Bob Hendrickson, IOHT

ISHPEMING — The Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to Discover the West End of Marquette County.

Started as a social media campaign several years ago by the GINCC, Discover the West End encourages people to explore the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area and to share those experiences online using the hashtag #DiscovertheWestEnd.

To get started there are several events and activities coming up in January that we hope people will discover to have winter fun.

It’s been noted that outside activities are a safer way to socialize. With the current COVID restrictions in place events have had to adapt and modify formats to meet safety requirements.

On Jan. 9, GO Get Outside will be hosting the Fat-Ish snow bike race. With many changes in this year’s format compare to previous, the race organizers explain these on their website www.fat-ish.com.

The event will be an individual time trial format starting at 9 a.m. Participants will be assigned start times in which they will complete one of two offered courses, a novice or advanced.

Both courses will be held on the majestic and historic RAMBA Trails. The novice course will be approximately 10 miles and the advanced approximately 20 miles.

Another winter adventure event that’s slated to still take place is the Polar Roll. This year will be the EX-version where participants will have an extended time frame to complete the course on their own accord.

Hoping to get the first racers on course starting Jan. 15 the event is organized by the 906 Adventure Team and will last until March 15

Racers will navigate the course using a gpx file in their smart phone or GPS device. For more info on the event go to www.thepolarroll.com.

One event that has been a long-standing tradition for the Ishpeming Ski Club is the Annual Ski Jumping Tournament. This year’s 134th tournament is on the calendar for Jan. 27.

A lot things will depend on how this year’s tournament will happen. There will most definitely be restrictions on spectators and many factors will determine the athletes who attend.

The club is currently working on plans to hold some version of the tournament as to not break the cycle of 134 years, but this year will definitely be one of the most challenging the club has faced.

Since the tournament is the biggest fundraiser for the Ishpeming Ski Club the community is asked for patience, understanding and be supportive as the club works through this.

Another ski event that will have a different feel to it this winter is the Noquemanon Ski Marathon. The marathon and half-marathon races will not be a point-to-point event and will take place over several days as to not congregate large groups.

The long races will take place at Forestville Trailhead in Marquette Township. A request to host the youth races and 12K race at Al Quaal will go before the City of Ishpeming at the January council meeting but will hinge on State COVID restrictions in place leading up to the event.

To learn more about the area, visit www.visitthewestend.com or give us a call 906-486-1111.

Our hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday and the office is located at 910 U.S. 41 West in front Jubilee Foods & Fuel.

Editor’s note: Bob Hendrickson is the executive director of the GINCC. He currently resides in Negaunee with his wife, Laura, and daughter, Sierra. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, fishing and hunting along with family time.