March 30, 2018 (Quebec City, Que.) – This Saturday, hundreds of novice, intermediate and expert cross-country skiers are expected for the inaugural edition of a fresh new spring challenge: the Mont-Sainte-Anne Loppet presented by Québecor! There’s plenty for classic and skate skiers of all levels, with race distances ranging from the Boralex 48K, to the KPMG 25K and the Sportful 10K, offering respective elevation gains of 1,546 m, 879m and 396 m. And because this is a family-friendly event, even the littlest groms are more than welcome to ski the Québecor 1.5K loop! Whether you ski solo, with family or with friends, and whether you’re out to push your limits or focus on fun, the Mont-Sainte-Anne Loppet is the one event cross-country skiers in and around Quebec City won’t want to miss. Talk about a fun way to wrap up the season in style! Online registration ends at Friday, March 30 at 5 p.m., so hurry if you want to enjoy early-bird pricing!

Modelled on Sweden’s Vasaloppet, which now attracts more than 15,000 cross-country skiers, the Mont-Sainte-Anne Loppet is shaping up to be a regular fixture every year. “The 48K and 25K races start and finish on familiar ground by the Rang Saint Julien Lodge in Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, but the course takes skiers into some exclusive Mont-Sainte-Anne backcountry terrain that’s usually off-limits to skiers,” said Chantal Lachance, Vice-President of Operations and Marketing for event producer Gestev. Courtesy of Sportful, medals will be awarded to the top three men and women in each event based on cumulative ranking. And that’s not all: every skier gets to enjoy an après beer courtesy of Michelob Ultra at the onsite Party Zone after the race! Results by category will be available online here.

To keep the energy and fun flowing, there’ll be refreshment stations courtesy of HOLOS, Bel-Gaufre, IGA and iBar dotted throughout the race courses. To keep everyone’s hunger at bay, the Le Shack à patates food truck will be serving up sustenance throughout the day. Participants and companions can also check out the latest toys from manufacturers and vendors in the onsite expo area.

Alex Harvey first to register
Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges native and locals’ favourite at the Olympics in PyeongChang, Alex Harvey was the first to sign up for the 48K distance at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Loppet this March 31, not just to ski on home snow again but also to rub shoulders with participants—and maybe even give them a few pro tips! After capturing Canadians’ hearts at the PyeongChang Olympics, Alex is stoked to be back home and taking part in this event organized by Quebec Winter Events Corporation and Gestev, which is all about developing the sport of cross-country skiing in the area. Alex will be signing autographs for fans in the Auclair tent from 1 to 2 p.m. There’ll be plenty more familiar faces to spot n the trails at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Loppet too, with Olympians Anne-Marie Comeau (cross-country skiing) and Sylvie Bernier (diving), triathlete Pierre Lavoie and legendary local athlete Pierre Harvey (Alex’s dad) stepping into their skis this Saturday!

Easter egg hunt for little groms presented by Desjardins
It wouldn’t be Easter weekend without the Easter Bunny! And what could be better than a giant Easter egg hunt for hundreds of people to enjoy? The family fun begins at 10:45 a.m., so keep your eyes peeled for the brightly-coloured eggs hidden all over the place!

Information and Registration available here.