Loppet Nordic Racing for adults is designed for anyone 20 years of age and older who is interested in RACING. Programs range from beginner level through masters skiing to high level training with video analysis and lactate testing. LNR Adult training groups are designed to prepare adult athletes for winter race events.
If you are not interested in racing but are looking for more of a recreational ski group experience, we recommend you look into joining the Loppet Ski Club. If you are a beginner skier or are looking for more instruction, we recommend taking Group or Private ski lessons through our Loppet Ski School.
Join our Facebook group for updates, social activities, and other opportunities!
January 4th, 2021 Update – Winter programs will be run in pods of no more than 25 skiers. Example: 50 people sign up for Wednesday Intermediate Skate group. That group of 50 would be split into 2 pods of 25 – each pod with their own coach for the season. Pods will meet and train separately.
New for 2020 – 2021 – Four new morning groups have been added to the LNR winter training groups. We are hoping those with flexible work schedules will select to ski and train with a group during the day and reduce the size of some of the large evening groups.
Training Programs
Winter LNR Adult Programs
Three-Week Skill Clinics
- Beginning Skate Skiing – Learning to V1, No Pole, V2 Alt
- Beginning Classic Skiing – Intro to Double Pole, Striding
- Intermediate Skate Skiing – Mastering V2, Weight Shift
- Intermediate Classic Skiing – Double Pole Kick, Herringbone, Kick Waxing
Beginner Training Programs
- Gung-Ho Beginners Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Monday Evenings
- Gung-Ho Beginners Classic – Theodore Wirth Park, Wednesday Mornings
- Beginner/Intermediate Racing Skate – Hyland, Friday Mornings
- Beginner/Intermediate Racing Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Tuesday Mornings
- Beginner/Intermediate Racing Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Tuesday Evenings
- Beginning Classic and Skate lessons – offered through Loppet Adventures Wirth Ski Lessons
Intermediate Training Programs
- Intermediate Skate – Hyland, Tuesday Mornings
- Intermediate Skate – Hyland, Wednesday Mornings
- Intermediate Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Wednesday Mornings
- Intermediate Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Wednesday Evenings
- Intermediate Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Thursday Mornings
- Intermediate Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Thursday Evenings
- Intermediate Classic – Hyland, Wednesday Evenings
- Intermediate/Advanced Classic – Theodore Wirth Park, Thursday Mornings
- Women’s Wednesday Warriors: Intermediate/Advanced Skate and Classic – Theodore Wirth Park, Wednesday Mornings
- Women’s Wednesday Warriors: Technique and Fitness Training – Theodore Wirth Park, Wednesday Mornings
Advanced Training Groups
- Men’s Wave 1 (Advanced Skate) – Theodore Wirth Park, Tuesday Evenings
- Women’s Wednesday Warriors: Intermediate/Advanced Skate and Classic – Theodore Wirth Park, Wednesday Mornings
- Women’s Advanced Skate – Theodore Wirth Park, Monday Evenings
Studio Classes
- Winter Strength for Endurance Athletes – The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
Young Adult Groups
- Training for Skiers in their 20s – Theodore Wirth Park, Tuesday & Thursday evenings
Fall LNR Adult Programs
- Fall Dryland – The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Women’s Fall Dryland Training Group – The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Women’s Fall Rollerski Session – Hyland Park, Bloomington
- Fall Intermediate Rollerski – Annie Young Meadow, W. River Road
- Fall Intermediate Rollerski – Hyland Park, Bloomington
- Fall Wave 1 Rollerski – Annie Young Meadow, W. River Road
- Fall Strength for Endurance Athletes – The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
Spring LNR Adult Programs
- Adult LNR Strength Session – The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
Summer LNR Adult Programs
- LNR Summer Strength – The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Summer Adult Rollerski Training
Presentations
XC Ski Technique Presentation – Classic and Skate: Monday, Nov 9th at 7pm. This presentation will break down XC skiing technique so you can better understand and analyze it. Loppet Sport Director, Piotr Bednarski, will present. Join with Zoom. Passcode: loppet
Invite-Only Groups
Due to the extremely physically demanding nature of the programs listed below, they are not open to the public. Participants in these elite-level training groups are offered invitation based on superior results in popular ski races during previous season.
- LNR Collegiate: Summer training for NCAA and post collegiate skiers – contact Caitlin Gregg at caitlincgregg@gmail.com
- Young Adult Master Skiers (YAMS) – contact Nicole Harvey at nmlepins@mtu.edu
- Loppet Elite Master Skiers on Nordic Skis (LEMONS) – contact Mary McKelvey at mkmckelvey44@gmail.com
Registration
All Loppet Nordic Racing participants must be a member of the Loppet Foundation. This is a one-time fee for each year (June 1 – May 31), no matter how many sessions registered for, only need to become a member once.
Register Early! In order to organize the clubs and provide for the right coaching, LNR generally has a lower cost early-registration fee. Register early to receive a lower price and to help LNR make a better experience for the participants.
All Theodore Wirth Park Winter Programs
All Hyland Winter Programs
Three-Week Skill Clinics
Proceeds from the Loppet Nordic Racing Programs benefit the Loppet Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation's mission, vision, and values.
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.
Loppet Nordic Racing Full-Time Coaches
Loppet Nordic Racing Director Piotr Bednarski and Head Coach Chris Harvey head up the coaching team. Both are experienced high-level coaches.

Piotr Bednarski, Loppet Nordic Racing Director (bednarski@loppet.org): Piotr has served as the Loppet Nordic Racing Director since March of 2012, and he has coached at a high level for more than 25 years. He has coached at the college level, and he has coached nationally and internationally successful athletes. His Go!Training program has produced some of the region’s and country’s best skiers for years.
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.