After three decades of trail maintenance, community education and sharing some awesome snow conditions out on the trails, the Oceana Cross Country Ski Association (OCCSA) is pleased to be celebrating 30 years of operation this year.
“The conditions have been excellent this year, except for the extreme cold, most skiers don’t mind,” said OCCSA founding member and current trustee of the OCCSA board, Marijo Bakker, of Crystal Valley.
The OCCSA got its start with a survey of the Pentwater Pathways trail system 32 years ago. A group of local skiers was trying to get the state to continue grooming the pathways, but they told Bakker there wasn’t enough interest.
“Crystal Valley cross-country ski trails came into view when we found out the U.S. Forest Service was going to shut down some of the man-made two-tracks," Bakker said. "The OCCSA made a proposal for cross-country ski trails within this area, and after a five-year wait, we finally got approval. Then it took us almost four years to put the trails in.”
Now, 30 years later, a dedicated group of about 16 volunteers logs over 600 volunteer hours maintaining almost 20 miles of groomed trails, picking up sticks, cutting overhangs, removing logs and trees from trails, mowing along the trails and grooming trails when it snows.
“Trail grooming is done with a snowmobile pulling a grooming plate, which compacts and smooths the snow to some degree, making a corduroy path with tracks in the middle for classic Nordic skiing,” board member Peg Gramas explained. “When we get a lot of snow, grooming is challenging, so when possible, we run a snowmobile around by itself to help compact the snow so the snowmobile with the groomer is able to do its job without getting stuck.”
“All this work is done by a group of very dedicated people who all just love to ski,” Bakker added.
Crystal Valley ski trails consist of five loops totaling about 12 miles in all, while the Pentwater Pathways consist of five loops and about eight miles of trail.
In addition to their trail maintenance work, the OCCSA also took over the “Ski For Kids” program started by Jim Lamie and Joe Primozich.
“The equipment was in bad shape, so we wrote grants and did fundraising to replace it. We also spent a lot of time volunteering so all third and fourth graders from Hart schools could come out during the school day and try skiing. Later we offered the opportunity to any school in Oceana County wanting to take advantage of the program," Bakker explained. "When the schools told us they needed at least a two-week notice for bus scheduling, and we’d have a lack of snow on a school’s scheduled date, we knew we had to do something different. Last year, our 'Ski Free' program was put into place."
At the Sunday, Feb. 8, Ski Free event in Crystal Valley, OCCSA welcomed between 60-70 people to the trails, even a 2½-year-old. Even though the club’s free ski events are over for the season, as long as there’s snow, the trails are open for skiing. And trails are always open for hiking whenever there isn’t.
In 2025 the OCCSA had 40 paid members. “We are hoping to grow our membership in this our 30th year,” Gramas said.
Memberships are accepted all year. A single membership is $20, a household membership is $40 and a business membership is $50. Additional donations are always welcome to help offset the cost of extra boots, replacement bindings and equipment for trail maintenance. Currently Gramas is in the process of developing a newsletter to let members know about the association’s activities. Their latest initiative is fundraising for better grooming equipment.
For Pentwater Pathways, OCCSA urges skiers to use the 52nd/Railroad Avenue entrance off of Longbridge Road. The two-track from Wayne Road is private and no longer plowed. Instead, outdoor enthusiasts should take Monroe Road to Longbridge and follow Longbridge two miles around Pentwater Lake to Railroad Avenue and take the last road on the left before B-15. Go one mile to Pentwater Pathways. The trail is on the left, and Jackson Road is on the right.
For Crystal Valley trail access, take East Adams Road in Crystal Valley to 126th Avenue, go north, at East River Road go east, and follow signs to the parking lot.
“Our biggest challenge now is getting younger folks interested in continuing this Oceana legacy. It is a lot of work, but so worth that beautiful glide on skis. It can be the best on a sunny 20-degree day,” Bakker said in closing.
For more information, GPS coordinates to trails, or to join the OCCSA, please visit www.oceanaski.org They can be reached by email at occskia@gmail.com.
