Skijor Loppet

Saturday: All Saturday races (10K 1-dog, 5K and 3K) start and finish at The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park, 1221 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis MN 55422

Sunday: The Sunday 10K Two-Dog starts at Bde Maka Ska North Beach, 2707 W Lake St, Minneapolis MN 55416. And finishes at The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park, 1221 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis MN 55422

Start Times and Lists: Skijoring teams will be pre-assigned start times and be released in time trial waves. Specific start time assignments will be emailed and posted the week of the event.

Parking and Transportation: Please see notes below. Instructions and information for managing dogs are different depending on which day(s) you are racing.

• The Cedar Lake Channel is currently closed to recreational traffic until spring of 2023 for construction activities that are part of the Green Line Extension LRT Project. This work will impact access for winter recreational traffic – including cross-country ski activity – throughout the winter of 2022-2023. The Channel will reopen temporarily for the Loppet Winter Festival in early February 2023. LRT project construction crews will coordinate with Loppet staff to create a passable path for the point-to-point Loppet events. Once the festival concludes, the Channel will reclose to recreational traffic until spring. For questions related to Green Line Extension LRT Project construction, please contact David Davies at david.davies@metrotransit.org, or call the construction hotline at 612-373-3933. More information about the 2023 Loppet Winter Festival can be found at their website: https://www.loppet.org/events/festival/ **Only pertains to Sunday’s 10K skijor

Experienced skijoring teams can compete in one or both days of the Combined National Championship. Those teams that compete in both Saturday’s One-Dog Skijor Loppet 10K and Sunday’s 10K Two-Dog Skijor Loppet will automatically be entered into the Combined National Championship event. In addition, both 10K events are individual National Championship events and are accredited IFSS World Cup Races. Both days will feature some of the best skijoring teams in North America. Teams

Note: Registration will be open until Fri at midnight. No race day registration.

Proceeds from the Skijor Loppet benefit the Loppet Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation's mission, vision, and values.

Registration and transaction fees are non-refundable, including in the event of delay, rescheduling, or cancellation of an event or program. An event or program registration is not transferable to another person or another event for any reason, including injury. Participating under another person's name will result in disqualification.

A Note About the Data We Collect

Packet Pickup

Packets (bibs and other goodies) will be available for pickup at the following times and locations:

• Thursday, February 3: The Trailhead, 4pm-8pm
• Friday, February 4: The Trailhead, 4pm-8pm
• Saturday, February 5: The Trailhead, 7am-3pm (if you are only doing the Sunday point to point race, this time is not recommended as it will be busy and parking will be very limited).
• Sunday, February 6: Bde Maka Ska, 7am-12pm (for Sunday point to point race only)

Course Description

Saturday: All races are on the snowmaking trails at the Trailhead where dogs are usually not allowed.

Sunday: The point to point 10K is all on our natural snow trails, the same course that our ski, bike and snowshoe racers will be following

Course Markings

The courses are marked with colored arrows on sandwich boards located at trail junctions. Course marshals may also be present at critical junctions to guide and cheer you on. Know the color of arrow you should be following for your race (it is generally our goal to match your bib color with your arrow color – this also helps course marshals know which course you are doing).

• Saturday
  • 10K-Green arrows (same course as 5K but two laps)
  • 5K-Green arrows
  • 3K-Red arrows
• Sunday
  • 10K-Green arrows

Saturday Skijor Course Map

Sunday Point-to-Point Map

Race Rules

• Please view the Skijor Race Rules PDF (from 2022). Participants are responsible for reading, understanding and complying with published race rules prior to the event.
• Safety is our top concern and many of the rules are in place to protect participants, spectators AND your dogs.
• Pulks, sleds, or other carriers are NOT permitted. Sit Skiers ARE permitted.
• It is greatly appreciated if you can take the time to walk your dogs in the morning before coming to the race venue. After all, just like their people, it probably feels way better to take care of this business before the race!

Seeding

• Teams will be seeded based on prior Skijoring Loppet results as well as registration self-seeding information.
• Requests for seeding by Skijorers with no prior race history must be sent to kevinmmurphy@comcast.net by January 22, to be considered for this event. Request must include links to publicly available skijoring race results.
• 10k Skijoring teams will be seeded based on recent K9 Powered Sports Midwest Race Series Race results. Registration is required by end of online registration on January 25 to be included in the seeding for this event.

Handlers

• One handler will be allowed per team.
• All dog handlers must stand on the left side of the team they are assisting and must remain in place until all teams have passed. Do not attempt to move out of the way.

