Promoting recreational access and active, healthy lifestyles for the whole community.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2024 Hodag Challenge cross country ski races take place January 20-21, 2024 at the Cedrig A. Vig Outdoor Classroom (CAVOC) in Rhinelander. We will be updating the below information over the summer!
High School and Middle School skiers are expected to participate each day of the weekend race activities. 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 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 uphills. The Youth course is 1.1 kilometers and utilizes a trail with less hills. Course maps are provided at the links on this page.
Saturday, January
Varsity, JV & Middle School with Interval Starts @ 15 seconds.
Youth Race – Mass Start
Sunday, January
Varsity, JV & Middle School, pursuit back start.
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 Coaches 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 that do not ski in either of the MS categories. We say under 4th grade, but honestly we don't check ID's. The Youth Race is not timed, no registration is necessary, and no placement awards are given. We do have a treat for the participants.
Follow the link(s) below for photos from the event.
The Hodag Challenge will be setup to use MileSplit and should be used by all WNSL teams. The MileSplit registration also contains questions in regards to whether a team will bring a tent, and a bus to the event to assist in our planning the event.
If you do not have a MileSplit account then you must register by filling out the Hodag Challenge Roster found at the link below.
MileSplit entries and the HC Roster are due by Tuesday, January 17th at 6:00 PM. Late entries will not be accepted and registration will automatically close at 6:00 PM on MileSplit.
Email the HC Roster to northwoodsnordictiming@gmail.com.
Questions and changes to rosters after January 17th must be directed to northwoodsnordictiming@gmail.com. Additions and deletions will be accepted until 1:00 PM, Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
Varsity, JV and both MS races (7/8 and 5/6) will use the same seeding for the individual starts for the first day race and will be a combination of Coaches Self-Seeding and the discretion of the Race Director using an A, B, C, ranking.
Skiers who miss their Saturday start and only ski on Sunday will start at the end of the skiers from Saturday’s results.
Approximate time table for the venue. Times may change based on weather conditions and number of skiers registered. Changes to schedules will be posted as they become available here, on Rhinelander Nordic Skiing Facebook site, and the information board/kiosk at the venue.
Friday Open Course
12:00pm - 4:00 pm Course open. Please do not ski on the course after 4:00pm as grooming operations and final race day preparations will be completed. The warm up loop will be open.
Saturday Classic Race Schedule – 15 second interval starts
8:00am - 1:00pm Bib Pick-Up, Cavoc Lodge
8:00am - 9:30am Course Open/Closed
9:15am - Coaches Meeting
9:30am - Course Closed
9:45am - National Anthem in the Stadium
10:00am - 11:00am Varsity & JV Girls
11:15am - 12:15pm Varsity & JV Boys
12:00 - Coaches meeting for MS Coaches that could not make earlier meeting.
12:15 - 12:50 Course Open/Closed
12:45pm - JV & Varsity Awards (or as soon as available)
1:00pm - 1:30pm 7/8 and 5/6 MS Girls
1:45pm - 2:15pm 7/8 and 5/6 MS Boys
2:30pm - Youth 1 km Race
2:45pm - 4:00pm Course Open/Closed
3:00pm - MS Awards (or as soon as available)
Sunday Freestyle (skate) Schedule, Time Back, Pursuit Starts
8:00am – 1:00pm Bib Pick-Up, Cavoc Lodge
7:30am - 9:00am Course Open/Closed
9:00am - Coaches’ Meeting
9:00am - Course Closed
9:30am - 10:15am Varsity & JV Boys
10:30am - 11:15pm Varsity & JV Girls
12:30pm – Varsity & JV Awards and Pursuit Awards (or as soon as available)
11:30am -12:30pm Course Open/Closed
12:30pm - 1:00pm 7/8 and 5/6 MS Boys
1:15pm - 1:45pm 7/8 and 5/6 MS Girls
2:30pm - MS Awards and Pursuit (or as soon as possible)
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.
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 on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/huFXjWN
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
Northwoods Nordic Ski Club and Island City Dragon Boat Club will also be providing concessions and are looking for help and donations. You can sign up here for concessions: https://signup.com/go/zfWHqkU
The Northwoods Nordic Ski Club will be follow the below COVID guidance during the weekend races.
Start Area/Course Comments
Both days of the Hodag Challenge are NON-FLUORO races. CH/paraffin waxes only!
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.
Food and concessions will be provided in the CAVOC Lodge. No hot plates or cookers are allowed in the CAVOC facility.
Northwoods Nordic Ski Club and Island City Dragon Boat Club will provide concessions and are looking for help and donations. You can sign up here for concessions: https://signup.com/go/zfWHqkU
Email Brian Hegge at brian.hegge10@gmail.com for specific questions.
Interested in becoming a sponsor of Northwoods Nordic Ski Club?
Promoting recreational access and active, healthy lifestyles for the whole community.
Fitting Rhinelander youth, residents, and visitors to fantastic winter experiences.