The North American Vasa
Festival of Races
Timber Ridge Resort
2025 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
*schedule is subject to change
Friday February 7
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Packet Pick-Up at Timber Ridge
Saturday, February 8
FREESTYLE | FAT BIKE | JUNIOR VASA
8AM -11AM Packet Pick-Up , Timber Ridge * It is strongly suggested to pick up packets on Friday.
9:00 AM High School 6K Boys Freestyle
9:05 AM High School 6K Girls Freestyle
9:20 AM Okerstrom 15K Freestyle Ski Race
9:45 AM George Kuhn 27K Freestyle Ski Race
11:50 AM FAT BIKE 40K
11:55 AM FAT BIKE 20K
12:20 PM Junior Vasa (various distances)
12:50 PM Adaptive Ski Race
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Vasa Community Celebration @ Park Place Hotel - (must register for party with race registration)
Sunday, February 9
CLASSIC | TOUR | SHOWSHOE
8:00 AM- 10 AM Packet Pick Up , Timber Ridge
* It is strongly suggested to pick up packets on Friday.
9:30 AM High School Boys 6K Classic
9:35 AM High School Girls 6K Classic
9:50 AM 15K Lombard Loppet Classic Ski Race
10:35 AM Vasa 6K Tour - Classic
10:45 AM Vasa 6k Tour - Freestyle
11:00 AM Vasasaurus Stomp Snowshoe Race 6K
Michigan Cup Challenge Awards and crowing of the KING and QUEEN VASA!
27K George Kuhn Half Marathon Freestyle - Join hundreds of skiers in the marquis race of the day with a hot lap of the world-famous Vasa Pathway. Combining elevation and long stretches of winding, flat and fast trails, it’s one you’ll enjoy even as you suffer! You’ll do one lap clockwise on the standard Vasa course, with trail segments including The Nipple, Headwaters, and Jack Pine - all your favorites! The course is approximately 27 kilometers and is a full Michigan Cup points race. Looking for more? Add the 15K Lombard Loppet Classic on Sunday to be entered into the Michigan Cup Challenge.
15K Okerstrom Kortelopet Freestyle - Hop into the action for a fun freestyle event! The 15 kilometer is a great race for first timers, skier enthusiasts and focused competitors. This race will run clockwise. If you’re a collegiate, add the 15K Lombard Loppet classic on Sunday to be entered into the Collegiate Challenge.
Fat bike races are a part of the Tour De Fat | Michigan Fat Bike Race Series (tourdefatmi.com)!
40K Fat Bike Race - The Fat Bike Race is a celebration of some of the best-maintained single track fat bike trails in the state! This is your chance to enjoy the pristine Pere Marquette Forest at full-speed and hit all the famous sections of the trail on an all new course: Yeti’s Revenge, Skyline, Drunken Sailor, Ditch Pickle and Riley’s.
20K Fat Bike Race - This race is a fun ride for anyone. The course is one lap of the Grand course.
Junior Vasa - .5K, 1.5K and 2K for kids up to 14 years old. Come watch these future Olympians!
Adaptive Skiers Race - This race is intended for all abilities.
15K Lombard Loppet Classic - Go back to the roots of the sport! Get out your skins or wax-up for this approximately 15 kilometer clockwise course on the traditional Grand Traverse Course. This is a Michigan Cup full points race.
6K Vasa Tour - Get in on the fun! Classic and freestyle waves in this approximately 6 kilometer course are open to all abilities! The tour is not timed or awarded.
6k-Snowshoe Race - This approximately 6 kilometer (2 laps) race runs counter clockwise through the rolling hills of Vasaland and Timber Ridge. The course will be a variety of groomed and ungroomed sections.
Combo Races
● Michigan Cup Challenge - The George Kuhn 27K Freestyle Ski Race (Saturday) + the Lombard Loppet 15K Classic (Sunday) combine to make up the Michigan Cup Challenge. This race awards the best all-round XC skiers! You don’t need to be on a Michigan Cup team to be eligible. Michigan Cup Challenge entrants will receive an automatic $20 registration discount. Note: You must register for the combo events at the same time (Run SignUp payment step) in order to receive the discount. The top male and female winners will be crowned King and Queen Vasa and be given cash awards - $600 for the winner, $300 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd. Rank is determined by combined times of the two races. You get a price break if you register for both races of the Michigan Cup Challenge.
● Collegiate Challenge - The Okerstorm 15K freestyle race on Saturday + the 15K Lombard Loppet Classic on Sunday is for college teams and individual collegiates. Receive a $20 discount for registering in both events www.runsignup.com/vasa
Registration
Online Registration opens October 15th, 2024, and closes Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 6 PM.
Cancelation policy: Registration fees are non-refundable.
WAVE assignments are self selected and finals will be available at 12 PM on Friday, February 9th at Run Sign Up or during packet pick up in the Banquet Hall.
Once registered, you may transfer to a different event before February 5th, 6:00 PM, but you may not transfer your registration to another person. There are no refunds.
Packet Pick-up
You are highly encouraged to pick up packets on FRIDAY. Packet pick-up is held in the Timber Ridge on Friday, February 7 from 4 PM -7 PM; Saturday, February 8 from 8 AM -11 AM; and Sunday, February 9 from 8:30 AM -10 AM. THERE IS NO DAY-OF REGISTRATION. Packets include racing bib and 2025 North American Vasa hat.
Volunteers Needed
Stay warm sporting a stylish Vasa Crew knit hat.
All volunteers receive a food coupon for use at the food truck during race weekend AND eternal gratitude from the Vasa community and athletes!
Volunteer Sign up starts January 1, 2025. To sign up, go to the home page of this website after January 1st and hit the “Volunteer” button. Your help will be greatly appreciated!
Stadium
Come with cash to purchase Short’s beer.
Come prepared to change into dry clothes after your race. Bags can be dropped off at the start line and/or at packet pickup
Plan to use your own car for changing if possible. Due to space constraints, the Lodge and Event (Banquet) Hall will not be available for changing.
Vendor Tents will be on site -
Please familiarize yourself with the stadium set-up (under Q &A) before arrival!
Results
Awards - Medals will be awarded in each race to the top three overall and in each age group. See age group award section. Awards will not be sent so must be picked up onsite. Saturday race awards will be presented at the Park Place party. Sunday race awards will be presented at the race site.
Race results provided by Epic Race Timing.
Aid stations
Saturday - Bunker Hill and The Rock
Sunday - Bunker Hill
Restroom facility available at The Rock
MORE INFORMATION TBA.
FUEL
Grab your complementary cup of (drinkable) soup. Soup is generously provided by Blue Tractor, Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak. Other food will be available for purchase. Bring cash or use the ATM inside the Lodge.
Post Race Snacks will be provided by Great Lakes Potato Chips, Cherry Republic and Oleson’s Food Stores.
PARKING and more?
See VASA Q &A.
Art by Paul Welch