Turtle River Pursuit brings two-day ski racing back to Northwoods; Inaugural event showcases MECCA and WinMan trail systems in Iron County
Cross country skiing
By Mike Ivey
Organizers of the Turtle River Pursuit (https://www.turtleriverpursuit.com/) aren’t making any bold predictions on how many people might show for the first edition of the cross-country ski event the weekend of Feb. 9-10.
Rather, they’re looking to showcase a pair of beautiful multi-season trail systems hidden deep in the forests of Iron County, Wisconsin.
On Saturday, skiers will tackle 11 kilometers of classic technique on the narrow MECCA Trails (http://www.skimecca.org/) in Mercer. On Sunday, the action shifts to the rolling WinMan Trails (http://www.winmantrails.com/) near Manitowish Waters for an 11K skate race, with start times based on the finish order from Saturday.
“Honestly, if it can attract 100 skiers the first year, that would be great,” said race director Mike Shouldice. “But just getting people out on these trails is what this is really about.”
To that end, Shouldice said there is a major “community-building” component to the Turtle River Pursuit, which draws its name from the creek that twists its way west across Iron County before entering the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. He draws comparisons to the SISU Ski Festival in Ironwood, Michigan (https://silentsports.wpengine.com/2017/01/10/forged-in-iron-growing-with-trails/), which in its 10th year, has evolved into a popular event both with racers and the local volunteers who make it all possible.
“We’re inspired by the SISU,” said the 65-year-old Shouldice, who is an Ironwood native who worked in Minneapolis before retiring recently to Mercer. “My wife and I have both volunteered there and it has been a great event for the local community. That’s what we’re shooting for with the pursuit.”
Some may remember the now-defunct “Stormy Kromer Pursuit” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Kromer_Pursuit) which debuted in 2004 and featured a two-day format at MECCA and the Montreal ski trail west of Hurley. That unique event – where everyone got a Kromer billed cap — lost momentum with the arrival of the SISU. But advertisements for the Turtle River offer a nod to its run by proclaiming “Pursuit racing is back in the Northwoods.”
Crucial financial support for the first Turtle River Pursuit is coming from the Gogebic Range Health Foundation, which is backing several fitness events in the region, including the Bridge & Bluffs Half Marathon (http://bridgesandbluffs.com/) and the Copper Peak Trails Fest (https://www.sisudirtcrew.com/copper-peak-trails-fest/) mountain bike race.
“The foundation will try to get involved in any wellness type of event,” said Candy Pogliano, executive director of the Gogebic Range Health Foundation. (https://www.aspirus.org/gogebic-range-health-foundation) “When we heard about the Turtle River race, we jumped right on it. It looks like it’s going to be a great event.”
The two trail systems are maintained by volunteers and feature warming houses built with private donations. MECCA’s trail boss is Gary Mears and WinMan’s general manager is Robert Polic. Both men have been involved in planning for the Turtle River Pursuit.
Of course, planning a cross-country ski race is always a risky venture given the whims of the weather. Fortunately, the MECCA and WinMan Trails benefit from the lake-effect snows off Lake Superior, which sits about 40 miles north. But if the race is canceled, racers get half of their $60 entry fee returned. Day of registration is also available.
“This area thrives on the natural surroundings and sharing them with our visitors,” said Shouldice. “There’s already a lot of stuff going on here during the summer, so we’re looking to make the pursuit an annual winter event to celebrate the beauty of that season.”