The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club is poised to stage its 27^th annual Loppet this Saturday, March 6^th. With the close of registrations on Saturday, the 2010 Northwestel Yukon Loppet has 138 skiers registered to take part, in either the 3-kilometre, 7.5-kilometre, 20-kilometre or 30-kilometre distances.

“Most of the skiers are registered in the 20-kilometre or the 7.5-kilometre distances,” said organizer Mike Kramer. “But as usual, we have lots of people registered in all four categories and a great age range as well. Our youngest skier is only 3 or 4 years old and we have at least one skier in the late seventies. Our goal is for everyone to have a great ski outing as we celebrate a great season of skiing and the lead-up to hosting an exciting national event about a week later.”

The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club is hosting the Haywood 2010 Ski Nationals in Whitehorse from March 14^th to 21^st.  It will be the 83^rd running of the Canadian Cross Country Skiing Championships and a dedicated team of volunteers and sponsors are working to make the event a success.

“The timing of the Haywood event so close to our annual Northwestel Yukon Loppet is going to affect this year’s loppet in several ways,” said Kramer. “Our experience with the Canada Winter Games in 2007 showed us that given the heavy demands on volunteers for hosting a big event such as the Nationals, it’s wise not to ask volunteers to step up the week before to help deliver our ‘normal’ loppet. We want to be realistic about our volunteers’ energy and time. As well, we encourage people to get out on their skis before we get busy with hosting the nationals.”

This year’s Northwestel Yukon Loppet is self-timed, with no awards given out afterwards. There will be a mass start for all distances at 11 a.m., or people can begin skiing after the start time. There will be a post-Loppet luncheon rather than an evening banquet. The changes will reduce the need for volunteers and allow more people to ski the event.

 “Northwestel is very proud to sponsor the annual Loppet once again this year, as well as the Haywood Nationals later this month,” said Anne Kennedy, Northwestel Director Communications. “The Loppet will give all skiers a chance to get out with their family and friends to enjoy our wonderful ski trails. Then, a week later, the national championships will give Yukoners the opportunity to see some excellent skiers in action.”

The Northwestel Yukon Loppet and the Haywood event will take place at the Mount McIntyre cross country ski trails.

In 2009, Northwestel contributed more than $550,000 in cash and in-kind donations to many northern community groups. Throughout its history, Northwestel has played a key role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North. Northwestel is recognized as a key contributor to the well-being of northern communities through its community investment program and the volunteer contributions of its employees.

Northwestel provides complete telecommunications solutions and entertainment services in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, northern British Columbia and High Level, Alberta. The company’s operations span nearly 4 million square kilometres of the most remote and rugged areas of Canada.