Connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community.
Loppet Nordic Racing
Juniors
The Junior Program of Loppet Nordic Racing strives to teach skiers how to improve both their ski technique and physical conditioning. While LNR Juniors is just beginning, the predecessors to the program have been around for years. Those predecessor programs have had great success – with kids finishing the program better prepared for ski season and with fresh enthusiasm for the sport.
The LNR Junior Program is comprised of our Development (Devo) Team and our Competition (Comp) Team. Both LNR training groups share the same goals:
- To keep training varied, challenging, and having the opportunity to explore new places
- To make sure training in spring and summer is focused on making you a better all around athlete: coordination, speed, and running/movement mechanics
- To make sure that the environment at LNR is one that stresses being a good person, not just a good athlete. We will focus on working well as part of a group, and we’ll have a number of volunteer projects throughout the year.
Register for Loppet Nordic Racing Juniors
DEVO
LNR Development (Devo) Team
The LNR Devo Team is geared toward younger and new skiers to LNR. Devo team is the LNR starting point with training closer to home and shorter out of town camps. Training for this group will be more varied than the Comp Team and often less ski-specific. This group is composed mostly of years of birth 2010, 2011, 2012, and is some cases 2013. Spring, Summer and Fall schedule can be found here: LNR Development Team.
The goal of the LNR Development Team is to offer quality, instructional ski training for middle school and high school aged skiers. The Development Team is our former 3 day program and is still intended for skiers wishing to train 3 days a week with us in the summer. The 3 day a week plan allows skiers to participate in another program like summer running or a high school based ski program.
Development Team is the entry to the Loppet Nordic Racing program at The Loppet Foundation. Devo is geared more towards younger skiers and those new to a club skiing program.
LNR Competition (Comp) Team
The LNR competition team is our highest level of training for high school aged student athletes. Primarily for high school juniors and seniors or birth years 2007, 2008 and 2009. 2009 Birth years must have prior LNR training experience with the LNR Devo team and approval of LNR staff. Comp team members are committed to year round training and have goals of competing regionally and nationally.
The goal of the LNR Competition Team is prepare athletes ages 16-18 to compete at a national and international level. Training is based on a year round model, starting in the beginning of April. Comp team athletes have decided that skiing is their primary sport and are committed to attending training 4-6 times a week, keeping a training log, attending camps, and competing at the regional CXC Junior Cup races. There is room for Comp team athletes to participate in another sport or program but that sport should complement the year-round ski training and racing model.
COMP
Local Training and Training Camps
Loppet Nordic Racing is pleased to announce our 2025 program offerings:
- To keep training varied, challenging, and having the opportunity to explore new places
- To make sure training in spring and summer is focused on making you a better all around athlete: coordination, speed, and running/movement mechanics
- To make sure that the environment at LNR is one that stresses being a good person, not just a good athlete. We will focus on working well in a group and members are expected to participate in a number of volunteer projects throughout the year.
LNR Development Team 2025 Camps
- June Camp in Ironwood MI. Monday June 16th – Saturday 21st (6 days). Combined with Comp team. Transportation provided to and from the Trailhead.
- July Camp in Grand Marias, MN. Monday July 21st – Friday 25th (5 days). Transportation provided to and from the Trailhead. Stand alone Devo camp. Comp Team athletes who do not attend Utah Comp camp may attend Grand Marais camp.
- MEA Camp in Cable WI. Departing 5pm on Wednesday Oct 15th and returning 5pm on Sunday Oct 19th (5 days). Combined with Comp team. Transportation provided to and from the Trailhead.
- Thanksgiving On Snow Camp in Silverstar British Columbia (8 days). Sunday Nov 23rd – Sunday Nov 30th. Airfare not included in camp registration fee, recommended flights will be sent out in June 2025. Must be at least 14 years old to travel with LNR. Families with skiers 13 and younger are encouraged to book their own travel and housing to Silverstar and can join LNR for the skiing sessions.
- Holiday Break Training Camp- Dec 29- Jan 1, Houghton, Michigan. This camp is for Comp Team athletes that are not attending Senior Nationals, and Devo U16 athletes. U14 athletes can attend if they have sufficient training/experience (check in with Piotr).
LNR Competition Team 2025 Camps
- June Camp in Ironwood MI. Departing Monday June 16th and returning Saturday 21st (6 days). Combined with Devo team. Transportation provided to and from the Trailhead.
- July Camp in Park City, Utah Friday July 25th – Saturday August 2nd (9 days). Airfare not included in camp registration fee. Please book tickets to SLC landing by 2:30pm on Friday July 25th and departing after 1pm on Saturday August 2nd. Recommended flights here at this link.
- MEA Camp in Cable WI. Departing 5pm on Wednesday Oct 15th and returning 5pm on Sunday Oct 19th (5 days). Combined with Devo team. Transportation provided to and from the Trailhead.
- Thanksgiving On Snow Camp in Silverstar British Columbia (8 days). Sunday Nov 23rd – Sunday Nov 30th. Airfare not included in camp registration fee, recommended flights will be sent out to book in June 2025.
- Holiday Break Training Camp- Dec 29- Jan 1, Houghton, Michigan. This camp is for Comp Team athletes that are not attending Senior Nationals, and Devo U16 athletes.
