Hundreds Take Part In City Of Lakes Loppet

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There may not be a lot of snow on the ground this year, but at least it felt more like a Minnesota winter on Sunday at the City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis.

Hundreds of cross-country skiers took part in the Loppet Lake Marathon Sunday morning. The course went around Theodore Wirth Park, through woods and over parkways. Former Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak even took part.

You may remember Rybak suffered a heart attack last year while cross-country skiing in Wirth Park. Sunday, he said he's feeling great. He also said organizers have done a great job with the event, despite the poor snow conditions.

"If you took some powdered sugar and put it on your living room and tried to ski on it, you would know what these people have been doing grooming this.  But, they've pulled it off and now it's 13 years of the most amazing winter event.  It shows everyone in America, get over it, winter's great," Rybak said.

The City of Lakes Loppet is more than just skiing. The point-to-point dogsledding race, is a popular event. Mushers race over some tough hills, and challenging twists and turns. Dogsledding is usually banned in Minneapolis parks, but is allowed this one day of the year.