Connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community.
Adult Skiing
LOPPET NORDIC RACING
10 Week Ski Programs
Loppet Nordic Racing (LNR) for adults is designed for anyone 20 years of age and older who is interested in improving their ski technique, physical fitness, and learning the finer points of xc ski RACING. LNR Adult training groups are designed to prepare adult athletes for winter race events- whether it’s your very first 5km, or if you are working to qualify for the Elite wave at the Loppet or Birkie!
If you are not interested in racing but are looking for more of a recreational ski group experience, we recommend you look into joining the Loppet Ski Club. If you are a beginner skier or are looking for more instruction, we recommend taking Group or Private ski lessons through our Loppet Ski School.
Additional information for Loppet Nordic Racing Training Groups:
- Ski Trail Passes are NOT included in the registration fee- you must purchase a Wirth Trail Pass or Hyland Trail Pass separately
- You should not be renting skis for LNR groups- these are 10 week programs and you should own your skis for regular use for these programs
- Training Sessions may occasionally be postponed to later in the winter season due to extreme weather conditions, or lack of snow. In this case will reschedule a session later in the winter.
SKATE
Beginner/Intermediate Racers: Skate
This skate-only group will do physically challenging workouts while supplementing sessions with technique instruction. Training will focus on skiers looking to train for a 30-50km race, like the City of Lakes Loppet and American Birkebeiner, as the main training goal.
Training sessions will have an emphasis on technique learning with a training component to help quickly improve your technique and your ski specific fitness. We will use video review quite often in the small group format. Athletes will use the three skate techniques: V-1, V-2, and open field. We will often work on downhill skills (slaloms, higher speed turns), as well as long uphill climbing intervals. In the small group format we strive for a coach to athlete ratio of 1:10.
This is a “learning to race” class, so basic skiing experience is needed, and a moderate level of physical fitness is required. If you are looking for a beginning skate class that is not oriented to racing, you can check out Loppet Ski Club.
There are three Beginner/Intermediate Racing Skate groups to choose from when registering. Participants can always register after the session starts if there is enough room in the group.
Tuesday Mornings @ Wirth
- Dates: December 16th – February 17th
- Day: Tuesday mornings
- Time: 8am – 9:30am
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
- Coach: Ingrid Remak
Tuesday Evenings @ Hyland
- Dates: December 23rd – March 3rd
- Day: Tuesday evenings
- Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
- Location: Jans Place, Hyland Park. Bloomington
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment – poles, skis and skate boots
- Coach: Greg Klave and Massan Slimani
Friday Mornings @ Hyland
- Dates: Dec 19 – March 6th
- Day: Friday Mornings
- Time: 9am – 10:30 am
- Location: Jan’s Place, Hyland Lake Park Reserve
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
- Coach: Mary McKelvey and Ingrid Remak
SKATE
Intermediate Racers: Skate
This skate-only group will do physically challenging workouts while supplementing sessions with technique instruction. Training will focus on skiers looking to train for a 30-50km race, like the City of Lakes Loppet and American Birkebeiner, as the main training goal. We’ll focus on developing balance, technique, efficiency, and pacing strategies. As the season progresses we will add more physically challenging workouts while continuing to emphasize good technique. We’ll cover all skate techniques, and spend time on downhills, cornering, transitions, mass start strategies, and pacing.
Training sessions will have an emphasis on technique learning. This class will focus on skate skiing workouts with an emphasis on Agility + Balance instruction. We’ll cover all skate techniques, and spend time on downhills, cornering, transitions, mass start strategies, and coordination. Each session will also include a training component to help quickly improve your technique and your ski specific fitness. We will use video review quite often in the small group format. We will often work on downhill skills (slaloms, higher speed turns), as well as long uphill climbing intervals. In the small group format we strive for a coach to athlete ratio of 1:10.
Combination of technique instruction and physical training. Every session will include some type of intervals or specific ski strength.
There are seven Intermediate Racing Skate groups to choose from when registering. Participants can always register after the session starts if there is enough room in the group.
Tuesday Mornings @ Hyland
- Dates: December 16th – February 17th
- Day: Tuesday mornings
- Time: 10am – 11:30am
- Location: Hyland Lake Park Reserve Nordic Trails
- Meeting Spot: Midsummer practice area (just north of Jan’s place building parking lot)
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
- Coach: Kim Rudd
Wednesday Mornings @ Hyland
- Dates: December 17th – March 4th
- Day: Wednesday mornings
- Time: 7am – 8:30 am
- Location: Hyland Lake Park Reserve Nordic Trails
- Meeting Spot: Midsummer practice area (just north of Jan’s place building parking lot)
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
- Coach: David Chamberlain
Wednesday Mornings @ Wirth
- Dates: December 17th – Feb 25th
- Day: Wednesday mornings
- Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
- Coach: Greg Klave
Wednesday Evenings @ Wirth
- Dates: December 17th – Feb 25th
- Day: Wednesday evenings
- Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Equipment: skate skiing equipment
- Coach: Greg Klave and Michael Symanski
Thursday Mornings @ Wirth
- Dates: December 12th – March 5th
- Day: Thursday mornings
- Time: 10am-11:30am
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
- Coach: Ingrid Remak and Regan Duffy
Wednesday Evenings @ Wirth for 2nd Season Racers
You have at least one race under your belt and want to improve your position, speed, technique, or just overall level of happiness with your outcome? This class will improve the participants cardiovascular, strength, and technique in order to make you feel more comfortable skiing at higher speeds while navigating obstacles, varying terrain, and turns.
