1/14/13 - 145 skiers donned their gear to compete in a race held at Huron Meadows Metropark in Brighton last Saturday. The REI Frosty Freestyle Race is the only Michigan Cup Race held south of Higgins Lake and despite a week of warm temperatures and a few rainy days, the ski race track that was made with snow shot from snow guns in December helped save the event. Racers lapped a shorter 1K course made with the artificial snow instead of traversing a 15K route through the park. The 15K race length was shortened to a 12K race, with 118 skiers starting in two waves. Race Director Mike Muha says it was a balmy 48 degrees at the start but they had a good base of hard-packed snow on the course, providing better ski conditions than some of the other Michigan Cup races held earlier this year. He applauded the efforts of park staff and says this was the second year they helped make snow and spread it on the trail before grooming it for skiing. All proceeds from the races will be donated to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks for cross-country skiing-related expenses. Stories and photos of the race can be seen through the link below. Pictured at left is Alison Crocker, the 12K Womenâs Skate Style Race winner crossing the finish line behind Doug Heady of Ann Arbor. (JM)
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