Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
More than 700 skiers are expected to take part in the 38th annual Great Bear Chase at Swedetown Trails in Calumet Saturday.
The race features a 50K Skiathlon where participants will do 25K on freestyle skis and 25K on classic, as well as 50k, 25K and 10K Freestyle and Classic events.
The race used to draw about 500 skiers but they will top 700 for the second year in a row.
Race Director Angela Luskin says the race is really growing and bringing people to the area. “One of things I always like to mention with the Great Bear Chase is that out of those 729 racers, 80 percent of them are from out of town—out of town where they have to come in, they’re spending the night in hotels, they’re eating at our restaurants, so it really is awesome to see so many people from out of town come to our area and we’ll be able to showcase the great things that we have here in the Copper Country,” said Luskin.
But even if you’re not racing in the event, there are many other ways the public can become involved.
Luskin said, “It’s a great spectating event. We are just off of Spruce Street in Calumet and it’s really exciting. We have the stadium area and there’s banners up and fencing everywhere so it looks really, really neat and announcing and music, so that is really fun to watch. And then on the other side of that, we need volunteers, too. This race takes nearly 200 volunteers to make happen.”
If you still want to take part in the race, last minute in-person registration is Friday from 4-8:30 at the Calumet High School.
The CLK Rotary Pasta Feed is Friday at the Siskiwit Reception Hall in Calumet from 4-8pm and the Junior Bear Chase begins at 5:30 at the Swedetown Chalet.
