There were about 50 competitors under the age of 15. (Facebook/La Ronge Nordic Ski Club)

By Derek Cornet

premiere race

Turnout lower than usual at annual Saskaloppet

Mar 7, 2022 | 12:43 PM

The annual Don Allen Saskaloppet returned to La Ronge during the weekend, however, the turnout at the major event was lower than previous years.

“We had 160 signed up, but there were some that didn’t show up. I am guessing we were around 150,” organizer Sid Robinson said, noting the competition typically attracts nearly 300. “That’s less than normal, but we can call this a COVID recovery year. I’m hoping to double it by next year if everything goes good.”

Participants came from across Saskatchewan with some coming all the way from Alberta. Residents of the tri-communities also performed well and a full list of results can be found online here.

Robinson explained, overall, the skiers were happy with the event, adding the temperature was around -10 C, it was sunny and no wind. He said it’s been many years since the weather for the Saskaloppet has been so favourable.

“There were lots of kids,” Robinson said. “The really popular events were the two-kilometre and the five-kilometre, and it was good to see little kids skiing with their parents or their grandparents because those are the kids that are going to be skiing the longer distances later.”

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One highlight of this year’s Saskaloppet was the reopening of a six-kilometre stretch of trail that was burned during the 2015 wildfires. The trail was restored thanks to the work of Murray Galambos and other volunteers. That specific section of trail was built by Don Allen in the 1970s.

Although the La Ronge Ski Club hosts many different events throughout the year, Robinson mentioned the Saskaloppet is the most important. He’s hoping more people are willing to compete in 2023.

“I’d like to thank all of the sponsors and volunteers,” Robinson said. “We had a lot of help from local sponsors and, of course, Orano and the volunteers were just super. I think they had a good time at the checkpoints.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno