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Thank You
to our
Sponsors
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To contact us from
December to April
By phone:
450-226-1220
Aerobic Corridor
By email:
admin@skiloppet.com
By mail:
Morin-Heights Viking Loppet
567 Village Rd
Morin Heights, (QC)
J0R 1H0
How to get to the Loppet:
Map & directions
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Building on a rich
history
The Morin-Heights
Viking Loppet is
jointly organized -- on a non-profit basis -- by the
Municipality of
Morin-Heights and the
Viking Ski Club and we are very grateful for
the continued support of our sponsors and the more than 100
volunteers that make each Loppet a fun and memorable one. Without
this support and involvement, the Loppet would not be what it is
today. It is – and has always been -- run by volunteers who truly
enjoy cross-country skiing, who give of their time to
help ensure a great time is had by all.
Surpluses generated from
our Loppet are carried over to help improve the following year’s
event and to keep costs affordable for skiers, in particular
families seeking a healthy outdoor activity in one of the most
picturesque areas of the Laurentians.
A family of four, for
example, can ski the 10-km Jan Nordström Loppet down the area’s
scenic Aerobic Corridor for no more than $70.00 (Cdn), if they
take advantage of our “Early Bird” special. The outing includes
parking, transportation to the starting area, transportation back
to the staging area, a hearty hot meal after their ski, a souvenir
Loppet pin and, of course, medals for those who excelled in their
age category.
More important, though,
the Morin-Heights Viking Loppet offers all skiers an experience
unlike any other cross-country event in the region. In addition to
the competitive aspect, our Loppet offers participants an
opportunity to share a meal, renew acquaintances and trade anecdotes
about their time on the trails.
The partnership between
Morin-Heights and the Viking Ski Club was created for the 2002
Loppet. Each year since, the number of skiers taking part in our
event has grown steadily and we have decided to limit the
number participants to 500. This will enable us to comfortably
accommodate all skiers and assure participants a great time, without
sacrificing the intimacy – the feeling of family and friendship –
for which the Morin-Heights Viking Loppet has become known.
The Loppet
features three events – 10kms, 20kms and 33kms – using local ski
trails maintained by both the Municipality and the Viking Ski Club.
The events offer varying degrees of difficulty to provide
enjoyment and challenges for skiers of all ages and skill levels.
And, there is one thing registered skiers can count on: The Lopp.jpg) et
will be held regardless of the weather. We do, however, reserve
the right to modify courses if winter deals a nasty blow.
Our Loppet has
well-established roots in the region. The Viking Ski Club, which
makes its home on Jackson Road in Morin-Heights, launched the event
36 winters ago and, as recent as 2001, offered four events,
including a gruelling 50-km test of a skier’s endurance, skill and
fortitude. It was simply called the Viking Loppet and any who
completed the trek in reasonable time earned the respect of fellow
skiers.
The three
events run by the club honour the forefathers, if you will, of
today’s Morin-Heights Viking Loppet. The 10km Jan Nordström Loppet,
which today takes skiers down the Aerobic Corridor, is named after a
former president of the Viking Ski Club who, for many years, looked
after the club’s extensive trail system. Jan passed away in 1997.
The 20-km event is named
after Folke “Jack” Wahlberg, who was a former cross-country ski
champion and represented Canada in world championships. Jack passed
away in 1988. Meanwhile, our 33-km Smith-Johannsen Loppet was a
32-km event before 2002. It is named in honour of the well-known
cross-country ski pioneer, Herman “Jackrabbit” Smith-Johannsen, a
long time honorary member of the Viking Ski Club who died in 1987
at the age of 111.
In the spirit of these
skiers, the Morin-Heights Viking Loppet takes participants tackling
the 20Km and 33Km courses on narrow, single track-set trails through
forests and valleys, and over mountains and across frozen lakes. All
our courses are well suited to the traditional diagonal “classical”
stride technique; so, in the interest of fairness, and to promote
the enjoyment of our Loppet by all participants, ski
skating is not allowed.
We look forward to seeing
you on the trails.
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