The mass start for the Don Allen Saskaloppet was postponed for an hour due to cold weather. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Ski Competition

Saskaloppet draws close to 200 skiers despite cold weather

Mar 3, 2019 | 12:41 PM

Cold weather impacted attendance at the 36^th annual Don Allen Saskaloppet, but Chairperson Dorothy Looyestein said those who competed still had a good time.

“It was extremely cold Friday at the start of the event and we realized for Saturday we would have to make some changes,” she said. “On Friday evening, we made the decision that we would have to have a little bit of a delayed start and also we would not have our longest race on Saturday.”

With 12 competitors in the 77-kilometer and 52-km Robertson Trading Kupesewin races starting March 1, the majority of participants began the next day at 11 a.m. on Lac La Ronge an hour later than usual. Those events included the 38-km, 20-km and 12-km races. The shorter 7-km and 2-km events were held at 12 p.m. at the Nut Point Campground.

Overall, Looyestein stated close to 200 people competed in the Saskaloppet whereas 320 attended in 2018. At the mass start Saturday, the temperature was -27 C and felt like -40 C in the wind. When it gets that cold, she said people are reluctant to race due to concerns for their well-being.

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Don Allen Saskaloppet mass start on Lac La Ronge was pushed back to 11 a.m. due to cold temperatures. Watch here: pic.twitter.com/g479axhrDp

— Derek Cornet (@saskjourno) March 2, 2019

“It’s commendable the skiers went out for the two-day event because they basically have to sleep outside,” Looyestein said. “We saw a lot of happy faces. People came in with rosey cheeks, but they still had a good time.”

La Ronge’s Hilary Johnstone and Sean Molloy both participated in the Kupesewin event with Johnstone finishing in eight hours, 48 minutes and Molloy finishing in 10 hours, 11 minutes. Luke Hepworth, the only skier under 17 to compete in the event, had a time of 10 hours, 39 minutes.

Ilona Gyapay, who skied from Elk Ridge to La Ronge for the Saskaloppet, raced in the 38-km event and finished in four hours.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno

by Derek Cornet

Saskaloppet draws close to 200 skiers despite cold weather

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