The winters in Marquette can be unforgiving and cold, but for a certain group of individuals, that just means more fun in the snow and on the slopes.
The adult ski race league gathers every Thursday at Marquette Mountain at 6:30 p.m. The teams consist of a mix of shop owners, NMU students and community members.
Each season, there are eight races. Teams get to pick their best seven scores to be tallied for their season. Each team has a unique way of keeping things competitive and exciting within their group.
Many of the competing shops and organizations have multiple teams racing at a time. The Compound Ski and Snowboard Shop is a great example of bringing folks together in the spirit of connection and friendly competition.
“I think that it brings a lot of people together who might not otherwise connect. There are a lot of ages here [including] college students and older people from the community,” said Kate Cudney, a Northern student who races for the Compound.
To many, these weekly races mean a lot more than the actual race aspect. The event also serves as a reason for the community to get together once a week and celebrate a shared love for skiing.
“I really enjoy having an opportunity to race again because I raced in high school and otherwise would not have been able to continue this,” Cudney said.
The excitement and sportsmanship of the event was contagious to any passersby, making it almost impossible to not stop and watch a few runs.
“For the morale [of] employees and friends, it’s right up there because it’s the night of the week that we are most excited about … as far as community morale it is very, very helpful because you are getting moms and dads who are watching their kids race [who] get to do it themselves … they understand why the community supports ski racing,” said Brandon Croney, owner of the Compound.
Croney has been participating in the ski races for 24 years, and the event quickly became a tradition for him and his family.
“When I was a student here doing things like league racing kept me engaged … anything that you can do to engage a college kid gives them reason, and in my case reason to stay,” Croney said.
Embracing your hobbies and passions is a great way to make college a memorable experience. Taking a break from school or day-to-day responsibilities offers students a way to stay on top of their mental health and physical wellbeing.
The next race will be Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. if you would like to cheer on the racers at Marquette Mountain or even try on a pair of skis or a snowboard yourself.
