Saturday, February 1, 2025

Skijor Loppet

10K, 5K, and 3K options for people and dogs of all abilities

The Loppet Foundation :: Events :: Skijor Loppet
City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival

Part of the City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival

View Festival Information »

Saturday, February 3: 8:30am (10K), 8:45am (5K), 9:15am (3K)

Ski with your best friend… your dog! 10K, 5K, and 3K courses on the premiere Loppet ski trails (which skijors are not normally allowed on) makes the Loppet’s Skijoring One-dog Loppet a participant and fan favorite event. You will see all sizes and shapes of doggos out for adventure with their human pals.

Check This Out

  • Skijoring Loppet Featured on CNN
  • The Loppet Foundation appreciates our partnership with K9 Powered Sports for their assistance and guidance in our skijor events and activities. To see what they are about and for more information about skijoring visit www.K9powered.org
Hugo and his owner Steve have been competing for 5+ years in the 3K Skijor Loppet

Saturday: All Saturday races (10K, 5K and 3K) start and finish at The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park, 1221 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis MN 55422

Start Times and Lists: Skijoring teams will be pre-assigned start waves and be released in time trial waves. Specific start wave assignments will be emailed and posted the week of the event.

Parking and Transportation: Please see notes below. Instructions and information for managing dogs are different depending on which day(s) you are racing.

Note: Registration will be open until Thursday at midnight. No race day registration.

Register Now!
StatusStarting 9AM, 10/1Starting 11/15/24Starting 12/18/24Starting 1/14/25Starting 1/30/25Registration Deadline
Skijor 10K Loppet Open$40$44$52$60$6512pm noon, 1/30/25
Skijor Loppet (5K/3K)Open$34$39$46$50$5512pm noon, 1/30/25

Proceeds from the Skijor Loppet benefit the Loppet Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation's mission, vision, and values.

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

Packet Pickup

Race bibs will be available for pickup at the following times and locations:

  • Thursday, January 31: Utepils Brewing (225 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis, MN), 4pm-8pm
    • Bring your own cribbage board to join Utepils in their weekly Cribbage Night!
  • Friday, January 30: The Trailhead (1221 Theodore Wirth Pkwy), 4pm-8pm
  • Saturday, February 1: The Trailhead, 7am-3pm

Course Description

All races are on the snowmaking trails at the Trailhead where dogs are usually not allowed.

Course Markings

The courses are marked with colored arrows on sandwich boards located at trail junctions. Course marshals may also be present at critical junctions to guide and cheer you on. Know the color of arrow you should be following for your race (it is generally our goal to match your bib color with your arrow color – this also helps course marshals know which course you are doing). We will aim to match your bib color to your arrows!

Saturday Skijor Course Map

For your reference: 2024 Saturday Trailhead Races Google Map.

Race Rules and Dog Notes

  • Please view the Skijor Race Rules PDF. Participants are responsible for reading, understanding and complying with published race rules prior to the event.
  • Safety is our top concern and many of the rules are in place to protect participants, spectators AND your dogs.
  • Pulks, sleds, or other carriers are NOT permitted. Sit Skiers ARE permitted.
  • It is greatly appreciated if you can take the time to walk your dogs in the morning before coming to the race venue. After all, just like their people, it probably feels way better to take care of this business before the race!
  • It is required that racers pick up after their dogs!! At least leave the bag on the side of the trail if you don’t have a means to pack it out.
  • You may bring your dog inside to get your packet. Outside of packet pickup (pre or post race), doggos will be allowed into the front part of the Trailhead (near the ticket office) for warming up. Please do not hang out in the Great Hall or near Mill Valley Market in deference to food safety rules.

Seeding

  • Teams will be seeded based on prior Skijoring Loppet results as well as registration self-seeding information.
  • Requests for seeding by Skijorers with no prior race history must be sent to info@k9powered.org by January 18, to be considered for this event. Request must include links to publicly available skijoring race results.
  • 10k Skijoring teams will be seeded based on recent K9 Powered Sports Midwest Race Series Race results. Registration is required by end of online registration on January 22 to be included in the seeding for this event.

Handlers

  • One handler will be allowed per team.
  • All dog handlers must stand on the left side of the team they are assisting and must remain in place until all teams have passed. Do not attempt to move out of the way.

Thursday

  • 4pm-8pm: Packet pick up at Utepils Brewing

Friday

  • 4pm-8pm: Packet Pickup at The Trailhead

Saturday (Trailhead)

  • 7:00am – 3:00pm: Packet Pickup, The Trailhead (if you are only doing the Sunday point to point race, this time is not recommended as it will be busy and parking will be very limited).
  • 8:30am: Skijor 10K National Championship One Dog Begins
  • 8:45am: Skijor 5K (One or Two Dogs) Begins
  • 9:15am: Skijor 3K (One Dog) Begins
  • 8:00am – 2:30pm: Finish area bag claim
  • 10:00am – 3:00pm: Utepils Beer Garden and Festival Village
  • 10:00am – 3:00pm: Changing Area in Trailhead locker rooms (showers not available)
  • 10:30am – 4:00pm: Finisher food inside the Trailhead

