Marquette preparing for ski marathon with expo

MARQUETTE — With the Noquemanon Ski Marathon set for Saturday, participants and sponsors alike gathered at the Superior Dome for a ski expo.

Racers flocked to get their equipment ahead of the events, and to meet with sponsors that made it all possible, including UP Health System, Incredible Bank, Eagle Mine, and many others.

“Marquette is definitely a destination community for snow,” said Nicole Dewald Swenson, Race Coordinator. “We’re so very lucky to have that. We work really hard on our courses, and we have the support of so many businesses and so many people. We thank everyone that volunteers and helps out with the race, and we’re really excited.”

Over 1,300 racers are registered to participate in the ski marathon, which is now in its 22nd consecutive year.

Many of those participating are from out of town, so events like the ski marathon can benefit Marquette in more ways than one.

“It’s a driver for Marquette,” said Jason Rolling, Race Director. “It demonstrates the volunteers that we have, the great places that we have, the tourism that allows the people to come in and check out our hotels, and our places to eat, our beautiful ski trails. It’s about a whole community being able to see it all, and we’re really pumped to be able to put it on.”

Over 600 volunteers are helping with the races this year.

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon kicks off Saturday at 8 am, and continues into Sunday with a snowbike, skijour and snowshoe race.

For a schedule of events and more information, visit their website here.