MARQUETTE - Kirstyn Miles of Harvey isn't exactly what you would expect from an 11-year-old girl.
When she got out of school Friday afternoon, she didn't go home or go to a friend's house.
Instead, she put on some warm clothes and went straight to the cross country ski trails.
But on this particular day, she didn't take to the trail herself, but rather volunteered for the Junior Noquemanon cross country ski race.
The race was held Friday at the Forestville trail head in Marquette for youths up to 19 years of age.
Miles, who's involved with the Youth Advisory Council, which donates supplies and grants to area youth-based events, spent her afternoon at the finish line of the Junior Noque.
She handed out "Yooper" chocolate bars while congratulating the young skiers as they exhaustively skied by.
Her volunteer position at the finish line was a big change for her from last year, when her participation in the race was a little different.
"I got first place last year in the women's category (at the Junior Noquemanon)," she said proudly, adding she has been cross country skiing for three years.
"It's so much fun. You can do it with friends and with family pretty much anytime during the winter, as long as there is snow on the ground, of course," she said.
"And once you learn, you never forget. It's like riding a bike."
Miles learned to ski from her dad, who she says is the main person she goes skiing with.
She did say, however, some of her friends ski with her occasionally.
"My dad lives out in Harvey and there's the Blueberry Ridge trail in sands, which is really nice.
"They have lighted loops, longer loops and shorter loops, and the trails are always nice and groomed," she said.
Despite her sacrifice of the Noque this winter to greet tired skiers at the end of the 5-kilometer loop, Miles remains dedicated to the sport, taking advantage of every opportunity she has to get out on the trails.
"I like to go out every weekend," she said, "except when it's really cold, no one likes skiing when it's really cold.
At the finish line Friday, Miles pinned ribbons on each racer's bib as they passed.
She said she looks forward to perhaps coming back next year, maybe with skis on, however.
"I might want to compete again next year, because it's so fun and it's just so beautiful out here," she said.
The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is scheduled to get under way at 8:20 a.m. today at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming.
The event will end at the Superior Dome in Marquette after a full day of competition.
Amanda Monthei can be reached by email at sports@miningjournal.net