TRAVERSE CITY -- North American Vasa organizers picked the perfect day to hold a warm-up event.
Cross country skiers and their families took advantage of unseasonably mild temperatures to attend a Vasa-sponsored pre-race open house at Timber Ridge Resort on Saturday.
In addition to skiing on the Vasa Trail, the event offered clinics and instruction, snowshoeing and plenty of kid-oriented activities like making snowmen and snow angels, hunting for prize-filled plastic eggs and catching candy that was launched from a pressurized cannon atop a tower.
"The turnout has been unbelievable," said Pete LaPlaca, president of the Vasa board of directors. "I got here before 10 (when the event was scheduled to begin) and the parking lot was already full.
"We've had literally hundreds of people, from the best skiers in the area to people trying it for the first time," he said. "That's what it's all about -- kind of a pre-season sizzler to get people into outdoor sports activities and to show them the amenities available at Timber Ridge."
Roger Putnam, a former Vasa race director, spent the entire four hours of the event waxing skis and giving pointers to do-it-yourselfers.
"Not only is it something you need to do, it's relaxing," Putnam said. "It's therapeutic."
Some skiers used the event to prepare for the annual Vasa cross country race on Feb. 9. But the biggest winners may have been families.
Cross country skiers Cam and Sarah Ward brought their children -- Ellie, 5; Charlie, 31/2; and Max, 11/2 -- to enjoy some fun in the snow. They went skiing first (except for Max, who rode behind them on a sled), before taking part in some children's activities.
"It's a chance to get out and experience the sport," said Sarah, who began skiing two years ago. "The temperature was just right -- not too cold. We knew the kids would be happy out here.
"(Cross country skiing) is a great sport," she said. "If you live up in the north country , you'd better find something to do. I should have learned to ski a long time ago."
Sarah said her husband has competed in the Vasa several times, but she hasn't attempted to ski the race yet.
"Definitely some day, when I get good at it," she said. "Baby steps, you know."
LaPlaca said the Vasa has hosted more pre-race events the past several years after canceling Family Fun Day, which used to be held the day after the Vasa.
"Everybody was just so dead tired," LaPlaca said. "We decided to change it."
It turned out to be a good move. The Vasa had used the January events as fund raisers for local high school teams and LaPlaca said the open houses have helped increase exposure for the sport and its host facility, Timber Ridge.
"Great sport, great place," LaPlaca said. "They've gone all out to make skiers feel welcome here."
Skiers have just under a month to wait before back-to-back cross country races are held in northwest Michigan. The first, the White Pine Stampede, is set for Feb. 2 in Antrim County, one week before the Vasa.
For race details log onto www.vasa.org or www.whitepinestampede.org.
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