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IRONWOOD -- It’s a race to the "Finnish" line for the organizational committee behind the first annual Sisu Ski Fest in Ironwood.

Cross-country skiers will get to kick-off their racing season early this winter when the event is held on January 9.

There are three distance options for skiers to choose:  the 42 kilometer marathon, the 21 kilometer half marathon and the 10 kilometer taste 'n' tour.

"Sisu is the perfect name for this kind of marathon event,” said race director Pam Kauppila.  “It's Finnish for strength and determination and you have to have a lot of determination to get through a 42k marathon."

They’ve put in a lot of work already, connecting the grassy trails throughout town to make a 42 kilometer course.  They say they're driven by a shared passion for skiing in the Ironwood community.

"We have early snow, we have a lot of great areas to ski here...we have ABR and Wolverine and we're trying to promote our area to skiers," said committee member Geneva Smiles.

The main race starts at the ABR trails in Ironwood Township.  It follows along the Montréal River, making its way through Norrie Park, past the giant Indian, Hiawatha, and finishes up downtown in front of the Carnegie library.

Of course, planning and preparations for the large project wouldn't have been possible without the community's support.

"We’ve had a lot of business owners and private individuals step up in sponsorships and volunteering," said Eric Anderson, who owns the ABR Trails.

Organizers say they've already had 60 people sign up for the first-time event and they're planning for at least 500 participants. 

Any skiers interested should know that the current entry fee will continue to increase as it gets closer to the day of the race.