Page 42 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #99
P. 42

only the Loppet Festival but also a   The events geared toward local children
                                                                                                                                                                     handful of other popular events     and families are among the most
                                                                                                                                                                     and programs.                       important and are closely related to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                         foundation’s mission of stewardship
                                                                                                                                                                     “Over the years, the organization   and community.
                                                                                                                                                                     has grown to include many other
                                                                                                                                                                     initiatives,” says the foundation’s   Youth athletes can compete in a number
                                                                                                                                                                     marketing manager, Alora Jones. “At   of events, such as the Minne-Loppet,
                                                                                                                                                                     its heart, it still focuses on holding   which is designed to introduce children
                                                                                                                                                                     high-quality, large-scale events like the   to cross-country skiing; the Junior
                                                                                                                                                                     City of Lakes Loppet Festival, engaging   Loppet, with divisions for ages 19
                                                                                                                                                                     the north Minneapolis community     and under; and the Loppet Age Gap
                                                                                                                                                                     in outdoor activities, and building a   Relays, a combined event for adults
                                                                                                                                                                     community around this active lifestyle.”   and kids to race together. In addition,
                                                                                                                                                                     According to Jones, the Loppet Festival   the Minnesota Youth Ski League
                                                                                                                                                                     continues to be the driving force   SuperCarnival offers a number of relay
                                                                                                                                                                     behind the foundation, and its success   and obstacle course events for kids of
                                                                                                                                                                     helps keep its other programs running   all ages.
                                                                                                                                                                     throughout the year.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Loppet Festival doesn’t just attract
                                                                                                                                                                     LOPPET OR LEAVE IT                  skiers, though. There are many more
           “   THE EVENTS GEARED TOWARD LOCAL                                                                                                                        What started with eight hundred     exciting events representative of the
                                                                                                                                                                     participants has expanded to an average
                                                                                                                                                                                                         region. For example, the Captain Ken’s
               CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE AMONG THE MOST                                                                                                              of 15,000 to 20,000 volunteers,     Kubb Tournament—the largest winter
               IMPORTANT AND ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE                                                                                                              competitors, and spectators each year.   kubb tournament in the world—
               FOUNDATION’S MISSION OF STEWARDSHIP                                                                                                                   There are eight categories of events,   encourages first-time players and those
               AND COMMUNITY.                                                                                                                                        including cross-country skiing, skijoring,   experienced with the game to compete
                                                                                                                                                                     fat-tire bicycling, and family events.   head-to-head. The game brings out




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