Skill level: Intro, Intermediate. Effort level: Casual, Recreational.
The Loppet Ski Club is designed for people who are new to cross country skiing or want to become better recreational skiers. We mainly ski on the snowmaking trails at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis so we can have reliable snow earlier in the year. 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. It’s also a great way to motivate yourself to ski regularly while building your skills on the snow.
Regardless of motivation and experience – ALL are welcome! This year we are trying hard to make it easier to get new skiers involved in this wonderful activity.
How the Loppet Ski Club works- winter program:
1. Skiers (or potential skiers) sign up for one of our weekday and evening sessions led by our experienced team of coaches. More detail on groups in next section.
2. Open Skiing. This is included for skiers from all groups. Before snow arrives (beginning November 5) we will meet on Saturdays at 9am at Wirth Beach. Once snow arrives, we will have several options each week. Because of traffic and crowding we will avoid the Trailhead Trails at 9am Saturday- relying on natural snow trails and quieter times on the manmade loops. Our Open Ski/ Saturday programs will also include education (equipment, waxing, clothing) and social activities. The social part usually starts with a ski club favorite- eating. Potlucks and Mill Valley Market at The Trailhead are among the options.
3. Cost- Winter Program. A Minneapolis Parks Ski pass is also required.
4. Wait List- There won’t be a wait list this year. Ski Club demand has been extraordinary the past few years. We have worked hard to expand our capacity but many were still unable to get a spot. This year we are taking several steps to replace the waitlist:
- A combination fall+ winter registration.
- Added more coaches.
- Addition of a Thursday mid-day program.
- Slightly larger group sizes where appropriate.
- Once groups are full, we will open registration for our Open Ski session.
- Open Ski registration will be at a reduced cost but will include the option of taking advantage of openings in the other groups. These openings will be announced at scheduled activities.
- There will be a preliminary cap on Open Ski registrations, but (had this system been in place last year) we would have accommodated everyone on the wait list.
- We intend to re-open registration for additional capacity after it snows.
Join our Facebook group for updates, social activities, and other opportunities!
Registration
Register for Fall Ski Club on August 16:
Register Now!Register for Winter Ski Club on October 1:
Register Now!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
Proceeds from the Loppet Ski Club benefit the Loppet Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation's mission, vision, and values.
2022/2023 Ski Club
Fall Program:
This fall training program is designed for adult recreational skiers. Beginners will learn technique without the complication of using slippery skis, while more experienced skiers will benefit from a tune-up and re-emphasis on ski-specific training after a long summer of biking, running, golfing, etc.
We will start each week as a group then sort into small groups based on skier fitness and experience. Each group will do a combination of technique specific drills, fitness, strength, agility, and balance work.
When: Monday evenings 6:30 – 8:00, September 12 through October 31, 2022 (8 sessions).
Or
Thursday mornings 1130 – 1:00, September 6 through October 25, 2022 (8 sessions).
Where: Meet at the start time in the field at the corner of Glenwood and Xerxes. Parking is at Wirth Beach or in the neighborhood near Xerxes and Glenwood. Most of our training will be in the Eloise Butler section of Theodore Wirth Park- about a mile south of the Trailhead. The Thursday group will meet and start from the Wirth Beach parking lot.
Equipment: Running shoes or other trail shoes are most important. For evening groups you may want to add a headlamp. We know the trails well, but it will be dark in the woods later in September. Bring ski poles (or hiking poles) if you have them. If you do not have poles, come anyway, as these workouts can also be done without poles. For new skiers- we recommend that you wait to buy equipment until after you speak with one of our coaches- we can probably help you get better gear for less money. But don’t wait too long- supply chain issues have impacted the ski industry over the past two years and will do so again this year.
