Corner Brook -
Recent warm weather may be making the snow disappear quicker than the Russian Olympic hockey team, but there's still plenty left for the annual Blow Me Down Loppet.
The event, held each year at Blow Me Down Cross Country Ski Trails, is set for today and according to manager Shawn Leamon, the conditionals at the Nordic ski facility couldn't be better.
"It's a little bit fast in the mornings but now the afternoons are great skiing," said Leamon. "It's almost like spring or April skiing in February."
A non-timed event, participants form teams and ski as many kilometres as possible to a maximum of 50 per person. There are loops ranging from one, two, five and 10 kilometres long and once a team is finished, distances are recorded based on the honour system.
With around 50 skiers already signed up, Leamon said registration is on par with previous years and that there's always room for more teams. To him, the popularity of the event is largely due to its fun, festive atmosphere.
"It's about participation more than a race as such," he said. "It's about getting people out and having fun as a group. You can ski as a group, you can stop and have a lunch, you can have a chat and go on and ski again. There's a couple of big rivalries on the go now, we've got the Loppet Ladies and a team called the Swilers. It's all about having fun and getting as many people out as you possibly can."
Action will run from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the facility off Lundrigan Drive and for more information, visit the club's website at www.blowmedown.ca