- Dates: December 12th – March 5th
- Day: Thursday Evenings
- Time: 6pm – 7:30 p.m.
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth
- Equipment: skate skiing equipment, heart rate monitor optional
- Coach: Eduardo Arteaga and Alissa Johnson
Gung-Ho Beginner Racers: Classic
Gung-Ho Beginners Classic will tackle new elements of classic technique every week. It is expected that these athletes are in good physical condition and are therefore work on technique and tackle some significant ski specific training each week. Part of every workout will will be dedicated to improving endurance and ski specific strength. This group is specifically for those that have little ski experience, but are strong runners, bikers, triathletes, swimmers, etc. The goal is to jump start your cross-country ski racing career, and get you to your first few races quickly.
This is a “learning to race” class, so some very basic skiing experience is needed, and for this group its expected that all athletes have a moderate to high level of physical fitness is required. If you are looking for a beginning classic ski class that is not oriented to racing, you can check out the LNR Adult Skills Clinics or Loppet Ski Club.
Dates: December 17th – March 4th
Day: Wednesday Mornings
Time: 7:30am-9:00am
Location: Theodore Wirth Park, The Trailhead
Equipment: Classic Ski Equipment
Coach: Ingrid Remark
Program: Emphasis on technique learning. Each session will also include a training component to help quickly improve your technique and ski specific fitness.
You can use classic “skin skis” or waxable skis, but we do recommend Skin Skis for Beginner Gung Ho.
CLASSIC
Gung-Ho Beginner Racers: Skate
Gung-Ho Beginners Skate will tackle new elements of skate technique every week. It is expected that these athletes are in good physical condition and ready to work on technique and tackle some significant ski training each week. Part of every workout will be dedicated to improving endurance and ski specific strength. This group is specifically for those that have little ski experience, but are strong runners, bikers, triathletes, swimmers, etc. The goal is to jump start your cross-country ski racing career, and get you to your first race quickly.
This is a “learning to race” class, so we expect that you have some very basic skiing experience (eg you have xc skied a few times) and for this group its expected that all athletes have a moderate to high level of physical fitness. If you are looking for a beginning skate ski class that is not oriented to doing your first race, you can check out the LNR Adult Skills Clinics or Loppet Ski Club.
SKATE
Monday Evenings @ Wirth
- Dates: December 22nd – February 23rd
- Day: Monday evenings
- Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Meeting Spot: Lower Stadium- look LNR Flag
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment- note athletes need their own equipment- this is a 10 week program and we do not recommend renting equipment.
Tuesday Evenings @ Wirth
- Dates: December 23rd – February 24th
- Day: Tuesday evenings
- Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
- Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
- Meeting Spot: Lower Stadium- LNR Flag
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
Monday Evenings @ Hyland
- Dates: December 22nd – February 23rd
- Day: Monday Evenings
- Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
- Location: Hyland Lake Park Reserve Nordic Trails
- Equipment: Midsummer practice area (just north of Jan’s place building parking lot)
- Equipment: Skate skiing equipment
Intermediate Classic
10-Week Sessions: December 17th – March 4th
Wednesday Nights at Hyland
Time: Wednesday, 6pm – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hyland Lake Park Reserve
Meeting Spot: Midsummer practice area (just north of Jan’s place building parking lot)
Coach : Vivian Johnson and Kristian Johnson
Equipment: Classic skiing equipment
Thursday Mornings at Theodore Wirth
Time: Thursday, 7:30am-9:00am
Location: Theodore Wirth Park
Meeting Spot: Lower Stadium
Equipment: Classic skiing equipment
Coach: Greg Klave
Make strides in classical skiing. This classic only session will include both physical and technical workouts to prepare you for a classic racing. Become a more efficient skier by improving technique and increasing classic specific strength. Training will focus on 30-50 km races, with the Loppet and Birkie as the main training goal. Athletes are expected to have some experience in preparing classic skis for training session. You will receive waxing instruction, but athletes are expected to have skis ready to go at the beginning of each session. Coaches will provide recommendations for waxing via email updates.
Combination of technique instruction and physical training. Every session will include some type of intervals or specific ski strength. We will use video review quite often in the small group format.
