If you can ski you can Loppet.
If the first thing that springs to mind when you think of the annual Loppet is serious skiers in serious equipment skiing at serious speeds, Ron Watteyne wants to change your mind.
“The Loppet is not a race,” Watteyne said.
The Loppet is a participation event and the Cariboo Ski Touring Club would like to invite skiers of all ages and abilities to choose a category that suits them and join in the fun, Saturday, Jan. 25.
In Europe, Loppets draw tens of thousands of participants who just want to share their love of cross-country skiing, Watteyne said.
There are distances from 300 meters for the youngest up to 32 km for the energetic skier. Other distances include 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km for the kids and 8 km, and 17 km for the adults.
After finishing the Loppet participants and volunteers will be treated to a delicious luncheon provided by Bliss: The Ultimate Grill
The course goes through a variety of terrain from rolling hills, birch forest, evergreen forest, into meadows with beautiful vistas and finishing through deciduous forest in the stadium. The trail will be groomed with two classic tracks allowing people to pass easily and also to visit along the scenic route.
This is the 19th annual Hallis Lake Loppet and last year it attracted over 100 happy participants.
Registrations are all online at www.caribooski.ca there is a deadline of noon on Friday, Jan. 24. There will be no race day registrations.
“It’s a great push to get out of the house and embrace winter in the Cariboo. So,get outdoors and enjoy nature,” Watteyne said.