Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
SUNDAY WAS a busy day for Mt. Zion with lots of families coming out to ski or snow tube with the mild winter weather. The Aukee family was one of many that decided to spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoors. From left are: Janna, Dana, and Brenden.
By KELSEY HANSEN
Ironwood - It was a busy Sunday at Mt. Zion Recreational Complex this past weekend with the warmer winter temperatures.
There were lots of families spending their afternoon either tubing or skiing on the hill.
Dana Aukee brought her two kids, Janna and Brenden, tubing. This was their first trip this season.
"I figured it was such a nice day that we needed to get outside and do something," Dana said.
The family made several runs down the hill, where Brenden was the first every time, and according to him, it was because "he was the lightest."
Dana said it was a great way for them to have some fun while dad was out fishing.
Janna's opinion on an afternoon of tubing was "it's awesome!"
Besides the leisurely family afternoon of skiing or snow tubing, Mt. Zion hosts several races throughout the season.
New this year is the hill's Friday Night Fights, which will be held every Friday night for the rest of the season.
Kolleen Prasnick and her husband, Christian Leatham, host the Friday night races and last Friday was the first of the season.
"We wanted to do a dry run first," Prasnick said. "And it went better than we expected. We had 22 kids sign up and race."
The race is a terrain park competition, with each competitor getting two runs down the hill.
Racers can do any jumps or tricks they want and each run is judged by Prasnick and Leatham with an average score between the two runs.
They will have first, second and third place ribbons and prizes for the end of the season.
The races now also have music and are free for kids to compete.
Mt. Zion also has a race team for kids in eighth grade or under called Team Z.
Team Z practices every Friday night and competes every Saturday, with three out of town races this season.
"It's a really great opportunity for kids to compete and that's inexpensive," Prasnick said.
It is a total of $75 to compete with Team Z for the entire season.
There are also races held every Saturday at 10 a.m. at Mt. Zion.
The Saturday races are open to everyone of all ages and Prasnick said it's a great time for everyone.
This season they have young kids all the way up to adults in their fifties competing.
Prasnick said it was a slower start to the season but now that there is plenty of snow they have been doing great.
Another perk this year are the season passes for kids 18 years and under, which are only $85.
"It's definitely a great deal for the local kids," Prasnick said.
