Last week, the lawns of Theodore Wirth Park were visible, with man-made snow trails winding through the snowless landscape.
What a difference a week and a storm can make.
This weekend's COOP FIS World Cup Ski Race brings top cross-country ski athletes to Minneapolis.
There was a pleasant surprise on the course there this week. In addition to the man-made snow paths already in place, this was the first heavy snowfall of the winter.
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Snow piled up on the trees Friday as skiers from around the world took practice runs down the trails, getting a feel for the terrain and the snow.
Among the skiers participating in the event is Afton native and international cross-country skiing star Jesse Diggins. She has dreamed for years of this race being held in her home state.
“This is really emotional for me. So when I start crying, just hold on,” she told reporters Friday afternoon. “I mean, the last time I raced here, all over the state of Minnesota, was when I was 19 years old. It's been a while. And this is something I've always wanted to do.”
Diggins has already had a great ski season. She just won her fifth individual World Cup event last week. She tied the American record for most wins in a single season. She has the most individual race podiums in a single season by an American, with 10. Now she is returning home to ski in front of her family and friends.
“It's so special and meaningful to know that I'm going to have so much love in my life,” she said. “Obviously that sometimes makes me feel like, 'Oh, I have to win because everyone's out here watching me,' but I'm not like that. I just have to go out and race as hard as I can. ' And that's what I do. ”
Along with the athletes is a team of experts who understand ski wax, gear and conditions in great detail.
Joel Harrison, owner of New Moon Ski and Bike Shop in Hayward, Wis., says the details are key for these athletes.
“You and I are probably skiing based on what their selection criteria is, which is probably beyond our capabilities in terms of performance,” he said. “The difference in performance in a race is only a fraction of the overall time. We're talking about decisions made regarding wax and ski selection. That's the difference between coming in first place or being eliminated. Could be.” Top 10. “
A snow-filled park was not what organizers had planned for the past few weeks. But that was a nice bonus.
“It's magic. “Someone loves Loppet,” we said. It’s great to see it happen now,” said Claire Wilson, executive director of the Loppet Foundation, which organizes the event.
Minneapolis was originally scheduled to hold the event in 2020, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Wilson said she was excited to have the opportunity to host again.
“This is a big deal,” she said. “So her 180 competitors from 21 countries are participating. The best skiers in the world are now skiing in public parks in Minneapolis.”
Harrison had planned to attend the 2020 event before it was canceled. The last time it was held in the U.S. was 20 years ago, but this year he plans to drive to the Twin Cities.
“Honestly, this car has been on our bucket list since March of 2020, when we tried to take it down and it got scratched and we were scared it would get scratched again. “Because the winter was very mild,” he said. “I'm so happy that it looks like we've gotten 6 inches of snow where you guys are. I understand it's probably going to be winter-like over there as well.”
This Minnesota winter couldn't have come at a better time for Loppet, who would thrust Minneapolis into the global ski spotlight.
The highly anticipated race will start on Saturday morning and run until Sunday.