April 04, 2016 – On a beautiful Labrador blue-sky, full-of-sunshine day, -12˚C and warmer, over a hundred and thirty excited participants were at the start line for the 41th annual Great Labrador Loppet. Most skiers and snowshoers were in the 10km event, but the 28 and 50km, along with the new 2.5km events, were very exciting too. Also this year we had a snowshoe race from Duley Park 10km for which we presented medals. Besides local participants, people came from HV-Goosebay, Nain, Forteau, Corner Brook, St. John’s and Whiteway, NL and from away PEI, Montreal, London, England and Utah, USA.

We used four venues, the Menihek Nordic Ski  facility, Fermont Snowmobile Club, Whitewolf Snowmobile Club and Smokey Mountain Ski Club. Also, thank you to J&S Bussing and the Town of Labrador city for all the assistance with equipment and people.

The trails were a skiers’ heaven, done to perfection for classic and free technique, groomed with excellent support from Menihek Nordic and Whitewolf Snowmobile Club.

The feed stations along the route were fully stocked with volunteers and food, dolling out cookies, fruit, juices, soup and hotdogs to keep everyone powered up. The Wabush Tent at Duley Park feed station was a great enhancement. Capital Crane supplied all of the Royal Flushes.

Security and communications along the full length of the route was excellent, with Town of Labrador City, Army cadets, Labrador West Search & Rescue, HAM Radio Group, RNC & White Wolf patrollers and support from the Fermont Snowmobile club.

At the finish line, at the Whitewolf Snowmobile Club, the ladies had all kinds of soup , chili, fruit and beverages. The youth medal presentations and awards took place there with our MHA, Graham Letto, assisting in the presentations. The 2.5km event was new this year and saw a good turnout of parents and youth with the event starting later and presentations earlier, this went over very well.

In the evening, at the Smokey Mountain Ski Club, the adult presentations and awards were held with an excellent chicken cuisine prepared by chef, Nicholas McGrath. We had a beautiful photo presentation of the day’s events on a big screen thanks to local photograhers at the Loppet. After the fine meal, the medals and awards were presented, please see results and award list link below. We held a draw for two PAL- Provincial Airlines, our major sponsor, for tickets to anywhere they fly. The winners were Mike Brown and Jody Lawrence.

This was an excellent event made possible by all the volunteers and our sponsors , we are so appreciative of them.

Georges Girard, an 84-year-old Master Skier from Beauport, Quebec at the Loppet, once said: “You cannot be at the finish line, if you are not at the starting line.” – so true.

Another PAL Great Labrador Loppet for the memory book.

Full results here.