The Fall/Winter Session is designed to accommodate both beginner and advanced skiers. The Introductory Session is designed for people interested in learning basic technique and conditioning who want to ski a Loppet event this year.

The Introductory Session meets on Mondays and Saturdays and the Fall/Winter Session meets on Wednesdays and Sundays – but the Introductory session starts later (November) and finishes sooner (just before the Loppet).

Introductory Session (starting in November): Mondays 6:30 – 8 p.m. and Saturday mornings 9 a.m.

Fall/Winter Session:

• Wednesday evenings: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Theodore Wirth Chalet. Bounding, circuit routines, trail running, pole hiking and optional roller-skiing (with the completion of the Luce Line Trail the roller-skiing from Wirth is now very good). Evenings will include short instructional discussions, video sessions and, for those interested, intervals.
• Sunday afternoons (Fall/winter program): 1 – 3 p.m. at Wirth Park. Long, slow workout: trail running, pole hiking or roller-skiing with the group.

Any “profits” from the Loppet Ski Club go to supporting the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation. The Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that promotes and supports cross country skiing in the Minneapolis area, especially among inner-city youth.

The Fall/Winter Program is led by Kim Rudd and Marc Beitz with assistance from John Swain. The Introductory Session is led by Tom Anderson and his team of facilitators. Kim, Marc, Tom and John are all veteran skiers.

Kim skied at Bemidji State University in college, she has been a tremendously successful senior and masters level skier, and she has coached various programs for years. With her husband Craig (also a great skier and the Loppet’s Chief of Course), Kim has two daughters: Hannah (age 12) and Leah (age 8).

Marc skied for Williams College in Massachusetts and went on to be a top-10 skier at U.S. Nationals during the Team Birkie era. He has successfully coached at all levels. Marc and his wife Amy Cichanowski (executive director of the Minnesota Youth Ski League) also have two daughters: Ursula (age 4) and Milena (age 2).

Tom has skied and ski raced for more than 30 years. He has been the head coach of the Introductory session of the Loppet Ski Club for the past three years and has inspired hundreds of skiers over the years. Tom and his wife, Joan, live in St. Louis Park.

Hailing originally from St. Paul, John skied at Colby College in Maine, graduating in 2008. He coached at Mounds View High School in 2008-2009 and is an accomplished skier – winning the 2009 Hoigaard’s Classic and coming in third in the 2009 Pre-Loppet.

While Tom, Kim and Marc are harsh task-masters, they do understand what it is like to have busy lives...

Obviously, the immediate goal of this Club is to help make the participants better skiers. In the longer term, however, the hope is that the Club will provide a base for an interest in skiing and ski culture in the Minneapolis area. St. Paul has Sisu and there are other strong clubs in the Twin Cities area. The Loppet Ski Club hopes to fill a void in the middle of the metro area. More than that, the Club will help encourage participants to work to improve their skiing and ski racing and will provide an opportunity for skiers to socialize on a regular basis.

Those who commit to biking, walking, bussing (the 7 line goes directly to Wirth Park) and/or carpooling to the training sessions will receive an added discount on top of their gas and transportation-cost savings. When registering on-line, enter the following coupon code to receive a $10 discount: “ICommitToCommute”. Note that this incentive is only available to on-line registrants and is available only at the time of initial registration.

Zap Event registration page for the Loppet Ski Club

What is the difference between the Introductory session and the Fall/Winter Program? The Introductory session is designed for beginners and people who want a quick tune-up before the Loppet. The Fall/Winter program can accommodate all levels of skiers but is specifically designed for people with a little skiing experience.

Do I have to roller-ski? No. Roller-skis and roller-skiing are not required or necessary. The Club will split up into groups based upon interest and equipment, among other factors. There will always be a non-roller-ski option.

Is this Club concentrated on skating or classical-style skiing? Both. While participants may choose to concentrate on one or the other, the general philosophy is that it is best to learn both styles of skiing.

Why is this Club starting now? It has taken years, but the pieces necessary to have a successful club are finally falling into place. Theodore Wirth now has snowmaking and lights (the Park Board is planning to upgrade the lights this year). With the completion of the Luce Line Trail and the relatively recent re-paving of Theodore Wirth Parkway, roller-skiing in the area is significantly improved. Plus, the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation offices provide a convenient home base with an opportunity for video analysis. And after a few good snow seasons, people are excited for skiing again...