This winter the Esterhazy Cross Country Ski Club will be hosting its 12th annual loppet on Saturday, January 21, 2023. (Check our Calendar link for more information). It is an invitation sent provincially to all registered ski clubs across Saskatchewan and to any skiers, members or non-members, beginners or veterans.
"So you are wondering, “What is a Loppet”? It is a great social gathering of skiers who ski on a specifically groomed trail either classic (diagonal stride) or free (skating technique) of various distances.
The Loppet means different things to participants. For some it’s spirited competition (if you set personal goals), for others it’s a relaxing way to spend a day outside, taking in the pristine beauty of the country side or wilderness, and enjoying the sit down luncheon at the chalet watching the home grown entertainment. Snacks and beverages are also available at the chalet during the event.... :-)
Registration & waiver will be available the day of the event for all interested parties. If you are debating about whether you will enter our loppet, I urge you strongly, as a club member to register. Our club receives funding based on the numbers of registrants, so this is your chance to contribute to enhance our club. It is also the perfect opportunity to invite a friend to come out and ski and see what it is all about.
If you have any questions regarding the loppet, cross country skiing or our club, the following members would be eager to assist you:
Tom Landine 740-8880
A write up from Tom Landine regarding the 2019 Loppet:
When a person or a group schedules an outdoor event in Saskatchewan in January, you know you are at the mercy of the weather. Snow is frequently forecast but seldom delivered. But if cold is forecast, it is almost always correct to the degree! So, when a Forecast of -24C showed up for Jan. 19, we knew we were in for cold. What was surprizing was the lack of wind and the abundant sunshine, two things that can make a winter day great at almost any temperature.
We were anxious to host and not cancel our loppet this year, since we had a bad bit of luck with the weather over the last few years. More than that we also wanted to showcase a new endeavor for our club, which is the addition of "Fat tire bike trails. Our ski club has teamed up with the local bike club, the East Qu'Appelle Cartel, who have purchased a bike groomer, which was fabricated right here in Esterhazy by a local business, Parkland Manufacturing. The groomer is pulled by our club snowmobile and lays down a beautiful hard pack trail about 3' wide. With our recent cold weather the trails have set up hard and smooth, and are quite frankly a joy to ride.
Winter riding is a relatively new phenomena in this area, so to promote it we added Fat biking to our loppet and invited Western Cycle Source for Sports from Regina to come out and bring some demo bikes. The staff at Western were able to come and they came with demo bikes and enthusiasm to ride. Though unwavering in their commitment to come, Bert and Andre must have had some reservations about the turnout when the saw the temperature in Esterhazy was -34C at 8 am!!! Luckily the sun had some power once it came up and winds remained mercifully light through the day.
We had 24 people register for the loppet, and most of them rode a bike at some point, many for the first time on a fat bike on snow. A delicious lunch of hot chili was served in our cozy chalet, enjoyed in the warmth of a wood stove, while others roasted wieners around the outside fire. Homemade treats galore rounded out a great meal. While many of the bikers took off on a trek towards the valley trails closer to Esterhazy a number switched to skis for the afternoon.
Our ski club is also home to a small Biathlon group, two of which brought out their rifles to allow people to try shooting at targets. Many laughs and much teasing ensued, but honestly, shooting at -24C is not that much fun if you are new to it.
One of our guests from Regina commented about our facility, that we had Classic trails, and then mostly separate from that, the Skate trails, and now bike trails and even a biathlon range. He thought we would be the envy of most communities in the province. His point is well taken.
In the end, everyone who attended enjoyed the day and went home the richer for braving the weather. And not a single complaint about the cold!!!
Thanks to the organizing committee and especially Western Cycle for adding so much fun and "Fat" to our day. And thanks to everyone who came out. Look for our Loppet again next year! We are excited to build on our momentum from this year.
Some tips for the novice skier:
If you are relatively new to cross-country skiing you could not have picked a better sport.
Clean air. Spectacular views. Healthy aerobic exercise. And the company of warm friendly skiers from all walks of life are but a few of the pluses that make cross-country skiing very popular.
There are a few things you might want to consider if this is your first Loppet:
As we must specify a set course for the loppet according to the guidelines set out by CCS, the ski club will be off limits to any skiers other than those registered in the loppet for that day only. Please adhere to the specified course; do not just go your own way.
Although there are feeding stations available with water, juices and snacks, you are encouraged to bring your own water bottle; you may wish to bring an energy bar or two in case you don’t care for the food being served.
Dress warmly with layers of light clothing to suit temperature conditions and bring along an extra pair of mittens or gloves and socks; also bring headgear and face protection if wind becomes a factor.
Please remember to be responsible for your equipment during your breaks...stand them up at proper areas.
As you ski your Loppet, you will be sharing the trail with other skiers. We ask that you be courteous and considerate for everyone's safety and enjoyment.
If a faster skier approaches from behind and calls out “track,” please move over to the right and let them by. And, if you are the faster skier, please be patient with the novice doing their best to cede the way.
Above all, have fun. And remember, a hearty meal awaits you at the end of the trail.