Thursday

• 4pm-8pm: The Trailhead, Packet Pick Up

Friday

• 4pm-8pm: The Trailhead, Packet Pick Up
• Skijorers: Check your email for special parking permits (see below)

Saturday (Trailhead)

• 7:00am – 3:00pm: Packet Pickup, The Trailhead (if you are only doing the Sunday point to point race, this time is not recommended as it will be busy and parking will be very limited).
• 8:00am – 2:30pm: The Trailhead North Parking Lot Bag Claim
• 8:30am: Skijor 10K One Dog Begins
• 8:45am: Skijor 5K (One or Two Dogs) Begins
• 9:15am: Skijor 3K (One Dog) Begins
• 10:00am – 3:00pm: Utepils Beer Garden and Festival Village
• 10:00am – 4:00pm: Changing Tent Heated
• 10:30am – 4:00pm: The Trailhead Food Station

Sunday (Start North Beach, Finish Trailhead)

• 7:00am-12:00pm: North Beach, Packet Pick up (for Sunday point to point races only)
• 8:30am: Skijor 10K Two Dogs Begins (one dog is allowed)
• 6:00am – 9:00am: North Beach Volunteer Parking
• 7:00am – 12:00pm: North Beach Parking Lot Dropoff Zone (and permit parking)
• 8:00am – 12:00pm: North Beach Bag Drop (Got Junk trucks)
• 9:30am – 3:00pm: The Trailhead North Parking Lot Bag Claim
• 10:00am – 3:00pm: Changing Tent Heated
• 10:00am – 3:00pm: Utepils Beer Garden and Festival Village
• 10:30am – 3:00pm: The Trailhead Food Station
• 11:00am – 3:00pm: Shuttle Bus runs between The Trailhead and Calhoun Executive Center

We understand that your furry friends require an extra effort when you are managing them as well your ski gear. Here are some notes to help make it easier for everyone on race day:

Special Parking and Race Options

• Note: Dogs are not allowed on the shuttle buses. But skijorers have the best parking options of any Festival participants. Check it out.
• Special Parking!
  • We will do our best to provide the closest parking possible to our skijor teams. Watch your email for permits to park in areas not available to other Festival participants.
    • Saturday: Trailhead South Parking Lot or the Chalet Lot
    • Sunday: North Beach Parking Lot for the start AND Trailhead South/Chalet Lot for the finish.
  • Note that access to the Trailhead will be closed at Hwy 55. You will need to approach the both the Chalet and Trailhead via Plymouth Ave from the east or Golden Valley Rd from the north.
  • Watch your email. Permits will be emailed on the Thursday or Friday prior to Festival weekend.
  • Please be respectful of your parking privileges and do not duplicate or share your parking permit with others. Your pass is intended for one vehicle only.
  • You will need to print out your permit to show to the parking attendants- please have it ready on your dash before you get to the checkpoint. Do not plan to show it on your phone. It is too slow and hard to view for our parking volunteers who often have a line of cars to manage.
  • Please note that spectators coming to Theodore Wirth Park should plan to park at the Mortenson Lots (700 Meadow Lane and 4100 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley). 
• Race Day Transportation Options
  • Most common is to bring a friend who drops you off and picks you up. This person can double as your handler!
  • If your friend can’t stick around all day, have them meet you at the Chalet or Trailhead where you can park your car and get a ride to the start (with your dogs). After the race, your car is already at the finish.

Parking Maps

• Parking and Shuttle Map. While dogs aren’t allowed on the shuttle, this map does show the location of the various parking lots.
• Point to Point Race Start Drop Off Map. This is for the Sunday racers. Your permit will allow you to park in at North Beach though you may also choose to just use the drop off option with a friend.
• Trailhead Area Map. To give you an idea of the Festival Village layout (this map is from 2022 to give you an idea of what 2023 might look like).
• Chalet Lot Drop Off Zone: Shows the location in the Chalet Lot where dropoffs and pickups at the Trailhead will be allowed (if you are not using the special skijor parking permits). Dropoff/Pickup is not available at the Trailhead.

Thursday/Friday Packet Pickup Parking

• Trailhead Small North Lot: Closed (venue), Dropoffs/Pickups allowed (no parking)
• Trailhead Large South Lot: Open but may be limited.
• Chalet Lot: Open but may be limited.
• Overflow Lot: Closed
• Mortenson Construction Lot: Participant parking available after 5:00pm (walking distance to Theodore Wirth Trailhead)

Road Closures

• Make note of these for getting around race morning. Be sure to let your spectator fans know as well.
  • Glenwood Ave from Xerxes to Theodore Wirth Pkwy: Saturday (7am-1pm), Sunday (7am-2pm)
  • Theodore Wirth Pkwy from N Wayzata Blvd to Glenwood: Saturday (7am-1pm), Sunday (7am-2pm)
  • Theodore Wirth Pkwy from Hwy 55 to Plymouth Ave: Saturday (7am-2:30), Sunday (8am-12pm)

Drop off / pick up in Theodore Wirth Park

• Dropoffs and pickups will be allowed at the Chalet (1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy). Please note that access to the Trailhead will be closed at Hwy 55. You will need to approach the Chalet via Plymouth Ave from the east or Golden Valley Rd from the north.