**note for Park City Utah Camp- athletes need to be signed up for JUNE LNR Training Camp and LNR Comp Team in order to participate**
**Comp Team athletes may choose to attend Devo Team Camps**
LNR Training Camp Schedule (out of town)
Athletes must be enrolled in Summer or Fall LNR (Comp or Devo) in order to attend camps. We do make exceptions if there is room and if the athlete is sufficiently prepared. Please contact Piotr at bednarski@loppet.org or Chris Harvey at harvey@loppet.org.
Advanced Winter Training
The LNR winter training program will offer training sessions 2-5 days per week, including race support for CXC Junior Cup Races (Junior National Qualifier). Our training programs are run by very experienced coaches and are geared to athletes ages 13-18 who are very focused on cross-country ski racing. Coaching sessions will always include a technique focus and a training focus. Video review is on of the tools we use on a weekly basis to help athletes make big improvements in this highly technical sport. Athletes are expected to have a high level of fitness and motivation in order to train with LNR over the winter. LNR will work with high school programs to provide training plans for athletes who are training and racing at a regional and national level. Note that LNR training will make special accommodation for athletes in schools that don’t get out until 4pm. Our coaching staff will work with each athlete to achieve their goals in high school skiing and in regional and national events like the Minnesota State High School League Championships, CXC Junior Cup, Jr World Team Trials in XC Skiing/Biathlon, USSA Senior Nationals, and the Junior National Championships.
Dates: First week in December – mid March
Location: Theodore Wirth Park is the primary meeting place. Some training will take place at other venues depending on snow conditions and goals of the workout.
Schedule: Typically training will run 3:45-5:45pm Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, but depending on the training goals of the day and week, session may be up to 30 min longer or shorter.
- Tuesday: 3:30pm- 5:30pm (may go longer)
- Wednesday: 3:30pm-5:30pm (may go longer)
- Thursday: 3:30pm-5:30pm (may go longer)
- Saturday: Mornings (generally 9am). Racing or training. Saturday practices will be scheduled sporadically through the winter.
- Sunday: Generally we will only meet for races on Sundays (CXC Junior Cup)
*Note* that if you sign up for winter training, there is no additional cost for CXC Junior Cup wax support/coaching. The focus of this group is for advanced training – athletes aiming for the CXC Junior Cup, USSA Senior Nationals, World Junior Trials in Biathlon, and the MN State Meet.
LNR Spring/Summer Training Informational Presentation
Please watch this short recorded presentation by LNR head coach Chris Harvey for an informational meeting on LNR’s program goals and training groups. This presentation is geared towards new or prospective skiers and their parents. The meeting was done over Zoom and was recorded on the link above.
Payment and Financial Assistance Information
Financial Assistance: Scholarships are available on a need basis from the Loppet Foundation. Please contact Coach Bednarski for more information at bednarski@loppet.org.
Refund Policy: The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 4 weeks before the program starts. Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment
Skate Rollerskis
- Pursuit Fork flex rollerski from Rollerskishop.com, 620mm length, #2 wheel. (shorter 560 for athletes with small feet). This is the best skate rollerski for the money – easy to balance, good ski speed. They also carry rollerski pole tips.
- Ski*Go Skate Carbon Ski
- Ski*Go Skate Aluminum Ski
Classic Rollerskis
All of these skis can be purchased with two different wheel speeds, the No. 2 wheel is the standard/medium speed option and the No. 3 wheel is a slower option. The No. 2 wheel is a great training speed similar to the Marwe 6 wheel. The No. 3 wheel is closer in speed to the Marwe 7 wheel.
Loppet Nordic Racing Full-Time Coaches
Loppet Nordic Racing prides itself on a coaching staff that have:
- Technical proficiency and are up to date in technique instruction and training methods.
- Personality traits that help motivate and engage athletes of all ages.
- A common method and language to coach skiing.
- Interest and motivation to train, race, and improve their own skiing.
Currently LNR has more USSA certified Level 100 coaches than any other ski club in the United States.
Piotr Bednarski, Loppet Sport Director (bednarski@loppet.org): Piotr has served as the Loppet Sport Director since March of 2012. He started coaching his college team at Cornell University at the age of 21, so his coaching career now spans 35 years. Piotr served as Athlete Development Director and Junior National Team Coach for the U.S Biathlon Team for 10 years. He has coached at the college and high school level, and previous to his time with the Loppet Foundation worked with Team Birkie, Minnesota Biathlon, and Go! Training. Piotr currently spends most of his coaching time working with the LNR Devo Team, as well LNR Adult programs. He is an avid xc ski racer, and also enjoys mountain biking and travelling with his familly.
Chris Harvey, Loppet Nordic Racing Head Coach (harvey@loppet.org): Engineer turned full-time ski coach, Chris Harvey has been coaching junior skiers for over a decade. He skied and ran cross-country on the NCAA teams at Michigan Tech before becoming the Burnsville High School Head Nordic Ski Coach in 2010. In 2012, he began working with Loppet Nordic Racing Juniors, coaching them to Junior National championship wins and helping them earn spots on World Junior/U23 Championship and the U18 Nations Cup Trip teams. Chris Harvey has coached at a national and international level, having served as the U18 Nations Cup Trip leader in 2017 and having coached the Midwest’s Junior National Team since 2011 as both the Trip Leader and Midwest Team Head Coach in 2015 and 2016.
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