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Event Series: Mayor’s Challenge

Loppet Junior Qualifier & Super Tour

Name: Loppet Junior Qualifier & Super Tour
Start: 2026-02-14T08:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-14T17:00:00+00:00

February 14, 2026 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Loppet Junior Qualifier & Super Tour

Salomon CXC Junior Cup – Midwest & Great Lakes Divisions

Volunteer

February 14-15, 2026

Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour

The Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour is a U.S. Ski & Snowboard sanctioned event where athletes have the opportunity to compete at a high level under professional standars.

Races take place at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis, MN hosted by The Loppet. The Loppet is a non-profit organization that manages programs and events from the park whose mission is connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community. With over 7K of snowmaking trails and 40K of natural snow, The Loppet’s Trail Crew is second to none!

Athletes with memberships and/or licenses have the ability to score points (see FAQ below for details). No membership is required for athletes 14 and under, these kids are competing to earn a spot at Dream Camp (top 5 on the Divisional Ranking List). For details on the Adaptive Cup, see FAQs below for the different category descriptions.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard SuperTour presented by the National Nordic Foundation is recognized by FIS as the Continental Cup for the United States—the highest level of competition in the country. Top racers compete head-to-head in a variety of disciplines across the country, with World Cup start spots and funding on the line.

GALLERY

Register

REGISTER HERE (for CXC Youth Cup, CXC Junior Qualifier and USSS SuperTour)

* Online Registration Deadline: Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM CT

ABSOLUTELY NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED

** For Open Division Citizens register through this link coming soon (Citizen registration closes Thursday 10pm)

Registration and transaction fees are non-refundable, including in the event of delay, rescheduling, or cancellation of an event or program. An event or program registration is not transferable to another person or another event for any reason, including injury. Participating under another person’s name will result in disqualification.

A Note About the Data We Collect

Schedule & Start Lists

Course map coming soon.

Schedule

2026 Schedule (link will be added closer to event)

This is a preliminary schedule and is subject to change. All times are approximate and are subject to final registration numbers.

Entry & Start Lists will be linked here.

The official entry list will be available Friday evening the week of the event. Athletes are responsible for ensuring they have been registered for the proper event and that all their information is accurate. Start lists will be posted when available from Superior Timing.

Transportation

Parking

Parking for athletes, coaches, and families will be at the Mortenson parking lots (700 Meadow Lane and 4100 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, MN 55422).

Accomodations

SpringHill Suites Minneapolis West/St. Louis Park

Book your discounted Loppet rate today with SpringHill Suites Minneapolis West/St. Louis Park, located just four miles from Theodore Wirth Park.

Book your group rate for Mayor’s Challenge 2026 Family & Fans

Last Day to Book with discounted rate:

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Wax Facilities

All fluorinated ski wax products are banned from Loppet-managed ski trails and events (and per FIS and US Ski and Snowboard for this race). Usage during Loppet events will result in disqualification.

All athletes & coaches are responsible for knowing and following FIS waxing Rules.

Ski exchange during the heats is not allowed. We will controlling skies of athletes who advance through the rounds. At the end of their heat, if they are moving on, the control team will move the athletes’ skies to a controlled location just behind the start where the athlete will be able to pick up their skies before starting their next heat.

Space for teams and ski equipment suppliers will be made available at no charge throughout the event beginning at 8:00 A.M. Friday, February 13, 2026. Two waxing location options are available as detailed below. Teams may register for either, both, or none of the options below:

Trailhead Parking Lot Wax Stations

The North Trailhead Parking Lot next to the stadium will be reserved for waxing space. Space will be available for teams to set up tents, small trucks, or trailers as needed (within space limitations). Teams must supply their own tables, power cords, and any other needed supplies. Electricity for waxing is limited in the area and will be given to those who register for space earliest. Trailhead Parking Lot space will be available by advanced reservation only.

Click Here to register your team/business/organization for waxing space by February 10. Actual space assignments will be made by the Loppet and will be communicated to teams prior to the event.

On-Snow Wax Stations

There will be space available on the south and west sides of the start/finish stadium. Space will be available for teams to set up tents as desired. Electrical service will be provided for up to 10 stations on a first come, first served basis. Teams must supply their own tables, tents, extension cords and any other needed supplies. If you plan to set up on the snow in the stadium, please register from the link above.

Branded Tents and Flutter Flags

Ski teams are welcome to have branded tents and flags at their assigned waxing stations as part of their complimentary waxing space.

