City of Lakes Loppet - 2010

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:20 pm Post subject : City of Lakes Loppet - 2010

So, who's doing it this year? The weather and course should be excellent!

I'm glad they eliminated the hill start this year. The new start area is behind the chalet if you haven't heard.
http://www.cityoflakesloppet.com/pdfs/start-area-map.pdf

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject :

I'll be shoot'n pix at the Biathlon race down here tomorrow.

Hope the huge crowd isn't too rowdy. Razz

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject :

I picked up my race packet in Uptown again this year, just like every year, but it'll be the final time for me. That is such a nightmare to go into uptown on race Saturday! The traffic and parking situation is just insane, all just to pick up a stupid bib and chip.

I know they greatly prefer people get it on Saturday vs. race morning at Wirth, but I'll never do that again.

Just had to vent.

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject :

That's good to know. Maybe bib pickup should be somewhere else.

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:12 pm Post subject :

I just wrote John Munger an e-mail suggesting a Friday night pick-up in future years. In a large, empty parking lot, outside of Uptown. Possibly even the Optum Health lot? I do understand the need to have the pick-up tent where it is on Saturday since there are many other activities going on Saturday. Kids races, ski joring, bikes races, etc.

I would think even a two-hour pick-up window on Friday night could divert hundreds upon hundred of skiers (and cars!) away from uptown and leave more room for the people who actually need to be down there on Saturday.

Maybe the traffic died-off later in the afternoon, but this year seemed to be much worse than the previous years.

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:33 pm Post subject :

According to the Minneaplis/St. Paul TAF (aviation forecast), light snow is supposed to start at 9am on Sunday.

As of 5:15pm (Sat, 6 Feb 2010), the NWS says an overnight low of 17F and a daytime high of 26F. Plenty of humidity at start time.

8am: 17F / 92% RH
9am: 18F / 88% RH
10am: 20F / 81% RH
11am: 22F / 77% RH
12pm: 24F / 71% RH
1pm: 25F / 68% RH
2pm: 26F / 65% RH

The current glide wax recommendations:

Toko
• LF Moly then HF Red
• Jetstream Red Top Coat

FastWax
• HS-20 Blue, then two coats of HSF-20 Tan.
• Flite #11 Top Coat being "essential for fast skis" due to the high humidity and new snow.
• "Soft or Medium Ski with a Universal Grind (no added structure)"

Swix
• LF6 then HF6
• FC7 Top Coat.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:07 pm Post subject :

Did anyone else's skis start getting slow and sticking a bit late in the race? I noticed it starting in the hills right before you cross over the freeway.

I used FastWax HSF-20 Tan with RaceWax.com NANO Powder top coat and they rockets during my warm up.

xcskiforum 40K Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 302

I responded last night, and tonight, my post is gone again. What's up? Anyone see my post?

Jay

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:35 pm Post subject :

Just kidding. Very Happy

Isn't the second post you lost?

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:25 pm Post subject :

Jay, I never saw your post. I've been watching this thread too.

Has anyone seen the video taken from the snowmobiles yet? The ladies lead pack passed me on a lake where the snowmobile was operating. I'm sure they caught some good footage of me skiing! :) I hope I was moved over far enough to the right. I was nearly on the classic tracks doing a half-a$$ed skate so they could pass.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:35 am Post subject :

Kristina Owen got the better of Chad Geise. Wow!

xcskiforum 40K Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 302

We'll try this again. I think this year's race was easily the best race in the history of the loppet. The course was perfect. The weather was perfect. After so many years of either thin snow, 40 degree days before the race, super cold temps, or fire and brimstone (sp?), it was great to have a break from Mother Nature. There are a lot of things done right with this race, and I think that's because it's run by racers.

Jay

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:22 pm Post subject :

Good video posted today from the weekend's events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBu0tNdMnhw

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:13 am Post subject :

That was great video! I like how the guys pronounced Maria Stuber all German like.

I skied the course behind wave 7 and there were berms built up almost shin high from a lot of plowing. Other than that it was super.

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:17 am Post subject :

That is a good video.