Winter is coming to The Loppet!
Get ready: winter programming is coming! Winter programming registration goes live on Sunday, October 1 at 8 a.m. for Trail Kids and 9 a.m. for everything else!
There is programming for every age and skill level no matter what you’re interested in. We look forward to making fall a great season with our fantastic Loppet community!
Upcoming Programs
Registration for most programs opens Sunday, October 1. See below for a list of every program offered by age.
Check out the following web pages for more information on specific program offerings and registration links:
For Juniors:
- Winter Adventure Camp – Tuesday December 27 – Thursday December 29, 10am – 3pm. At Loppet Winter Adventure Camp youth spend their days diving into a world of non-stop outdoor fun – all on cross country skis.
- Activities Include: cross country ski lessons, ski ball/cross country games, downhill slalom, relay races, bonfires
- Skill Level: all welcome
- Age Range: 9-13
- Trail Kids 10 Week Classic + Skate Ski Program – December 27 – March 9. These sessions meet twice a week for ten weeks, focusing on both classic and skate ski technique (classic and skate equipment needed to participate in these sessions).
- Activities Include: skate and classic ski lessons
- Skill Level: Novice – Intermediate
- Age Range: 7-13
- Trail Kids Beginner Nordic Ski Clinics – Multiple dates. The clinics are designed for beginners and will focus on teaching the fundamental skills of classic ski or skate ski technique.
- Activities Include: Technique drills, relays, and games on skis
- Skill level: Beginners
- Age Range: 7-13
- Trail Kids 5 Week Classic Ski Session – Two sessions, Hyland or Theo Wirth Park. Trail Kids offers two five-week sessions for families that want a shorter time commitment and/or to focus on one discipline.
- Activities Include: classic ski techniques
- Skill level: Novice – Intermediate
- Age Range: 7-13
- Trail Kids 5 Week Skate Ski Session – Two sessions, Hyland or Theo Wirth Park. Trail Kids offers two five-week sessions for families that want a shorter time commitment and/or to focus on one discipline.
- Activities Include: skate ski techniques
- Skill level: Novice – Intermediate
- Age Range: 7-13
- Loppet Nordic Racing Juniors Development Team – Training for young nordic skiers interested in ski racing. Raced focus training, but will include games, agility, and some strength training. Athletes transition from Trail Kids to LNR DEVO team as they improve fitness and technique and develop and interest in racing.
- Activities Include: nordic ski technique, physical conditioning
- Skill Level: Intermediate – Advanced
- Age Range: 13 – 16
- Loppet Nordic Racing Juniors Competition Team – The LNR competition team for 16-19 year olds will continue to be focused on year round training with the goal of competing regionally and nationally.
- Activities Include: nordic ski technique, physical conditioning, year round program
- Skill Level: Advanced only
- Age Range: 16 – 19
- Loppet Cycle Works Juniors Off Season Training: Off-season training program for junior cyclists looking to enhance their competence on the bike through a structured training regimen consisting of sport-specific strength and circuit training. Indoor cycling programming using smart-trainer technology. LCW will provide a smart trainer for those that don’t have them (this is limited to 10).
- Activities Include: strength, circuit training
- Skill Level: Beginner – Advanced
- Age range: 11-17
For Adults (18+):
- Adult Strength for Endurance Athletes: Focuses on building a solid base for nordic skiing, running, and other endurance sports by utilizing body weight movements, barbells, free weights, and plyometrics.
- Activities Include: strength training
- Skill Level: Beginner – advanced
- LNR Adults Beginning Skate Skiing 2 Week Clinic: Learn the basics of skate skiing over a 2 week progressive skills course.
- Activities: skate ski
- Skill Level: Beginner
- LNR Adults Beginning Classic Skiing 2 Week Clinic: Learn the basics of classic skiing over a 2 week progressive skills course.
- Activities: classic ski
- Skill Level: Beginner
- LNR Adults Beginner Skate Racers: Gung-Ho Beginners Skate will tackle new elements of skate technique every week. It is expected that these athletes are in good physical condition and will therefore work on technique and tackle some significant ski specific training each week.
- Activities: skate ski technique and ski specific workouts
- Skill Level: beginner
- Fitness Level: high level of fitness – eg, runners, cyclists,
- LNR Adult Beginner Classic Racers: Gung-Ho Beginners Classic will tackle new elements of classic technique every week. It is expected that these athletes are in good physical condition and are therefore work on technique and tackle some significant ski specific training each week.
