Waiver and Registration Form: Click here, print it, fill it out and fax in (or mail)

Time: 8:00 AM, Sunday January 27th, 2008 starting on Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Alberta

Entry Fee: $39.00* per skier. Includes this unique event, Loppet garment, event refreshments and awards. *If using credit card, add $1.00 for processing fee.

Refund Policy: $35.00 refund before January 10th, 2008. Full refund if the event is cancelled. No refund if event shortened or postponed. Alternate date is Saturday, February 2nd, 2008.

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008. Limited by Parks Canada to 20 teams of 6 and 40 individual participants.

In Person: Mountain Magic Equipment in Banff (224 Bear Street) or at Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise (Sampson Mall).

By Mail: LL-Banff Loppet, Box 1108 Banff, AB, T1L 1B1

By Fax: 403.762.4672

Cheque: Payable to "Mountain Magic Equipment"

Team Categories: Women, Men, Mixed (1/3 opposite sex), Mixed 40+ (1/3 opposite sex and average age over 40), Family (related by blood or marriage)

Individual Categories: Women Under 50, Women Over 50, Men Under 50, Women Over 50

Awards: Recognition awards for top 3 finishers in each above category. Plaques engraved for each of fastest Mixed Team, Mixed Team 40+, Women's Team, Men's team, Individual Women, Individual Men, Individual Women 50+ and Individual Men 50+.

Reception: At the Banff Centre's Sally Borden facility. Pools and showers are complementary to participants. Hors d'ourevres, cash bar & awards at 5:00 pm. Please bring your draw prize coupons found in loppet package!!

Bib Pickup: 7:00 AM, Fairview Lounge, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Pre-Event Meeting: 7:30 AM, Lakeview Lounge, Chateau Lake Louise.

Please, No waxing anywhere inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Major Sponsors: Baker Creek Chalets, The Banff Centre (SBB), Castle Mountain Chalets, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Mountain Magic Equipment and Wilson Mountain Sports.

Course Information

The first documentation of this event had participants skiing from Lake Louise to Banff through the Bow Valley on February 8th, 1929. With equipment and trail conditions decidedly inferior to those available today, the fastest skier in the 1929 event was Paul Gotaas of the Camrose Ski Club with a time of 5h 15m 17s. Rekindled in 1979, the modern version of this annual cross-country loppet was contested with the entry of two teams and sponsored by Baker Creek Chalets, Castle Mountain Village and Wilson Mountain Sports. In 1990, the event was skied by individuals as well as teams of up to six members. Now this popular local event has grown to 20 teams and 40 individuals. In 1995 the Banff Ski Runners joined the organizers as a major sponsor. Participants in the past events have both enjoyed and endured the challenges of the terrain and the weather over the course of this 65km route.

1st Leg [17km]: The loppet starts on the lake in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The trail proceeds down the tramline with two road crossings and onto the Bow River Trail across from the Lake Louise Train Station. The trail continues through the campground and along the river before crossing two foot bridges onto Fairview Drive and the Emergency Exit road (the old 1A highway). From the level railway crossing, participants will ski several hundred meters east before passing under the #1 highway at the rail underpass (under CPR direction). Doubling back to join the old 1A roadbed, skiers head for Corral Creek on the Bow Valley Parkway and make their way to Baker Creek Chalets and the first relay checkpoint. This is the coldest leg due to the time of day and the decent from the Chateau. This is also the longest leg at about 17km.

2nd Leg [11km]: The exchange station is at the Baker Creek trailhead parking lot (across the road from the Chalets). The second leg picks up the designated ski trail to Protection Mountain Campground. Once through the campground, another road crossing takes the skiers onto the old highway that parallels the Bow Valley Parkway. A final road crossing and short hill climb brings the skiers up to the Castle Lookout parking lot and relay checkpoint. The length is approximately 11km.

3rd Leg [11km}: The exchange station is the Castle Lookout trailhead. Leg three continues along the Bow Valley Parkway (1A), on a designated ski trails and under the powerline, to another road crossing at Castle Junction. We continue on designated ski trails and the road shoulder until Moose Meadows. The trail cuts through Moose Meadows and then carries on to the campground at Johnston Canyon. Length is about 11km.

4th Leg [9km]: The exchange station is Johnston Canyon campground. The fourth leg heads through the campground for a short distance, then follows along the 1A down to the Hillsdale, split, crosses the road and follows the split to the Sawback picnic area. Length is approximately 9km.

5th Leg [9km]: The exchange station is the Sawback turn-out on the 1A. This fifth leg continues along the 1A until entering a CPR access. Crossing the rail tracks (under the direction of a CPR official) and descending onto the Bow river, we ski a short distance before entering the Backswamp, a wilderness area which has been snowshoe packed and ski-tracked only. Heading out of the Backswamp, the trail climbs and embankment to the roadside at the Sunshine overpass. Length is approximately 9km.

6th Leg [8km]: The final hand-off station is at the Sunshine/Healy Creek overpass. Leg six begins with a short run across the overpass of the Trans Canada Highway to the head of the Healy Creek trail. Here the trail widens to allow for skating technique but is still trackset off to one side. After 4.6km, the Healy Creek trail merges onto the Sundance Canyon trail near the Cave and Basin Historical Site and then drops down onto the Bow River and crosses the finish line in front of the Central Park gazebo in Banff. Length is approximately 8km.

Powerade, water and treats will be at each hand-off station. Washrooms are located at the start, Baker Creek, Castle Mountain Chalets, Sawback and at the finish.

The Loppet is a classic race, with the option of skating only in the last leg. It is a beautiful course that proves to challenge skiers of all levels. Whether as a team or individual, we hope you enjoy yourselves and thank you for supporting this great local event! Good Luck!!