The 2026 Hodag Challenge Cross-Country Ski Race will take place January 17-18, 2026, at Cedrig A. Vig Outdoor Classroom (CAVOC) in Rhinelander.

Teams and individual skiers come from all across Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula, and even Minnesota skiers have attended. An untimed Youth Race for younger skiers (5th grade and under) will be held on Saturday.

The High School course is 5.0 kilometers, and the Middle School course is 3.3 kilometers. Both courses are very challenging with plenty of elevation changes. The width of the course is 6 meters for undulating terrain and 9 meters for uphill. The Youth course is 1.1 kilometers and utilizes a trail with fewer hills. Course maps are provided at the links on this page.

Lunch and snack concessions will be available to purchase both days at the event. Concessions support the RHS Music Parent Organization.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

High School & Middle School Classic Style Interval Starts @ 15 seconds.

Youth Race – Mass Start 

Sunday, January 18, 2026

High School & Middle School, Freestyle Interval Starts @ 15 seconds.

The Middle School has two separate divisions, 5/6 and 7/8 grades.  Due to the degree of difficulty of the trail system, we do not recommend that 4th graders be registered in the MS classes.  However, we will accept 4th graders in the MS 5/6 division under the coach's discretion.

The Youth Race is for participants typically 4th grade or younger.  However, we know some MS skiers are not yet ready to ski the Hodag Challenge.  Therefore, the Youth Race is also open to other MS skiers who do not ski in either of the MS categories.  We say under 4th grade, but honestly, we don't check IDs.  The Youth Race is not timed, no registration is necessary, and no placement awards are given.  We do have a treat for the participants. 

The schedule below is the anticipated venue timetable.  Times may change based on weather conditions and the number of skiers registered.  Changes to schedules will be posted as they become available here, on the Rhinelander Nordic Skiing Facebook page and Hodag Nordic Instagram, and at the venue's information board/kiosk.

A Coaches Meeting will be held in the CAVOC Lodge on Saturday morning, January 17th, at 9 am.

The Hodag Challenge will use the new WNSL waiver and registration system and should be used by all WNSL teams. John Burke of Performance Timing has advised that: the registration process will work off data entered in the League waiver system.    Instructions will be sent to coaches prior to the Snekkevik.    The system will be in use for the Snekkevik, Iola and the Hodag, as well as the two State Meets.   

If you are NOT a WNSL athlete or an independent then you must register by filling out the Hodag Challenge Roster and Hodag Challenge Race Waiver found below.  Only those who are not included in the WNSL may email the Hodag Challenge Roster to northwoodsnordictiming@gmail.com. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt of non-WNSL entries by 2pm on Wednesday, January 14, please call Charil at 208-720-6271. (Confirmation will be sent via email to the address used for submission of the roster.)

All entries FOR ALL ATHLETES (WNSL and non), and the HC Roster and Waiver Form (both for non-WNSL only) are due by Tuesday, January 13th at 10:00 PM Central Time.

Start lists will be posted on Thursday, January 15th at 3:00 pm. 

Questions and changes to rosters after January 13th must be directed to Performance Timing. 

Hodag Challenge 2026 Seeding Guidelines

Seeding for all individuals for each of the races (i.e., classic on Saturday and freestyle on Sunday) will be a combination of Coaches Self-Seeding and the discretion of the Race Director for all High School athletes and two Middle School divisions considering the following guidelines:

1) A SEED - To fulfill the goal of approximately 20 skiers, A Seed will 

consist of: 

•Returning skiers from previous years top 20 at State Meet  

•Top 8 U18 & U20 in total, and top 3 U16 Great Lakes JNQ skiers 

2) B SEED – To fulfill the goal of approximately 20 skiers, B Seed will consist of:

•Returning skiers from previous years top 40 at State Meet   

•Top 16 U18 & U20 in total, and top 6 U16 Great Lakes JNQ skiers  

Self-Seeding for Balance of H.S. Skiers

3) C SEED – Will consist of skiers expected to finish in 40th to 70th place and will 

be determined by Coaches Self-Seeding. 

4) D Seed – Will consist of skiers expected to finish in 70th plus place and will be 

determined by Coaches Self-Seeding. 

