Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
DESPITE SPARSE snow in other locations, a skier descends a hill at Black River Basin on Saturday during the fourth annual Muk UP in Bessemer Township. The Snowriver Mountain Resort site was the base for the fundraiser for local youth skiing.
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer TOWNSHIP - This year's mild winter resulted with more grass than snow on Saturday, but skiers still threw plenty of powder as they competed in the annual Muk UP at Black River Basin.
Snowmaking at the Snowriver Mountain Resort site made it possible for the fundraising event for Team Z to proceed as usual with a crowd of supportive spectators at the bottom of the hill.
"The snow is great here right now," said Dan Tregembo, director of Team Z, a youth skiing group that prepares kids of ages 5-17 for the Ironwood Red Devils Ski team.
"This is the fourth time we've done this," he added. "Steady as she goes."
Cody Mukavitz of Ironwood was declared the fastest racer in the overall competition. That means he won the traveling Muk UP trophy, which includes engraved names of each year's top winner. Mukavitz was in the U35, or Under 35, division for men.
Cody's son, Croix Mukavitz, 5, also won in the U6 boys' division. It was Croix's first appearance in the Muk UP, and Tregembo said he decided to compete at the last minute.
Winners of other girls and boys divisions included: Carina Alonen and Oliver Stempihar, U8; Jocelyn Wolter and Henry Stempihar, U10; Lauren Geach and Jacob Balduc, U12; Kaylee Balduc and Wyler Koput, U14; Gemma Sandor and Brian Geach, U16; and Sienna Sandor and Sam Risik, U18.
Remaining adult winners were: Alex Swanson, U35 girls' division; Angie Heifort and Andy Balduc, U50; Erin English and Bob Burchell, U75; and Robert Sharp, U99.
According to Tregembo, winners of each category received "a very cool, custom-built trophy."
About 70 persons competed in the overall competition, which included two giant slalom runs - known as GS runs - with one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each GS included two runs, and all competitors participated in all four runs, the results of which were averaged into a final score for each racer.
The Muk UP was created in honor of Tony Mukavitz, an avid skier and community supporter who died in 2020. He was Cody's father and Croix's grandfather.
"He's the one who taught me how to ski at Mt. Zion," said his wife, Luann Mukavitz, adding that she was 19 at the time. Mt. Zion Ski Hill is located at Gogebic Community College, where Team Z is based.
A cold wind on Saturday was offset by bonfires and grilling as spectators made themselves at home as they watched the competition.
Paul Swanson of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, celebrated his 70th birthday there as a large family group - some dressed in leis and/or grass skirts - enjoyed a Jimmy Buffet theme as part of the celebration.
The day also included a raffles and live music.
Tregembo said proceeds from the event will be used for Team Z expenses, which include equipment, ski wear, training and travel to regional events throughout Michigan and also in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado.
He said many sponsors help to support the team, which operates on a 100% volunteer-run basis with coaches teaching Alpine ski racing fundamentals.
For more information, visit teamzskiracing.com.