Advanced Classic
10-Week Sessions: December 17th – March 4th
Dates: December 17th – March 4th
Time: Thursday Mornings, 8am – 9:30am
Location: Theodore Wirth, The Trailhead
Meeting Spot: Classic skiing equipment and a variety of classic waxes. Heart rate monitor optional.
Equipment: Classic skiing equipment
Coach: Doug DeBold
Make strides in classical skiing. This classic only session will include both physical and technical workouts to prepare you for a classic racing. Become a more efficient skier by improving technique and increasing classic specific strength. Training will focus on 30-50 km races, with the Loppet and Birkie as the main training goal. Athletes are expected to have some experience in preparing classic skis for training session. You will receive waxing instruction, but athletes are expected to have skis ready to go at the beginning of each session. Coaches will provide recommendations for waxing via email updates.
Combination of technique instruction and physical training. Every session will include some type of intervals or specific ski strength. We will use video review quite often in the small group format.
SKATE
Men's Wave 1: Advanced Skate Training
Intensive skate skiing workouts and technique instruction. We’ll cover all skate techniques, and spend time on downhills, cornering, transitions, mass start strategies, and pacing. Training will focus on 30-50km races, with the Loppet and Birkie as the main training goal. This group is for advanced skiers – who are skiing in Elite Wave or Wave 1 – of the Loppet and Birkie.
Combination of technique instruction and physical training. Every session will include some type of intervals or specific ski strength. We’ll set up the workout for each session so that you focus on a particular ski technique.
Dates: December 9th – February 10th
Day: Tuesday Evenings
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00 pm
Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
Equipment: Skate skiing equipment, heart rate monitor optional
Coaches: Michael Symanski and Xavier Mansfield
Women’s Advanced Skate
10-Week Sessions: December 15th – February 16th
Advance skate group with a focus on intervals. We will start with the technical pieces with drills and work on carrying these skills over into the interval/intensity portion of the workout to follow. Training will focus on 30-50km races, with the Loppet and Birkie as the main training goal. This group is for advanced skiers who are skiing in Elite or Wave 1 or Wave 2 of the Loppet and Birkie.
Combination of technique instruction and physical training. Every session will include some type of drills or specific ski strength. We’ll set up the workout for each session so that you focus on a particular ski technique.
Dates: December 15th – February 14th
Day: Monday Evenings
Time: 6pm – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Theodore Wirth, The Trailhead
Equipment: Skate skiing equipment, heart rate monitor optional
Coach: Jenny Beckman, Vivian Johnson
Contact: Jenny Beckman
FEATURED
Women’s Training Group
Technique and Fitness Training
This women’s training group will focus on improving skiing skills and fitness in both classic and skate technique. Unlike most of our LNR groups, this group will not focus on racing. We’ll cover all skate and classic techniques, and spend time on downhills, cornering, transitions so that you can become comfortable on difficult terrain and in many snow conditions. Balance and cornering will be a focus so you can be more confident on your skis.
Each training session will include technique instruction and physical training.
This group is led by coach Ingrid Remak and Lynne Cecil.
Dates: December 16th – Feb 17th
Day: Tuesday mornings
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
Equipment: Skate and Classic skiing equipment
Coach: Ingrid Remak and Lynne Cecil
Experience Required for Class: The Tuesday morning session is for women who are intermediate level, experienced skiers who want to continue to improve their fitness and ski technique, but are not focused on racing. You should have a basic understanding of skate techniques and classic techniques but are looking to become more proficient. Each training session will include a fair amount of skiing- so you should be able to ski 15km fairly easily. If you are a beginner skier then we suggest you sign up for one of the LNR adult beginner winter sessions.
Women’s Training Group
Intermediate/Advanced Skate & Classic
This intermediate to advanced women’s training group will do physically challenging workouts while also working on technique instruction. We’ll cover all skate and classic techniques, and spend time on downhills, cornering, transitions, mass start strategies, and pacing. We will work on balance and getting really comfortable on your skis by using slaloms and agility courses to make training fun and give you confidence when on your skis. Training will focus on 30-50 km races, with the Loppet and Birkie as the main training goal. Skate instruction will be primary focus, but we will also have 4-6 optional classic sessions. On those classic session instruction days, we will also have a skate only coached group.
Women’s Intermediate Skate and Classic training (1:12 coach to athlete ratio). We will meet as a large group and then split into three different coaching ability groups. Combination of technique instruction and physical training. Every session will include some type of intervals or specific ski strength. We will use video review periodically, and send instruction videos out on a weekly basis.
Dates: December 17th – March 4th (no class on December 24 or Dec 31)
Day: Wednesday mornings
Time: 10am – 11:30 a.m.
Location: The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park
Equipment: Skate and classic ski equipment (there will be 4-5 optional classic session instruction days but we will always offer skate instruction on those sessions).
Coach: Kim Rudd, Jan Guenther and Mary McKelvey
Experience Required for Class: The Wednesday morning session is designed for women who have skate ski experience.
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