Third and best loppet at Opeongo Hills

BRUDENELL – Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club held their third and most successful ski loppet at their trails in the hills above Brudenell on January 29.

A loppet is an informal ski race.

Loppet Organizer Peter Cruchet said that each year, the number of registrations in the loppet has doubled. This year, 75 people registered from as far away as Welland and Chelsea, QC.

There were four loppet courses: 20, 10, five and 2.5 kilometres. The 20 and 10 kilometre courses were modified this year.

“We’re trying a whole different approach this year,” Cruchet said.

Instead of a single loop, the loppets followed the shape of a figure-eight coming back through the start and finish area several times, where the spectators are waiting.

This makes the courses much more spectator-friendly, Cruchet said.

Also, said Cruchet, the course modifications takes some of the longer hills out of the loppet.

The event was co-marketed with the Deep River Silver Spoon Classic Loppet, which took place on the Saturday of the same weekend.

Cruchet said the loppet has two purposes. One is to encourage people to try the trails at Opeongo Hills and the second is to raise funds for the club.