Gatineau Loppet 53k Skate: Prize Money, Canada Points, Free Accommodation for Elite Skiers!
By:  Karl Saidla   (2011/01/21)

Canada Points, Prize Money, Free Accommodation for Elite skiers!

The Gatineau Loppet would like to make several announcements concerning its signature elite event, the 53km skate.

This year’s prize money for the 53km skate event will be distributed as follows:

Men:

• 1^st  - $1200
• 2^nd -  $600
• 3^rd -   $200

Women:

• 1^st  - $1200
• 2^nd -  $600
• 3^rd  -  $200

The first wave of the 53km skate event will be sanctioned by Cross Country Canada and results will be eligible for the Canada Points List.

Finally, a limited number of hotel rooms have been set aside to be provided free of charge to elite race skiers who demonstrate a realistic chance of finishing among the top 3 overall in the open men/open women’s categories, based on application. Accommodation will be offered for Friday and Saturday nights leading up to the event. For more information, and to apply, please send an e-mail to info@gatineauloppet.com before February 1^st, 2011 indicating the following:

• Previous results in national level events 30kms or longer.
• Your CCC, FIS, or other applicable racing license.

These changes have been implemented with both the short and long term goals of attracting more of Canada and the world's top marathon distance racers to the Gatineau Loppet.

The Gatineau Loppet has a rich history of bringing some of the very best distance racers from Canada and the world to the Gatineau area. This is a tradition that the Gatineau Loppet would like to see continue! Some famous past winners among the men include Pauli Siitonen, Orjan Blomqvist, Stanislav Rezac, and Pierre Harvey. Although he never won, Bill Koch was another well known skier who has raced the Gatineau Loppet. Women winners include national team members such as Marie-Andree Masson, Angela Schmidt-Foster, Dasha Gaïazova, and Jane Vincent and international competitors such as Muffy Ritz, Maria Theurl and Gudrun Pfluger.