News & Stories

NEW – Saturday Classic/Sunday Freestyle Format

The Loppet Adds a Classic Only Day

The 2014 edition of the City of Lakes Loppet features a new classic-only Saturday format.  Skiers take to the course Saturday morning with a choice of three classic-only events:

  • Hoigaard’s Classic – A longer version of the traditional classic race from Wirth Park to Uptown.  The new Hoigaard’s Classic mirrors the Loppet Freestyle – using the same great course with no freestyle skiers and grooming for classic only.
  • Half-Loppet Classic – This event also starts at Wirth Park, but takes a shorter and easier route to the finish in Uptown.  Again, all classic and all classical grooming.
  • REI Tour Classic – Same point-to-point course as always – but classic skiing only.

Sunday’s events feature skate-skiing only events – the Loppet Freestyle, Half-Loppet Freestyle and REI Tour Freestyle

What this means for skiers is a better skiing experience and an opportunity to double up with the new Loppet Challenge.  Classic skiers will enjoy a course groomed specially for classical skiing – with no skate skiers to compete with.  Unlike in years past the Hoigaard’s Classic uses the same full-length course as the Loppet Freestyle.  The Half-Loppet Classic and Half-Loppet Freestyle events provide shorter options for skiers wanting a challenge but who might have missed some training along the way.

There is another advantage to separating the classic and the skate skiing.  Skiers who want a real challenge can ski both events – and the Loppet Challenge rewards them for their efforts.  Loppet Challenge skiers get the royal treatment – with a separate Loppet Challenge bib, and a commemorative beer stein filled with Surly beer for Challenge participants who complete both days (and are 21 or older . . .).  But to enjoy these benefits and to receive the lower Loppet Challenge price skiers must register for the Challenge by November 30!

For more information on the Loppet Challenge click here.  Or to register for any Loppet event, click here.