Morin-Heights Viking Loppet

20 km Jack Wahlberg Course Description 2010

• The start time for this event is 10:15
• Skiers must report to the staging area at Morin-Heights Elementary School at 8:45 a.m. to confirm their registration, pick up their race kit and ChampionChip bracelet. Skiers must attach the bracelet to their right ankle to ensure their time is recorded.
• The BIB number must be displayed prominently on the front and easily visible to course marshals.
• All skiers will be shuttled to the starting line from the Morin-Heights Elementary School.  Please do not drive there directly.
  
  The 20 km course was designed for skiers with moderate stamina and sound basic skills. It is the type of course that will challenge a racer yet still be enjoyable for skiers who want to participate in a longer event. The course is the same as last year and is actually 21.4 km in length. Skiers must be able to ski at a pace of 6 km/hr if they want to complete the course. Skiers are being asked to self-seed themselves according to the signage at the start line to help avoid congestion at the beginning of the event.
  
  The race will start on the pond at the Viking Ski Club as in past years. It begins with a rolling 5 km loop on the Club's racing trails before returning to the start line. Two hundred metres after the start the route will cross Jackson Road onto the Green trail and shortly afterwards will reach the first feeding station (6 km). The trail climbs up the Green trail for 0.5 km before turning left onto the Red trail. It is an easy 1.2 km on a very pretty and rolling section of the Red trail with a short, steep downhill prior  to a critical intersection where the 33 km and 20 km routes split.
  
  Skiers will veer right onto the Red trail and follow a rolling single track trail all the way to the Montfort meadow (10 km) and the second feeding station .There are several short, but steep climbs after the meadow to the highest point at 505 m. Shortly afterward the trail opens onto an old logging road where it becomes double track-set and begins to descend for over 2 km. The trail will follow the road and turn sharply to the left onto the Poste trail which later merges with La Promenade and continues to descend all the way to the Aerobic Corridor (15 km) and the third feeding station. These trails follow wide, open roads located on the North side and there is frequently an uphill breeze, which can make this section bitterly cold, so be prepared!
  
  
  Skiers must reach the Aerobic Corridor by 12:45 pm if they want to complete the course with services. A shuttle service will be available.
  
  After reaching the Corridor, skiers will then head down towards Morin-Heights and the final feeding station at Bennett road (20 km). The course crosses Route 329 and 250 meters later will turn right onto Rockcliff road where it leaves the Corridor, climbs a short distance up to the Bellevue Ski Center and the finish line.
  
  The Aerobic Corridor will be double-track set with a wide centre lane for passing. Skiers will be sharing sections of the Corridor with participants registered in all three events, as well as the general public. There will be major control points along the course. However due to the overlapping nature of the courses, skiers must pay attention to junctions where there may not be a marshal. It is the skiers’ responsibility to follow the signs for their particular event.
  
  Marshals reserve the right to impose a cut-off if they feel a skier will not be able to complete the course within a reasonable time or that the skier’s health and safety is in question.
  
  Medical personnel will be present at both the Montfort meadow (10 km) and Aerobic Corridor (15 km) feeding stations. Skiers can request assistance at any feeding station and medical help will be arranged.
  
  This is a classical event and SKATING is NOT permitted. Skiers caught skating will be disqualified. 

-- Courtesy of James Jackson