Written by Leandro Lutz

Photo by ©CXC Skiing

2019 is just a few days away, and everyone has balanced out and evaluated the experiences and incidents of the past year. Our thoughts now shift from the past glories to our goals and dreams for the new year.

Cross-country skiers are no different, and to feed your imagination with long distance ski races in the Central North American region, we bring you a story about the 2019 CXC Marathon Cup.

What do the letters CMX stand for? They mean simply Central Cross Country Skiing – it is a regional organization recognized by US Ski and Snowboard Association and by US Paralympics and governing cross-country skiing in the 10 states of Central United States.

CXC promotes the culture of Nordic skiing by creating opportunities for athletes and coaches at all levels to participate and evolve in sport through clubs, sports programs, events and education.

And in the true sense of this statement, the organization brings the fourth edition of the CXC Marathon Cup, one of the most difficult series of long distance races in North America and composed of seven events.

The 2019 CXC Cup is divided between classic and freestyle, being two classic races, four skate races and a skiathlon race. The races will be held in the three main states of the region, two races in Michigan, two in Wisconsin and three in Minnesota.

The first race of the season is the Seeley Hills Classic, on January 12, 2019, in Seeley/Wisconsin and will be a 42km Classic race. The second stop will be in Bloomington/Minnesota, on January 19, where the Ski Rennet, 26 km, takes place in free technique. The third race will be in the State of Michigan, in the city of Marquette, on January 26, and it contemplates 50 km in classic technique and is called the Noquemanon Ski Marathon.

Then, the action moves to the state of Minnesota. On February 3, 2019, in Minneapolis, you can participate in a 42 km skating race called the City of Lakes Loppet. Less than a week away, there is another race that carries a familiar name that probably rings a bell to all long distance skiing fans. On February 9, in Mora, a cross-country enthusiast can enjoy a 52 km freestyle event called Vasaloppet USA. The distance is shorter and the technique different from the mother race, but the fun remains the same.

Then, you have a chance to challenge yourself in another race that has its roots in Scandinavia. The sixth event is the traditional American Birkebeiner, the North America’s largest cross-country ski race. It will be held in Hayward/Wisconsin, on February 23, counting with 51 km in skating technique, and the event is a member of the Worldloppet circuit.

To end the 2019 season of the CXC Cup on March 9, you can truly put yourself to test by taking part in a very interesting event, the Great Bear Chase in Calumet/Michigan. This is a race where you get to do both classic and skating techniques in a 50 km skiathlon endeavor.

For now, I wish you all a happy new year and many kilometers of skiing around the world! See you in 2019!