The latest update on the Lake Louise to Banff Loppet and Relay has good snow coverage reported over the entire track, with volunteers working away to machine pack from Castle Junction to the finish at Sawback.
“We’re stopping this year at the Sawback picnic area which is on the 1A on Bow Valley Parkway. So the loppet this year is 50 kilometres instead of the regular 71,” said organizer Joe Lunn.
“We’re skiing the usual loppet route, it’s just that we’re stopping short. So instead of having teams up to six, we’re having teams of up to four skiers and this year we have individuals skiing it solo, which is great because of the shorter distance.”
This year is no different from the last, with the popular event filling up its registration numbers within an hour of opening.
“The 200 hundred spaces sold out within an hour. Last year sold out with the same numbers around the same time,” Lunn said. “It’s really been the last two years that the popularity has grown significantly. Some skiers just felt that 70 km was too much but they could tough it out for 50 km.
“I think it’s the continuing growth in Nordic skiing, I think it’s the opportunity to ski part of Banff National Park that they normally can’t ski. And the humorous word on the street is we have the best draw prizes – and I think it’s that the combination,” Lunn offered on the support and involvement the community shows towards the event.
The loppet has garnered a strong reputation as a fun and friendly community event with both volunteers and participants getting dressed up in colourful costumes to add a bit of flare.
“Because it’s a shorter distance we’re also starting an hour later up at the chateau,” Lunn said. “So we start at nine in the morning and we anticipate that the fastest skiers will get to the Sawback picnic area around 11:30 a.m.
“One of the things we’re proud of is a permanent winter base now of a section of the loppet trail from Protection Mountain campground to Castle Lookout. The loppet committee commissioned an environmental impact assessment using funds we have generated from the loppet,” said Lunn. “The environmental assessment was approved by Parks in the new year. That portion of the trail is now is now regularly track set.
“It’s one of the prettiest parts of the trail, and now skiers are able to ski from Castle Junction all the way to Baker creek. That would be about 15 kms one way.
“We’ll be celebrating that this year.”
The Lake Louise to Banff Loppet and Relay takes place this Sunday (Jan. 19) with the race starting at 9 a.m. on the lake in front of Chateau Lake Louise.
