2025 Bluesky Loppet
This year the Bluesky Loppet will be held on February 9, 2025 in conjunction with the Ontario Masters Championships and as part of the Northern Ontario District (NOD) race series.
All races will be mass start by distance, starting at 10:00 am.
Bluesky Loppet:
- 0.6 km, 1.3 km, and 3 km (Part of Chocolate Bar Race Series, $5 entry, everyone wins a chocolate bar)!
- 9 km ($5 entry, everyone wins a chocolate bar!)
- 18 km ($15 entry, everyone will get a drink on course, a free chili lunch, and chocolate bar prizes!)
All ages can ski any distance, except the 18 km, which is limited to U14 and older. Your choice of skate or classic technique. Trails will be groomed for both.
Registration for the Bluesky Loppet on Sunday Feb 9 closes on Friday February 7 at 11:59 pm EST. Day of registrations may be possible for these events, however not guaranteed. Please register in advance. Registration is on Zone4, click HERE
Northern Ontario District Race Series (NOD 5):
U12 (2013-2014) - 3.0 km (1 x 3.0 km) ($5 entry)
U14 (2011-2012) - 6.0 km (1 x 3.0 km) ($5 entry)
U16 (2009-2010) - 9.0 km (1 x 9.0 km) ($5 entry)
U18 (2007-2008) - 9.0 km (1 x 9.0 km) ($5 entry)
Open (2006 and older) - 18.0 km (1 x 18.0 km) ($15 entry)
PN Sit Ski - 2.6 km (2 x 1.3 km) ($5 entry)
PN Standing will race in their age category unless otherwise requested
Registrants in the 18 km event will get a drink on course, and a free chili lunch. Chocolate bar prizes for all entrants!
Registration for the NOD5 races on Sunday Feb 9 closes on Friday February 7 at 11:59 pm EST. Day of registrations may be possible for these events, however not guaranteed. Please register in advance. Registration is on Zone4, click HERE
A Short History of the Bluesky Loppet
The North Bay Nordic Ski Club has a long history hosting "Loppets", which is a Scandinavian term for a long-distance endurance race, or cross-country skiing event. The Club hosted its first loppet (the Langlauf, which is German for "a cross country ski race"), on February 16, 1980. The start area was formed on Trout Lake a few hundred metres down from Northshore Road. Skiers raced to the shore, up the road and behind the clubhouse onto the trails.
The Loppet has evolved and run almost every year since 1980. The common theme has been to race the club's longest and most challenging trail, the 18 km Green Trail.
The Loppet was expanded to a 2-day event format in 2006 (Skate Saturday and Classic Sunday) and re-named the Bluesky Loppet. A 36 km option was added, and in some years there was a 36 km skate race on Saturday and a 36 km classic race on Sunday! Formats have varied from year to year, but the spirit of the Loppet remains - a fun "race" event for all ages!
The first "Loppet", circa 1980: 
The 2024 running of the Bluesky Loppet:
Ddue to poor snow conditions in 2024, the Green Trail could not be used and the Loppet included 2 laps of the 9km Blue-X Trail.