Note: Coaches discretion for “A” seed placement will be considered in the event that an “unranked” skier demonstrates outstanding performance (top 10) in early season races. Please include an appropriate justification for the seeding in an email to northwoodsnordictiming@gmail.com.

Middle School Seeding for both days will be at the discretion of the coaches using an A, B, C, ranking with two M.S. divisions grades 7/8 and 5/6.

Guidelines: A = Expected Top 25% finishers (for example - 16 athletes if using 63 as total racing) , B = next 25% of finishers (17-32), and C being all others. 

The start order will be randomized within each seed category. We anticipate a break of 5 minutes between the MS7/8, C seed and the MS5/6, A seed to allow separation of the divisions on the course.

Start lists will be posted on Thursday, January 15th at 3:00 pm. 

The Web Scorer link below will have Saturday's and Sundays starting order along with results after each race. Scroll down to the appropriate tab to retrieve the information. 

Live results on Web Scorer are not official.  Official results will be posted at the venue on the information boards.

• The Registration desk will be located in the lobby of the CAVOC Lodge. Upon checking in and registration is verified and payments made (if necessary), Coaches will be directed to the basement of the Lodge where bibs will be disbursed. 
• Race bibs are to be placed in receptacle at the finish line after the racer finishes.
• Any skier that misses their assigned starting time will be started after all other skiers in that wave have started their race.

Saturday Bib Pick Up: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm at CAVOC Lodge

Sunday Bib Pick Up: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm at CAVOV Lodge

We need volunteers to help at the Hodag Challenge High and Middle School Cross Country Ski races and you can register to help by using SignUp.com.

1) Click this link to see our Signup

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.

• General parking will be in the big lot. Overflow across the road.
• PLEASE CARPOOL TO THE EVENT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE AS OVERFLOW PARKING IS LIMITED.
  • Autos arriving at the venue will be directed to either the main lot at CAVOC or the Overflow parking area.
  • Preference will be given to athletes and autos that have more than one occupant to park in the CAVOC lot.
  • Any spectators arriving with less than two occupants, may be directed to the Overflow Parking Lot.
• NO PARKING WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE UPPER PARKING LOT.
• Buses will be directed to park at one end of the lot. Please let us know if you are bringing a bus so that we can reserve an appropriate space for parking.
• Two areas are designated for Tents on a first come first serve basis.  Please erect tents only in these areas.  Power will not be supplied to these areas.  You will need your own generator.

General Comments

• For warmup, athletes may choose to ski the entire race course before its closed each day or complete a shorter warm up course that will be clearly marked.
• For the classic race we anticipate that 2 tracks will be set all the way around the course.
• Arrows indicate direction of travel and skiers shall not ski backwards on the course.  Disqualification may occur for anyone skiing backwards on course or warm up loop.
• Coaches shall not ski on the course during a race.   Due to the number of athletes on the course, there is too great of a chance of a coach skiing on the course impeding an skier. Coaches are requested to stay in one place, or take off ski's and walk during a race.

Field of Play - Course and Start Area

• The Field of Play will be open to coaches wearing a USSS or Hodag Challenge COACHES bib during the Hodag Challenge races.
• Coaches must always ski in the direction of the race when on the course.
• Two COACHES bibs will be issued to each team for use during the Hodag Challenge during bib pickup.  

The Hodag Challenge are NON-FLUORO races.

The pavilion near the Lodge has electrical outlets and may be used for waxing.  The pavilion will not be enclosed as in past years and will be an open area.  Team waxing tents may also be set up in the designated area in the lower parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Hot food and concessions will be available in the CAVOC Lodge during lunch hours.  Cash or credit accepted.  The Rhinelander Music Parents will provide concessions.

• Soup
• Mac and cheese
• Hot dogs
• Fruit
• String cheese
• Granola bars
• Chips
• Hot and cold beverages
• And more!

No hot plates or cookers are allowed in the CAVOC facility.   

CAVOC Lodge, Spectators and Parking

The CAVOC Lodge is open and available for participants to gather.  Several rows of tables and chairs will be setup to spread out.

There are several great viewing areas for spectators at the venue.  Parking is available onsite with quick access to the venue.  Indoor bathroom facilities are available in the CAVOC lodge and several porta potties are present.  

No dogs are allowed on the CAVOC property.