- Activities: classic ski technique
- Skill Level: beginner
- LNR Adult Beginner/Intermediate Skate Racers: This skate-only group will do physically challenging workouts while supplementing sessions with technique instruction. Training will focus on skiers looking to train for a 30-50km race.
- Activities Include: working on downhill skills, uphill climbing intervals, technique learning
- Skill Level: Beginner – Intermediate
- LNR Adults Intermediate Skate: This skate-only group will do physically challenging workouts while supplementing sessions with technique instruction. Training will focus on skiers looking to train for a 30-50km race.
- Activities Include: skate skiing workouts with an emphasis on Agility + Balance instruction
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- LNR Adults Intermediate Classic: This classic only session will include both physical and technical workouts to prepare you for a classic racing. Become a more efficient skier by improving technique and increasing classic specific strength. Training will focus on 30-50km races.
- Activities Include: technique instruction, physical training, intervals, specific ski strength
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- LNR Adult Intermediate/Advanced Classic: Make strides in classical skiing. This classic only session will include both physical and technical workouts to prepare you for a classic racing. Training will focus on 30-50 km races.
- Activities Include: technique instruction, physical training, intervals, specific ski strength
- Skill Level: Intermediate – Advanced
- LNR Adults Women’s Wednesday Group (Technique and Fitness Training): This group of women has many years of skiing experience. Skiers in this group are interested in improving technique and fitness with others. This group is not focused on racing.
- Activities Include: technique, fitness, skate and classic ski
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- LNR Adults Women’s Wednesday Group (Intermediate/Advanced Skate & Classic Skiing): This intermediate to advanced women’s training group will do physically challenging workouts while also working on technique instruction. We’ll cover all skate and classic techniques.
- Activities Include: technique, physical training, weekly intervals, ski strength
- Skill Level: Intermediate – Advanced
- LNR Adults Wave 1 Advanced Skate Training: Intensive skate skiing workouts and technique instruction. We’ll cover all skate techniques, and spend time on downhills, cornering, transitions, mass start strategies, and pacing. Training will focus on 30-50km races.
- Activities Include: intervals, ski strength, drills
- Skill Level: Advanced
- LNR Adults Women’s Advanced Skate: Advance skate group with a focus on intervals. We will start with the technical pieces with drills and work on carrying these skills over into the interval/intensity portion of the workout to follow. Training will focus on 30-50km races.
- Activities Include: intervals, ski strength, drills
- Skill Level: Advanced
- Loppet Ski Club: Is designed for people who are new to cross country skiing or want to become better recreational skiers. Many who join the club are skiing for the first time, are looking to ski with other people, or are simply trying to find a way to love winter in Minnesota! Others have been long-time skiers but have never had a lesson or training program.
- Activities Include: skate and classic ski techniques, skills training
- Skill Level: intro, intermediate
- Fitness Level: casual, recreational
When you register for any program or event, you also have the option to donate or become a Loppet member – both of which support our mission of connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community!
Upcoming Events
- Pre-Loppet: Sunday, Jan 14. Calling all cross country skiers and fat bikers! Join us for the first winter event of the season with the Pre-Loppet. Featuring approx 15-18K for the long ski and fat bike, 5K/3K/1K ski and 1K/500 meter Sit Ski!
- City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival: Saturday, Feb 3 & Sunday, Feb 4. Join us for two days of non-stop Loppet fun! With events including cross country skiing, snowshoe, kubb, skijor, and fat bike, there is something for everyone. All ages and abilities welcome!
- Luminary Loppet: Saturday, Feb 3. One of the most magical evenings of winter (and the Loppet’s largest fundraiser!), the Luminary Loppet invites you to experience the magic of 1,000+ candlelit ice sculptures on Lake of the Isles. Featuring hot cocoa, fire dancers, live music and more, this evening is not to be missed!
- Loppet Cup Presented by Stifel: Saturday, Feb 17 – Monday, Feb 19. We’re Bringing the World to Wirth! Join for two exciting days of watching the best cross country skiers in the world compete at Theo Wirth Park! Inspiration is everywhere, so take that excitement and come back to Theo on the 19th for a community day. A limited number of additional General Admission tickets will be available Wednesday, October 11, so set a reminder now!