Welcome to the 17th annual SISU Ski Fest, a premier cross country ski race, held in Ironwood, MI January 10, 2026.
2026 Highlights:
30K SISU & 15K Heikki Lunta ski races.
Five year age groups, more prizes, and cloth bibs!
Capacity is 940 registered.
Summer race course improvements include adding curves to a few sharp corners and widening the Highlands Aid Station area.
Larger indoor warming area near Start Line.
"Finnish" Line in Ironwood's Downtown City Square.
5K Hauska Hiihto Fun Ski, and Depot Dash for kids on Friday.
While the COVID-19 pandemic seems behind us, we do still ask anyone with symptoms of illness to remain home.
Sisu is a Finnish cultural concept encompassing strength and determination in the face of adversity. It involves a combination of stamina, perseverance, courage, and determination held in reserve for hard times. We honor our local Finnish heritage by borrowing this term as the name of our event, and demonstrate our sisu by training for and participating in these events despite cold temperatures, snow conditions, hilly courses, competitive pressure, and the anxieties of living in these challenging times!