News & Stories

Weekend Snowstorm Arrives Just in Time for Loppet Winter Festival Races

Organizers of the City of Lakes Loppet Festival were pleased to announce Monday afternoon that they will be running full point-to-point races once again in 2019

Minneapolis, MN — Thanks to a solid heaping of snow this past weekend, event officials at the Loppet Foundation are looking forward to holding full point-to-point races this year in spite of the low-snow year we’ve experienced so far.

The full-course races are planned to begin in Uptown on Bde Maka Ska, following the Chain of Lakes to a grand finish at The Trailhead in Theodore Wirth Park. With a new finish line venue, fresh snow and cold temps throughout the week, plus a forecast of gorgeous weather for the coming weekend, Loppet staff could not be more excited.

“We were planning for a great event with or without snow in the forecast, as we’ve invested a lot of time, energy, and money in ensuring that Wirth Park has a world class trail system no matter the weather.” said John Munger, executive director of the Loppet Foundation. “That said, we know there’s something special about racing in a point-to-point marathon within city limits, and we’re thrilled to see racers enjoying the new course this year.”

In addition to point-to-point ski races, the weekend festivities will also include a number of other new and signature Loppet events including the Chuck & Don’s skijoring races, Penn Cycle fat tire events, and the Captain Ken’s Kubb Tournament. Participants and spectators will be able to enjoy all of these fun winter events at the Loppet Foundation’s new homebase, The Trailhead.

Nearly a decade in the making and just opened this past summer, The Trailhead is part of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Master Plan for the park and the Loppet Foundation’s long-term vision for making lifetime endurance sports more accessible for their Northside neighbors. This year-round hub for outdoor adventure now provides a home for competitive races, community events, and much more.

Learn more about the City of Lakes Loppet Festival at cityoflakesloppet.com.