Winter Program:
Winter Groups will run from November – February. All groups will meet starting the week of November 1 for 2-4 weeks of dryland training. Wear running shoes and layers, and please bring ski poles and (for evening groups) headlamps if you have them. The emphasis will be on skill development, ski fitness, balance, agility, strength, and flexibility. Monday and Wednesday evening groups will meet in front of The Trailhead for dryland, while Tuesday and Thursday morning groups will meet at Wirth Beach for dryland. We will get on snow as soon as weather allows. Week to week adjustments will be announced on the Loppet Ski Club Team App. Coached group meeting times:
- Monday evening 7:00pm – 8:30pm: Classic skiing. Appropriate for all levels of classic skier- from beginner to experienced. There will be a focus on fundamentals for those who need it. Experienced skiers will receive more advanced coaching. Meet in the start area of the snowmaking loop at Theodore Wirth Park. Includes Open Ski Program. Starts November 7.
- Tuesday morning group 9am – 1030am: Classic and skate: Appropriate for all levels of skier- from beginner to experienced. There will be a focus on fundamentals for those who need it. Experienced skiers will receive more advanced coaching. Meet in the start area of the snowmaking loop at Theodore Wirth Park. Includes Open Ski Program. Starts November 1.
- Wednesday evening group (7:00pm – 8:30pm): Skate skiing. Appropriate for all levels of skate skier- from beginner to experienced. There will be a focus on fundamentals for those who need it. Experienced skiers will receive more advanced coaching. Meet in the start area of the snowmaking loop at Theodore Wirth Park. Includes Open Ski Program. Starts November 2.
Thursday morning group (1130am – 1pm): Classic and combi/skate: Classic ski coaching will be appropriate for all levels of skier- from beginner to advanced. Skate ski instruction is intermediate level and will emphasize improving skills rather than acquiring them. Skiers should know the difference between V1 and V2 and have some comfort with the Theodore Wirth trails. All skiers meet in the start area of the snowmaking loop at Theodore Wirth Park. Includes Open Ski Program. Starts November 4.
Open Ski Program (Saturday)
November- we will meet at Wirth Beach from 9:00am to 11:00am beginning Saturday, November 5. For new skiers we will help you get ready for the ski season. Experienced skiers will work on ski fitness. We will also schedule presentations on equipment- how it works, what to buy, how to maintain it, etc.
Once it snows- December
- When there is natural snow we will meet at 9am Saturday at a location covered by the Minneapolis Ski Pass. These are Columbia and Hiawatha Golf Courses, Wirth Natural trails, and the Chain of Lakes. Location will be announced on the Loppet Ski Club Team App.
- If we don’t get natural snow we will get creative. Weekly options will be listed as events on the Loppet Ski Club Team App. They may include:
- Hiking with ski poles at Wirth Beach or some other location.
- Skiing on the manmade snow at Theodore Wirth Saturday AFTERNOON.
- Skiing at other manmade trail systems- Battle Creek, Hyland or Elm Creek.
- Educational or Social events- wax clinics, equipment /clothing presentations, pot lucks, etc.
Open Ski options – mid to late season-
Whenever possible we will have at least two ski options each week. One option will be on trails covered by the Minneapolis Ski Pass. Other options will take advantage of the many wonderful ski trails in the area. In recent years we have gone to several Three Rivers Parks- Baker, Hyland, Cleary, Carver, French and Elm Creek. Other favorites are Woodland Hills, Mora, Battle Creek, U of M, Lebanon Hills, Phalen and Como.
Waitlist. There won’t be a waitlist this year. After the weekday groups are full, we will open registration for Open Ski programs. This will include access to all Open Ski (Saturday) events. Also, you will have first call on openings in the weekday groups- these will be announced each week at program events.
Communication- You will receive an invitation to join the Loppet Ski Club in the Stack Team App. This app is available through Google Play or the Apple Store and is used successfully by other Loppet programs. You will have access to all communications relevant to your group, and perhaps more importantly- to information and schedule for our Saturday programs. Expect to get this invitation in the week before your group starts.