The second annual Sunshine Coast Loppet was a huge success on Feb. 4, despite the weekend’s snowstorm that kept many indoors.
Organizer Urs Pfaeffli said there were about 60 people on Dakota Ridge for the Loppet, which offered ski and snowshoe races of varying length for all ages.
This year’s participants ranged in age from three to 70 years old and some came from off Coast for the event, which was a first.
“Most were from the Sunshine Coast, but individuals travelled from Vancouver and Whitehorse to take part,” said the Loppet’s media relations person, Celia Robben.
Pfaeffli said the point of the Loppet is to bring attention to the first-class cross country skiing and snowshoeing available right here on the Coast.
“I have no idea what the potential of the area is, but if people start coming from the Lower Mainland, it will become much more well known,” Pfaeffli said.
Last year’s Loppet, which was the first put on by Pfaeffli and the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club, drew about a dozen participants.
This year’s Loppet lost about a dozen preregistrations due to the heavy snowfall, Pfaeffli said, but it gained about 20 more on race day, for a grand total of about 60 racers.
“This time it was a real event. It was good,” Pfaeffli said.
He thanks all of the volunteers and participants who made the Loppet a fun event, as well as the snow plowing crew that “took excellent care of the roadway for us.”
For full race results, see www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=91652
