Sisu set to kick off this week

By TOM STANKARD

[email protected]

Ironwood — The seventh annual Sisu Ski Fest is set to start this week, featuring a number of events for everyone.

Beginning on Friday, registration and bib pickup will take place from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Ironwood Memorial Building. During this time, the Ski Expo will take place. The expo will continue on Saturday at 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be a full day of racing, including the 42 kilometer Sisu marathon at the ABR Ski Trails. The classic race starts at 8:30 a.m. and the freestyle race begins at 9 a.m.

Later on, the 21K Heikki Lunta half-marathon will begin at 11 a.m. at the ABR Ski Trails.

In the afternoon, the 3K and 5K Junior Sisu will take place at Miners Memorial Heritage Park. The 5K race starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Ironwood city garage and the 3K race will begin at 2 p.m. at the Ironwood school bus garage.

During the races, Gogebic County 4-H members will hand out chocolate chip cookies to racers. Ashley Hampston, Gogebic County 4-H program coordinator, said members learned how to bake cookies at Luther L. Wright on Tuesday using a “secret” recipe to make cookies “the right way.” Holding a big spoon to mix the dough, potential 4-H member Austin Meyer said he had fun baking cookies and his favorite type is chocolate chip.

For those that “don’t want to race,” the annual Taste and Tour is taking place at the Ironwood city garage, starting at 2 p.m. At this event, local restaurants and bars will be highlighting a variety of food choices. Only 200 participants can attend the event, so those interested are asked to register online.

After the 42K and 21K races are over, the award ceremonies will take place at the “Finnish Line.” The 42K race award ceremony will be at noon and the 21K race award ceremony will be at 2 p.m.

In the evening, there will be free entertainment at the Historic Ironwood Theatre at 7 p.m., featuring Robby Vee.

On Sunday, people can participate in the 2K, 5K and 10K snowshoe events at Miners Memorial Heritage Park at 10:30 a.m.

Each year, local schools also participate in the 2K Lapset Loppet event at ABR Ski Trails. The event will take place on a to-be-determined date in March.

There will be road closures during the ski festival in the downtown Ironwood area. Aurora Street will be closed near Suffolk Street. Lowell Street will be closed in between the alleyway near Ayer Street and the alleyway near McLeod Avenue. McLeod Avenue will also be closed between the intersection of Lowell Street and the intersection at S. Lawrence Street.

For more information about the ski festival, please visit sisuskifest.com.