February 18, 2018 (Gatineau, Que.) – Day two of the Gatineau Loppet’s 40th anniversary edition competitions also started under brilliant sunshine at École secondaire Mont-Bleu. All participants, from expert to beginner, were eager to hit the trails of Gatineau Park for the freestyle and snowshoe races. This year, for the very first time, the 51 km freestyle, which started from P17 in the La Pêche municipality, was a linear race.

Highlights of this 40th edition:

– The two linear races were a hit, with more than 850 skiers registered.
– This was the first year of the freestyle linear race from P17 in the la pêche municipality.
– The Loppet long-distance championship was won by Petter Soleng Skinstad for the men, and Zina Kocher for the women.
– Norway’s Petter Soleng Skinstad won Saturday’s 51 km classic style and Sunday’s 51 km freestyle.
– Several local VIPs took part in the different races, including Norway’s Ambassador, Ann Kari Hensen Ovind, Finland’s Ambassador vesa lehtonen, federal MP William Amos, Chelsea Municipal Councillor Pierre Guénard…
– The 10 km Canadian Snowshoe Championship was won by Maxime Leboeuf for the men, and Lynda Gingras for the women.
– Lac Philippe covered bridge crossing.
– Entertainment along the routes.
– First school day edition on Friday, February 16, with close to 250 students participating.
– 2,364 skiers from close to 20 countries took part in the 40th edition under brilliant sunshine.
– In addition, more than 150 children, accompanied by their parents, took part in the Mini Sport Échange Outaouais, a non-timed race with entertainment, music, hot chocolate, marshmallow roasting…

After everything was said and done, the 40th edition of the Gatineau Loppet attracted 2,364 skiers from close to 20 countries over the weekend. “That was a perfect weekend for the Gatineau Loppet. Everything from the temperature to the snow conditions, the number of participants, the new linear trail, the school day…well absolutely everything worked for this anniversary edition,” said Claude Laramée, Gatineau Loppet President, who was all smiles at the closing event.

Results

51 KM CHELSEA AND LA PÊCHE FREESTYLE
Men
1st place Petter Soleng Skinstad (2:13:56) Lillehamer, NOR
2nd place Dominique Moncion-Groulx (2:13:58) Gatineau, CAN
3rd place Andy Shields (2:14:01) Thunder Bay, CAN

Women
1st place Zina Kocher (2:19:03) Canmore, CAN
2nd place Jenn Jackson (2:19:50) Oro Medonte, CAN
3rd place Véronique Fortin (2:31:08) Gatineau, CAN

27 KM NCC FREESTYLE
Men
1st place Guillaume Michaud-Éthier (1:15:16) Gatineau, CAN
2nd place Philippe Quessy (1:15:17) Drummondville, CAN
3rd place Claude Chaput (1:16:27) Québec, CAN

Women
1st place Catherine Frechette (1:26:52) Gatineau, CAN
2nd place Myriam Grenier-Levesque (1:29:09) Val D’or, CAN
3rd place Chris Huet (1:31:20) Caledon East, CAN

10 KM MEC FREESTYLE
Men
1st place William Bérubé (00:28:16) Gatineau, CAN
2nd place Alex Williams (00:29:12) Camden, USA
3rd place Raphael Payo (0:29:18) Montréal, CAN

Women
1st place Sienna Brennan-Raab (00:30:01) Chelsea, CAN
2nd place Marianne Lévesque (00:32:09) Ottawa, CAN
3rd place Jazmine Lavergne (0:32:21) Gatineau, CAN

10 KM SNOWSHOE and CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
1st place Men: Maxime Leboeuf (00:48:03) Gatineau, CAN
1st place Women: Lynda Gingras (00:54:46) Ottawa, CAN

5 KM SNOWSHOE
1st place Men: Crwys Harris (00:30:30) Ottawa, CAN
1st place Women: Krisztina Cormier (00:34:53) Ottawa, CAN