For your convenience, you will have the option of bringing a bag to have near the finish with personal items, e.g. warm and dry clothes, food, etc. We realize that few skijorers need to use this as they usually have their vehicle close due to the special parking, but it is available if you should like to use it.

• Provide your own bag. It should be a fully-enclosed or duffel-type bag.
• All bags should be marked with your race number. You may do this yourself or use the bag tags we will have available at packet pickup.
• We do not recommend that you leave valuable items such as wallets or keys. The Loppet Foundation will not be responsible for these items.

Saturday Bags (Trailhead start and finish)

• You may drop a bag at the bag claim area before your event. Please be sure that it is tagged with your race number.

Sunday Bags (North Beach to Trailhead)

All bags dropped off at the North Beach Parking Lot on Sunday (for the point to point races starting at Bde Maka Ska) will be transported to the finish area near The Trailhead at Wirth Park. Look for the Got Junk trucks in the North Beach parking lot.

• Bag Drop: North Beach Parking Lot, 8am-11am (Saturday) and 8am-12pm (Sunday). See North Beach Map for specific location in the parking lot.
• Bag Claim: The Trailhead, 8am-3:30pm (Saturday) and 9:30am – 3pm (Sunday). Exact location for 2023 is TBD but very likely similar to 2022 (near the changing tent): 2022 Trailhead Map

Utepils Beer! All participants (that are of age) get one free beer (or alternative soda) at the finish at the Trailhead! Please have ID available. Additional beer may be purchased on site by participants or spectators.

Chili! For years, the Loppet has served Captain Ken’s Chili at the finish line. It is our goal to do that again in 2023. Just what a tired skier needs to start the recovery process!

Sponsors! Our sponsors help make everything happen and better! Please visit and thank them for their support. We are sure you will have some fun with them, too!

Changing Tent: Right next to Bag Claim is a heated changing tent to get into dry clothes! We recommend including walking shoes in your bag if you are meeting a pickup at the Chalet or Mortenson.

Race Bibs: In an effort to reduce the waste generated by thousands of bibs, the Loppet will collect all of our bibs at several post-race locations. We realize that some racers would like to keep their bib for their own personal “wall of fame” and that is OK. But if you are indifferent and know that it would sit on a corner shelf and eventually end up in the trash, please return your bib after the race. And, yes, it also saves the Loppet significant expense which allows us to direct more finances toward our mission-based programs.

Award Ceremonies

Awards ceremonies will take place at the finish area podium as soon as results are posted. Must be present to receive gift cards and/or cash award packet.

Saturday Awards

• 10k Race- 1dog National Championship
  • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
  • Awards for first three overall male and female category finishers.
    • 1st Place: $150 Cash Prize, Award Medal, One Dog National Champion
    • 2nd Place: $100 Cash Prize, Award Medal
    • 3rd Place: $50 Cash Prize,  Award Medal
• 5k Race
  • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
  • Awards for first three overall male and female category finishers.
    • 1st Place: Award Medal
    • 2nd Place: Award Medal
    • 3rd Place: Award Medal
• 3k Race
  • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
  • Awards for first three overall finishers.
    • 1st Place: Award Medal
    • 2nd Place: Award Medal
    • 3rd Place: Award Medal

Sunday Awards

• Skijor 10K Two-Dog
  • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
  • Awards for first three male and female finishers.
    • 1st Place: $150 Cash Prize, Award Medal, Two Dog National Champion
    • 2nd Place: $100 Cash Prize, Award Medal
    • 3rd Place: $50 Cash Prize, Award Medal

Race results can be found at mtecresults.com

2022 Results

• Saturday Skijor Loppet Results
• Sunday Skijor Loppet Results

2022 Photos

• 3/5/10K Skijor, 10/20/3K Classic, Kubb Tournament, Orienteering, 5K, Sit Ski, 1/2/3K Next Generation race, 10K Skijor, 10/20/37K Skate Ski, 33K Fat Tire – Todd Bauer
• Sunday Loppet Events – Jayme Halbritter Photography