Loppet Ski School

Group Ski Lessons


The Loppet Foundation partners with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to provide lessons and learning opportunities at Wirth Park. The Loppet Foundation is a PSIA Certified Ski School. Meet our instructors. Group Lessons are 1.5 hours long.

Skiers must be at least 14 years old to participate. Those between the ages of 7-13 should check out the Loppet Foundation’s TRAIL KIDS Program.

MPRB Day Trail Pass is included with lesson cost. Cross-country ski equipment rental is not included. 

Classic and skate ski gear rentals are available at The Trailhead building. Visit our Equipment Rentals webpage for information and pricing.

If you liked your first lesson, we encourage you to purchase a Season Pass to enjoy the trails all winter long.

Group lessons are generally offered Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but schedule varies between styles and levels. Both skate and classic lessons are available for $40.00/person. Click on the “Register Now” button below to sign up.

Participants should arrive 30 minutes early for parking, 1 hour early if you are renting ski equipment.

Classes are limited per session on a first-come, first-served basis.

IMPORTANT NOTES: Please choose your date and time carefully, as no refunds are allowed. You can switch to another group lesson time, pending availability, by following the instructions here. Any lesson changes must be made more than 72 hours ahead of your scheduled lesson time.

Those signing up for Level 1 Skate lessons should note that first taking a group Classic level 1 lesson and learning the skills of push-off, weight transfer and balance on one ski are recommended to be successful in the Skate level 1 lesson. Those signing up for a Skate Level 2 lesson must have attained the basic skills of a Skate Level 1 lesson first. Descriptions of the different levels are below.

Registration Closed

Classic Style Classes:

Beginning Classic – Level 1: Learn the basic elements of cross-country classic skiing including weight transfer, balance, timing and range of movement. We will use various drills and visual mimicking to cover the techniques of diagonal stride, double poling, herringbone, and snowplow.

Beginning Classic – Level 2: Once you’ve mastered Level 1 you are eligible to graduate to Level 2. Here you will learn increased range of motion to improve your push-off, weight transfer, balance, improve your timing, kick double pole, step turns and snowplow turns.

Beginning Classic – Level 3: Once you’ve mastered Level 2 you are eligible to graduate to Level 3 and add increased knowledge of diagonal striding on various terrain,step turns to exit and enter the classic track, timing for transitions from one technique to another depending on the terrain and using these skills to keep momentum flowing down the trail for maximum efficiency and fun.

Skate Style Classes:

*Prior classic skiing lesson and experience recommended

Beginning Skate – Level 1: Learn the basic elements of cross-country skate skiing including weight transfer, balance, timing and range of movement. We will use various drills and visual mimicking to cover the techniques of skate skiing without poles (used in skijoring), double poling, diagonal skate, V2 alternate (open field), and snowplow.

Beginning Skate – Level 2: Once you’ve mastered Level 1 you are eligible to graduate to Level 2. Here you will learn various drills to improve your range of motion and add increased knowledge of the techniques of open skate, V2, V1 uphill and snowplow turns.

Beginning Skate – Level 3: Once you’ve mastered Level 2 you are eligible to graduate to Level 3. Here you will refine your skate techniques and learn step turns to handle downhill curves safely. You will also practice transitions from one technique to another to handle changes in the terrain of a trail and to improve efficiency and continued momentum down the trail.

A Note About the Data We Collect

For more information from the Professional Ski Instructors of America, visit their website.

For more information contact lessons@loppet.org. For registration questions, email registration@loppet.org.