City of Lakes Weekend
Team Birkie is rolling into February with athletes all across the country! We have a group out East wrapping up period 3 of the SuperTour, another group competing in the Midwest marathons, and young gun Christian Gostout out West collecting race starts for his marathon gauntlet. This first race weekend of February, the Midwest crew had the privilege to participate in the 20th Annual City of Lakes Loppet! It is a beautiful festival that provides a wide array of events for just about anyone to participate in over Saturday and Sunday. However, we got our City of Lakes weekend started on Thursday, with one of our Team Birkie Swix Wax Clinics.
Tony “Two Hands” Mathie kicked off the City of Lakes weekend with his Thursday night wax clinic. As the head wax tech for the night, he demonstrated his skills to those in attendance and helped them prepare for a weekend of waxing, and of course racing. The clinic was based out of the hard to beat Loppet Foundation Trailhead.
Team Birkie and Swix wax clinic
With Friday rolling around, the team met in the early afternoon to test wax for the 37km classic race on Saturday. Thanks to Tony’s Swix Wax Clinic, we had a handful of waxes to test for the athletes racing in the weekend. A couple of us helped Coach Caitlin rip around on the test skis and dial in which ones were running the best. Swix Marathon powder was the winner for glide! Helping with the wax testing, really gives a glimpse into the coaches life and the fitness they gain from doing countless Puffy Laps as they test skis. Ripping puffy laps all season has prepared our coaches to take on any other coaching duo in a relay.
Coach Caitlin ripping hot laps testing wax for the weekend
The first of two days of marathon racing, begins with Tony taking on the classic race with none other than his two hands. He started the morning off with double polling over the lakes and through the woods to finish at the trailhead. Great start to the weekend with a second step podium finish.
Tony double poling his way to a 2nd place finish in the classic marathon
Later that Saturday evening, the Luminary Loppet took place and it is a must see. Participants (guided by thousands of luminaries) walk, ski, or snowshoe Lake of the Isles. With ice features, hot chocolate, Minneapolis city views, this is not one to miss. Hard to beat a training/racing city with these incredible events, community members, and the beautiful city backdrops.
The Luminary Loppet showing why Minneapolis is an unbeatable ski community
On to the Sunday skate marathon! A fresh dusting of snow covered the course with a nice little 2” blanket. Starting on Bde Maka Ska the skate skiers traversed the perimeter of the lakes (exactly the same course as the classic) and headed into the woods again. On the other side of the woods we had a number of podium finishes for the team! Brian Gregg in third, Coach Caitlin topped the podium with Abby Drach just behind in second.
Abby putting the hurt on Coach Caitlin. Caitlin is clearly thinking of her coke and Red Bull feed based on the smile on her face
Brian hanging tough in the skate marathon under the city skyline
It was an event packed weekend for the City of Lakes Loppet and we would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make it happen! Also, reports of Birkie fever are beginning and we are here for it. Until next time folks. A por ellos. Písale.