We understand that your furry friends require an extra effort when you are managing them as well your ski gear. Here are some notes to help make it easier for everyone on race day:

Special Parking and Race Options

  • Note: Dogs are not allowed on the shuttle buses. But skijorers have some of the best parking options of any Festival participants. Check it out.
  • Special Parking on Saturday!
    • We will do our best to provide the closest parking possible to our skijor teams. Watch your email for permits to park in areas not available to other Festival participants.
      • Saturday: Trailhead South Parking Lot or the Chalet Lot
    • Note that access to the Trailhead will be closed at Hwy 55. You will need to approach the both the Chalet and Trailhead via Plymouth Ave from the east or Golden Valley Rd from the north.
    • Watch your email. Permits will be emailed on the Thursday or Friday prior to Festival weekend.
    • Please be respectful of your parking privileges and do not duplicate or share your parking permit with others. Your pass is intended for one vehicle only.
    • You will need to print out your permit to show to the parking attendants- please have it ready on your dash before you get to the checkpoint. Do not plan to show it on your phone. It is too slow and hard to view for our parking volunteers who often have a line of cars to manage.
    • Please note that spectators coming to Theodore Wirth Park should plan to park at the Mortenson Lots (700 Meadow Lane and 4100 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley). 
  • Other Race Day Transportation Options
    • Most common is to bring a friend who drops you off and picks you up. This person can double as your handler!

Dropoff/Pickup

  • At the Trailhead: Chalet Lot Drop Off Zone. Shows the location in the Chalet Lot where dropoffs and pickups at the Trailhead will be allowed (if you are not using the special skijor parking permits).
    • Dropoff/Pickup is not available at the Trailhead.
    • Please note that access to the Trailhead/Chalet area will be closed at Hwy 55. You will need to approach the Chalet via Plymouth Ave from the east or Golden Valley Rd from the north.

Road Closures

  • Make note of these for getting around race morning. Be sure to let your spectator fans know as well.
    • Glenwood Ave from Xerxes to Theodore Wirth Pkwy: Saturday (7am-1pm), Sunday (7am-2pm)
    • Theodore Wirth Pkwy from N Wayzata Blvd to Glenwood: Saturday (7am-1pm), Sunday (7am-2pm)
    • Theodore Wirth Pkwy from Hwy 55 to Plymouth Ave: Saturday (8am-2:30), Sunday (8am-12pm)

For your convenience, you will have the option of bringing a bag to have near the finish with personal items, e.g. warm and dry clothes, food, etc. We realize that few skijorers need to use this as they usually have their vehicle close due to the special parking, but it is available if you should like to use it.

  • Provide your own bag. It should be a fully-enclosed or duffel-type bag.
  • All bags should be marked with your race number. You may do this yourself or use the bag tags we will have available at packet pickup.
  • We do not recommend that you leave valuable items such as wallets or keys. The Loppet Foundation will not be responsible for these items.
  • Bag Claim is located near the finish area at the Trailhead.

Saturday Bags (Trailhead start and finish)

  • You may drop a bag at the bag claim area before your event.

2025 Festival Village map coming soon!

Utepils Beer! All skiers get one free drink ticket (beer or soda) to use at the finish inside the Trailhead! Please have ID available if you’re wanting a beer. Additional beer may be purchased on site by participants or spectators.

Chili! For years, the Loppet has served Captain Ken’s Chili at the finish line. It is our goal to do that again in 2024. Just what a tired skier needs to start the recovery process!

Sponsors! Our sponsors help make everything happen and better! Please visit and thank them for their support. We are sure you will have some fun with them, too!

Indoor Changing Area: Trailhead locker rooms. Showers not available. We recommend including walking shoes in your bag if you are meeting a pickup at the Chalet or Mortenson.

Race Bibs: In an effort to reduce the waste generated by thousands of bibs, the Loppet will collect all bibs at the finish. We wash and reuse the bibs from year to year. Please return your bib after the race. Thank you for helping us reduce waste and move toward greener events!

Award Ceremonies

Awards ceremonies will take place at the finish area podium as soon as results are posted. Must be present to receive cash award packet.

Saturday Awards

  • 10k National Championship Race – One dog
    • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
    • Awards for first three overall male, female and non-binary category finishers.
      • 1st Place: $150 Cash Prize, Award Medal
      • 2nd Place: $100 Cash Prize, Award Medal
      • 3rd Place: $50 Cash Prize,  Award Medal
  • 5k Race
    • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
    • Awards for first three overall male, female, and non-binary category finishers.
      • 1st Place: Award Medal
      • 2nd Place: Award Medal
      • 3rd Place: Award Medal
  • 3k Race
    • Commemorative medals for all finishers.
    • Awards for first three overall finishers.
      • 1st Place: Award Medal
      • 2nd Place: Award Medal
      • 3rd Place: Award Medal

Double Loppet Award

Challenge yourself, and double your fun by participating in two winter festivals! Skijor in any of the City of Lakes Loppet skijor events and skijor in the Vasaloppet More Skijor, and earn your Double Loppet Award. Since the Vasa is first on the calendar this year, Double Loppet skijorers pick up their Double Loppet award at the City of Lakes Loppet. Get your medal at a table near the finish line.