Sunday, February 5, 2012
10:30 a.m.

This is the urban ski race. Participants start at Theodore Wirth Park, ski approximately 33K through woods, over parkways and across lakes to a grand finish before cheering crowds on the streets of Uptown. Skiers of all ages and abilities will be challenged and thrilled by this beautiful urban course. Go for your best time, or simply enjoy this unique ski experience.

The City of Lakes Freestyle Loppet will start next to the Par 3 clubhouse. To access the stadium area, proceed down the walking path from the parking lot next to the main Theodore Wirth Chalet towards the Par 3 clubhouse. Look for the clothing bag drop near the par 3 clubhouse and start line. Start area map

Entry Fee

Start Format

The freestyle race will have 7 waves with up to 170 people per wave. There will be a 5 minute interval between wave start times. We will attempt to have an equal number of people in each wave. Skiers will be placed into waves based on their speed.

Preliminary wave assignments will be made about 1 week before the event. All skiers registered at that time will be sorted from fastest to slowest by their qualifying time and then divided into 7 waves with an equal number of skiers per wave. Bib numbers will correlate to qualifying times with the lowest bib numbers going to the fastest skiers. Final wave assignments will be made 1 day before the race and may differ from the preliminary wave assignments due to additional registration activity. Qualifying times will be established from race results over the last year. If no race time is available from the past year we will go back an additional year to locate a qualifying time .The City of Lakes Loppet will look-up results from the following events: City of Lakes Loppet, Birkie, Korteloppet, Noquemanon, Marine O’ Brien and the Mora 35K and 58K races.

If you have not participated in any of those races and would like another race to be considered for a qualifying time, please include that with your registration or e-mail it to us at registration@cityoflakesloppet.com.

If you do not have a previous race result to use as a qualifying time, you will be placed into the last wave. To account for differences in race course distances, terrain, weather conditions etc, all results will be adjusted to a City of Lakes Loppet time. The adjustments are made by evaluating the results of those skiers who participated in both the Loppet and the other events and establishing a linear regression to correlate those results to the Loppet. If a skier has participated in multiple events over the last 2 years, their best time will be used as their qualifying time. Preliminary wave assignments will be published on our web site about 1 week before the race. Learn about the wave placement process.

If you believe you have been placed into the wrong wave, please contact us with the reasons why you think you should be in another wave. Reasonable requests will be gladly accommodated.

Packet Pickup

Packets can be picked up at the Loppet Registration Center in Calhoun Square on Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and on Saturday from 1:00 to 6:30.  On Sunday, packets can be picked up on the 2nd floor of Wirth Chalet at the start area.  Participants are encouraged to pick up their packets before Sunday to allow time to resolve any registration issues and to allow you more time to get to your event on Sunday.

Awards

All first time Freestyle race finishers receive Loppet medals. Multiple-time finishers receive special pins commemorating the number of years they have completed the event. Imported Austrian brass bells go to the top three finishers in each 5-year age class. Prize money is awarded to the top finishers – $1000 for 1st, $500 for 2nd, and $200 for third.

Bells not collected during the awards ceremony must be picked up by arrangement by June 30. Those not able to collect a bell in person may opt to have it mailed for a $5 fee.

Hoigaard’s Challenge

The City of Lakes Freestyle Loppet is a Hoigaard’s Challenge event. Do either the Freestyle Loppet or the Hoigaard’s Classic, then complete the Tri-Loppet and Trail Loppet in a single year and qualify for awards and recognition.

Double-Loppet Award

Ski the City of Lakes Loppet and the Mora Vasaloppet in the same year and receive the “Double-Loppet” award. This participation pin goes to all skiers who complete a 25 kilometer or longer event at both the City of Lakes Loppet and the Mora Vasaloppet in the same year. Skiers competing in the 35 kilometer freestyle races at both events will also be eligible for age-class recognition on a combined time basis.