About Us
The North American Vasa is a two-day event featuring Nordic skiing, fat tire bike and snowshoe races on the groomed Vasa Pathway and winter sports single track trails, which run through the Pere Marquette State Forest near Traverse City, Michigan. All races start and finish at Timber Ridge Resort which features a permanent lodge.
The mission of the North American VASA is to promote the sport of Nordic skiing and other winter sports in Northwest Lower Michigan through the VASA Festival of Races. Those events shall be well organized, economical, fun and community oriented for all ages and abilities.
The North American Vasa is run by a working Board of Directors, and is staffed by about 350 volunteers each year. Fat bike races were added in 2014, and total ski and bike racers is about 500 each year. Snowshoers made their debut in 2020 with the inclusion of the Vasasaurus 6km Snow Shoe Race. The North American Vasa remains a winter Traverse City Tradition.
Our Board
President: Brian Beauchamp (‘25) Brian<at>traversetrails.org
Vice President: Mike Schaeffer (‘26) mk.schaeffer<at>yahoo.com
Secretary: Gussie Peterson (‘24) gussiepeterson<at>gmail.com Past President
Treasurer: Bud Huber (‘25) hhuber_1<at>charter.net
Pete LaPlaca (‘25) Pete<at>ironmason.com Past President/Sponsorships
Mike Haley (‘25) haleymichaelj<at>gmail.com Past President
Gretchen Carr (‘27) gretchen7881<at>gmail.com
Bob Haydock "(‘27) rhaydock3<at>gmail.com
Registration: John Pflughoeft (‘26) johnpflughoeft<at>gmail.com
Race Director: Ken Dawson, dawson.kenneth<at>att.net
Race Director: Cliff Onthank, onthanks<at>charter.net
Course and Grooming: James Hart, jstroke25<at>gmail.com
Consultant: Janice Davidson
Packet Pick up: Debby Page pagedebby<at>yahoo.com
Todd LaBlonte, Snowshoe Race
John Roe, Fat Bike Race
Welcome our New Race Directors
The North American Vasa Board of Directors is happy to announce that Cliff Onthank and Ken Dawson will share the position of race director. Former race director, Janice Davidson will provide consulting and mentorship to the duo.
Dawson and Onthank are both master nordic skiers who have competed on the international and national nordic racing circuit. Together they have skied in over fifty Vasa races. With their passion and enthusiasm for the Nordic racing, they will bring a revitalized energy to this longtime Traverse City tradition.
The 2025 North American Vasa will take place on February 8 and 9 in Traverse City.