MARQUETTE -- After weeks of trail grooming and hoping for lots of fresh powder, the Noquemanon Ski Marathon is just two days away.

Last week's rainy weather didn't make for the best trail conditions, but this cold snap has allowed everything to freeze...which means skiers will be challenged.

"I think they can expect everything on Saturday from very excellent conditions to icy conditions.  It depends on where you are on the trail because we have such varied terrain out there, and the weather conditions are different from start to finish on our trail from high points to low points," explained Race Director Jon Mommaerts.

As skiers prepare to take on a variety of extremes, they also need to be cautious about the type of wax they use to get ready.

"Warm weather wax is softer and as you get colder, the wax is harder which holds up and handles those sharp snow crystals when they're very cold," explained Jeff Stasser, co-owner of Down Wind Sports.

But no matter what the snow conditions are like, skiers will still enjoy the technical challenges of the course and the beautiful views from Al Quaal in Ishpeming to Marquette.

"Probably the highlight of the course is up in Granite Point. We have a view of the Dead River Basin where we're about 400-500 feet up above the basin, and you get an incredible view to the south of the entire valley.  It's by far the most spectacular view on the course," Mommaerts stated.

Hours of hard work and training will finally pay off this Saturday when more than 1000 skiers cross the finish line at the Superior Dome.