Any ski race suppliers, ski shops, and waxing support services are welcome to support the event through a Loppet partnership! Contact sponsorship@loppet.org for more information. Those choosing not to support in an official capacity are welcome to assigned waxing space at no charge. We respectfully request you do not display branded tent or flags. Thank you for your cooperation.

For all event questions please contact Kelly Donahue, Race Director at events@loppet.org

Results & Photos

2025 Start Lists & Results

Please note that Mayor’s Challenge did not take place in 2024 due to the Loppet Cup.

2023 Results

Starts Lists and Results

2022 Results

Start Lists and Results

2021 Results

CityTrail Loppet

FAQ

What licenses are required for this race?

No membership is required to participate. However, athletes 16 and older with a U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership (Youth General Membership or Competitor Membership) will be scored on the National Ranking List. Athletes with FIS licenses will be scored on the FIS ranking list.

Junior (U16-U20): CXC Junior Cup. A valid U.S. Ski & Snowboard General or Competitor Membership is required to participate.

Youth: (12 – U14): No membership is required to participate. However, competitors with Youth General membership will be provided points and preferential race seeding based on points and ranking.

Adaptive:

Ages 7 -13: No membership is required.

Ages 14 and older: A valid U.S. Ski & Snowboard General Membership or Cross Country Adaptive Competitor Membership is required. For preferential race seeding and to earn U.S. Ski and Snowboard NRL ranking points, a Cross Country Adaptive Competitor Membership is required.

What are U.S. Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Age Classifications?

FIS Age Classes

FIS Class Age

FIS Junior Up to 19 years on December 31 of the current competition season

FIS Senior All competitors over the age limit for Juniors

What are the adaptive athlete categories?

Sit skier, Standing adaptive skier & Visually impaired (VI) skier

There is the option to specify the classification of the adaptive skier in the chosen category based on the International Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic classification system and time factors. Choosing the class will allow the athlete to receive a time factor on their final result time..

All standing and visually impaired skiers will be fully integrated into the main race field with non-adaptive athletes. Visually impaired athletes are allowed to ski with a guide in front of them and have the option of using a voice amplifier. Standing and VI athletes will be seeded based on FIS/U.S. Ski & Snowboard and/or Regional Ranking list. If the athlete does not yet have points, they will start at or near the back of the field. Keep in mind any standing or VI adaptive athlete can register for the race and choose not to register as an adaptive athlete if they wish not to receive a time factor.

Sit skiers will compete on a course designed specifically for them and start at their own specified time.

Results and awards will be provided for skiers in the three adaptive categories, separated into male and female divisions. In addition, standing and VI athlete results will also be integrated into the overall results.

Will there be a Whatsapp group for participants, parents, coaches, spectators, etc?

Yes! About a week out from the event there will be a Whatsapp link emailed to registered participants and posted on this website for all event attendees to join for the most up to date information.

Are dogs allowed at this event?

While we love your furry friends please leave them at home for these large Loppet events.

What is the LOC and who is on the Loppet's LOC?

LOC stands for Local Organizing Committee. It is required by US Ski & Snowboard that each sanctioned race has a local team of individuals committee to producing the event at the highest standards. For information on joining the Loppet’s LOC please contact Race Director, Kelly Donahue at events@loppet.org

I might be bias, but the Loppet has one of the best LOC’s around! The LOC volunteers are the ones who really championed the effort to bring a World Cup to Minneapolis in 2020/2024.

2026 Loppet LOC Leadership:

LOC Co-Chairs – Kelly Donahue & Bill Smeaton
Competition Lead – Doug Debold
Race Secretary & Admin – Amy Chichanowski
Infrastructure Lead – Nick Swanson
Volunteer Lead – Tracy Edwardsen

Who do I contact about the race if I have a question?

For general event questions or questions about the Loppet and volunteering contact, events@loppet.org

For questions about the CXC Adaptive/Youth/Junior cup, please contact CXC at info@cxcskiing.org or call (608) 294-0433.

What are some of the benefits for kids who participate in FIS sanctioned races?

They get to race at a higher level of competition that they might not get through their high school program. For kids that don’t have nordic skiing at their high school, these races are great for them to participate in for some fantastic race experiences that surrounds them with other kids.

What does it mean to have a US Ski & Snowboard licenses?

You can learn more here

I’m a spectator, where should I watch or what do I need to know?

Check the course and transportation sections of the website for details
Loud cheering, fun signs, cowbells, noise makers, music are all highly encouraged. Please keep cheers and signs positive and respectful.
Food & beverages are available for purchase inside the Trailhead (best to bring your credit card!)