A new challenge for cross-country skiers is coming to northern Minnesota this winter. The Ski North Ultra, scheduled for March 8, 2025, will take participants along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior. With race distances of 22, 46, and 100 kilometers, the event is set to be the longest cross-country ski race in the region.
The race will begin and end at Cascade River State Park, incorporating three interconnected trails near Lutsen, Minnesota: Norpine, Cascade River, and Bally Creek.
The idea for the race came to Allie Rykken of St. Paul after skiing these trails a couple of winters ago. She was struck by the trails’ beauty and their connectivity, which allowed for miles of skiing in one continuous loop. Rykken, who works for the Loppet Foundation in the Twin Cities and is an avid endurance athlete, decided to create an event that would give people the chance to experience all of these trails in a single day.
“I wanted to offer a day where people could ski all these trails,” Rykken said. “If they want to race, that’s great, but the goal is for people to have 12 hours to complete the 100K, so it’s doable for most skiers.”
Rykken said the Ski North Ultra follows the spirit of ultra marathons, which emphasize the experience and adventure of completing the race rather than focusing solely on speed.
The event adds to the growing number of endurance races along the North Shore, joining events like the Superior 100 Mile Trail Race and the Lutsen 99er mountain bike race. The Ski North Ultra is significantly longer than other major ski races in the region, such as the American Birkebeiner and the Mora Vasaloppet, both of which are about 50 kilometers. While the Arrowhead 135 is longer, it is a multi-sport race with participants running or biking rather than skiing.
The classic-style race will cover a total of 100 kilometers on the interconnected trails. Since announcing the event a week ago, Rykken has received positive feedback and hopes to attract 100 participants in its inaugural year.
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