Mayor Rybak Says City of Lakes Loppet “Race is On!”
Mayor Encourages Winter Fans to Get Out and Enjoy the Real Minnesota Weather
Feb. 2, 2007 (MINNEAPOLIS) -- Braving the icy winter air, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak will join thousands of cross-country ski racers and their friends and family this weekend as he competes for the fifth time in the 2007 City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis.
“This is what being a Minnesotan is all about. Enjoying the winter weather is part of who we are and why a lot of us live in this great city,” Mayor Rybak said of the race. “There’s no better way to bond with your fellow winter fanatics than at the City of Lakes Loppet on Sunday or the Luminary Loppet Saturday night. So dress warm, grab a friend, and get your skis on!”
The fifth annual City of Lakes Loppet 35k is the largest urban ski race in the country. Thousands of skiers, including many of the sport’s best, start at Theodore Wirth Park, ski through woods, over parkways and across lakes to a grand finish before cheering crowds on the streets of Uptown. Skiers of all ages and abilities will be challenged and thrilled by this beautiful urban race.
The Caribou Coffee Luminary Loppet is for anyone who enjoys a spectacle. This non-competitive "Tour of Light" was the most popular event of 2006. Skiers start in Uptown and ski onto the Chain of Lakes - which will be illuminated with candles frozen in ice bulbs (luminaries) - before finishing back in Uptown. Festivities along the way include bon fires, coffee and hot cider, and ski and snowshoe demonstrations.
SCHEDULE OF EVENT CHANGES
Due to weather considerations, minor modifications in the schedule have been made. The City of Lakes Loppet 35k begins at 11:30am on Sunday, Feb. 4, one hour later than planned. The REI 10k Tour begins at 10:25am on Sunday, Feb. 4, also one hour later than planned. Both races start at the Wirth Park Chalet and end in Uptown. The Luminary Loppet starts at 6:30pm on Saturday, Feb. 3 in Uptown.
For information, race course maps and last-minute schedule changes, visit cityoflakesloppet.com.
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