This year’s Opeongo Hills Classic Loppet saw the biggest field of competitors yet in its five year history with 85 participants registered and 82 skiers racing on February 2. The Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club were excited to add two new prizes to a range of traditional cross-country ski events:
- Largest Team went to 14 people from Deep River
- Best Costume was won by the Outdoor Leadership Group from Boundless School (pictured above wearing their Super Mario Carts handmade costumes from left: Trevor Mills, Chance Bartlett, Aleksander Hejnowicz, Allyson Saunders, Amelia McNiven, Enock Buliman, Josiah Kennedy, Amelia Marchand
Competitor Colette Szalay of Barry’s Bay told The Current, “It’s a perfect day for it, with the snow coming gently down.” The atmosphere was friendly and fun as spectators and skiers waited for the longer races to finish. Competitors were full of praise for the Club volunteers who had worked all week long to groom the trails to perfection. Plenty of volunteers ensured the race ran smoothly and safely. More volunteers ensured the wood stove in the warm-up yurt kept everyone cosy and still others handed out hot drinks and food in the food tent.
Loppet competitors of all ages skied cross-country courses in several classes and distances:
- Kids under 10 years (2.5 km)
- Youth 10 to 18 years (5 km)
- Adult Social (5 km)
- Women’s 10 km
- Men’s 10 km
- Women’s 20 km
- Men’s 20 km
Loppet Director Peter Cruchet explained that the varying course lengths and loops kept race marshals on their toes, as they tracked the skiers through every checkpoint, whether they were racing 2.5 km, 5 km, 10 km or 20 km. Click HERE to see the official results as compiled by “Waddle Team” scorer Duncan Noble (below).
