Curves Loop for an additional 9K, once again returning to the stadium. Then repeat the North Advanced lap, and finish with the Pincushion loop.
Last year’s participants thought it was the best classical race in the Midwest, and it is a perfect tune-up for the Birkie, which is two weeks later. Age groups will be 19 and up, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+. There will be prizes for the overall winners and age group prizes for the top three.
Not trained for the 32K? There will be a 10K (6.2 miles) event that is perfectly suited to all ages and abilities. Do it for the fun and or the challenge. Although it will be more of a tour than a race, there will be age group prizes for the same adult age groups as the 30K, plus 12 and up, 13-15 and 16-19 youth awards. The tour will start at 10:05 a.m. and will consist of the West Overlook/Lower Snowman loops before returning to the stadium and heading out on the Pincushion Loop.
After you have had time to change, grab a bite to eat and recover, it will be time for the kids’ races at 1:30 p.m. Sponsored and organized by the Y-Ski group, all kids 12 and under will be welcome to do either a beginner event around the stadium, a 1.5k loop around the West Overlook Trail, or a more challenging 2.5K race including Lower Snowman. Treats, including hot chocolate, will be provided for all, with awards for the top three boys and girls in the 1.5K and 2.5K events.
When the kids are done, it’s time to go to the dogs. Go Dog North Shore will again organize skijoring events as part of the festival. One of the highlights at last year’s festival, they will again have a shorter 3K casual event, and a challenging 7K event on the Pincushion Trail. The events will start at 2:30 p.m., single dogs only, with 30-second interval starts. There will be awards for the top three teams.
Finally, the fat bikes will take to the trails at 4 p.m. The fastest growing winter sporting activity will take to the Pincushion Trails for the first time. Organized by the Superior Cycling Association, the event is a 7K race/tour. The event will start at 4 p.m. and will be a one lap race around the Pincushion Loop. Awards for this course will be 19 and up, 20-39, 40-59, and 60+. Plus special awards for the top male and female riders.
More information and registration information is posted at pincushiontrails.org.
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