22 events in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Junior Loppet program is a year-round, after school program that empowers Minneapolis middle schoolers through healthy outdoor activities like cross country skiing, mountain biking, trail running, orienteering and paddling. We focus on partnering with middle and elementary schools with a majority of the school population eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch. The program occurs 2-3 days per week after school, and throughout the summer. Students also participate in events, races, and weekend camping and training trips. The program uses outdoor adventure to help youth build healthy habits; social and emotional skills; and personal connections that promote success.

All Access Ski Pass

Additional All Access Ski Passes for adults in the same household can be purchased for $70. This household discount will be applied at check out and is only available for tickets purchased in a single transaction. This discount cannot be applied to passes purchased seperately.

Get an All Access Ski Pass to ski on all Minneapolis Parks trails, including on Theodore Wirth Park’s snowmaking trails where The Loppet Foundation’s continually-improving snowmaking capacity makes for great skiing all winter. This pass is required to use all trails in the North Wirth Trails west of Theodore Wirth Parkway. This includes Hap Lutter Trails, Judy Lutter Loop, and Twin Lake Trail. This pass also allows the pass holder access to all groomed trails in the MPRB trail system, both snowmaking and natural snow. This pass also grants you access to Columbia Golf Course, Hiawatha Golf Course, and the Chain of Lakes trails. The adult pass is for ages 12+; the youth pass is for ages 11 and under.

Natural Snow Ski Pass

Additional Natural Snow Passes for adults in the same household can be purchased for $30. This household discount will be applied at check out and is only available for tickets purchased in a single transaction. This discount cannot be applied to passes purchased seperately.

Get a Natural Snow Ski Pass to have access only to the natural snow trails of Hiawatha Golf Course, Columbia Golf Course, Theodore Wirth Park, and The Chain of Lakes. This pass allows the pass holder to ski in natural snow areas only. This includes South Wirth and North Wirth Trails, except for the snowmaking/lighted areas (the Hap Lutter Snowmaking Loop, the Judy Lutter Loop, and the Twin Lake Trail). This pass is recommended for the skier who is interested in skiing in natural snow areas only, not the lighted/snowmaking loop. This pass also grants you access to Columbia Golf Course, Hiawatha Golf Course, and the Chain of Lakes trails. The adult pass is for ages 12+; the youth pass is for ages 11 and under.

Daily Ski Passes go on sale every Friday for the following week. You cannot purchase a pass for more than one week in advance.

Daily All Access Ski Passes combined with ski rentals will be discounted to $10 per pass. This pass/rental combo must be purchased in person at the Trailhead.

All Access Ski Pass

Get an All Access Ski Pass to ski on all Minneapolis Parks trails, including on Theodore Wirth Park’s snowmaking trails where The Loppet Foundation’s continually-improving snowmaking capacity makes for great skiing all winter. This pass is required to use all trails in the North Wirth Trails west of Theodore Wirth Parkway. This includes Hap Lutter Trails, Judy Lutter Loop, and Twin Lake Trail. This pass also allows the pass holder access to all groomed trails in the MPRB trail system, both snowmaking and natural snow. This pass also grants you access to Columbia Golf Course, Hiawatha Golf Course, and the Chain of Lakes trails. The adult pass is for ages 12+; the youth pass is for ages 11 and under.

Natural Snow Ski Pass

Get a Natural Snow Ski Pass to have access only to the natural snow trails of Hiawatha Golf Course, Columbia Golf Course, Theodore Wirth Park, and The Chain of Lakes. This pass allows the pass holder to ski in natural snow areas only. This includes South Wirth and North Wirth Trails, except for the snowmaking/lighted areas (the Hap Lutter Snowmaking Loop, the Judy Lutter Loop, and the Twin Lake Trail). This pass is recommended for the skier who is interested in skiing in natural snow areas only, not the lighted/snowmaking loop. This pass also grants you access to Columbia Golf Course, Hiawatha Golf Course, and the Chain of Lakes trails. The adult pass is for ages 12+; the youth pass is for ages 11 and under.

The purpose of the three-week ski clinics is to introduce participants to nordic skiing. The clinics are designed for beginners and will focus on teaching the fundamental skills of either classic ski or skate ski technique. The clinic practices will include technique drills, relays, and games on skis – with a focus on developing skills, having fun, and falling in love with a lifetime sport! Following the clinics, participants who want to continue developing their skills can do so by signing up for a Trail Kids Session. For more information on the Trail Kids Ski Programs or for general program questions, email [email protected].

Beginner Classic Ski Clinic 1: Wednesdays

• When: 5:30-7pm on the following Wednesdays: December 3rd, 10th, 17th

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction/equipment needed: Classic technique. Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

Beginner Skate Ski Clinic 1: Thursdays

• When: 5:30-7pm on the following Thursdays: December 4th, 11th, 18th

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction/equipment needed: Skate technique. Skate skis and poles (nose height) needed. Combi boots can be used.

Beginner Skate Ski Clinic 2: Tuesdays

• When: 4–5:30pm on the following Tuesdays: January 6th, 13th, 20th

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction/equipment needed: Skate technique. Skate skis and poles (nose height) needed. Combi boots can be used.

Beginner Classic Ski Clinic 2: Wednesdays

• When: 5:30-7pm on the following Wednesdays: January 7th, 14th, 21st

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction/equipment needed: Classic technique. Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

Beginner Skate Ski Clinic 3: Tuesdays

• When: 5:30-7pm on the following Tuesdays: February 3rd, 10th, 17th

Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction/equipment needed: Skate technique. Skate skis and poles (nose height) needed. Combi boots can be used.

Beginner Classic Ski Clinic 3: Wednesdays

• When: 4–5:30pm on the following Wednesdays: February 4th, 11th, 18th

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction/equipment needed: Classic technique. Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

We offer 90 min Private Lessons every day of the week at The Trailhead in Theodore Wirth Park. Private lessons are taught by a PSIA certified instructor and they will personalize the level of skills and drills to match your skill level and aspirations. Their goal is to increase your skill, efficiency and joy of skiing in either classic or skate techniques. Private lessons include the use video feedback to analyze body position, fundamental skills and timing. As you complete registration, you will be able to request preferred days and time and you will be matched with the best instructor for your skill level and goals.

During this registration, you will see "Monday, December 11th", but that is not the date of your lesson. This simply denotes the date that lessons start for the season. You will receive a link to Sign Up Genius when you are done with registration where you can pick a specific date and time for your lesson.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I see available lesson slots? Click here to see available lesson slots before registering.

How do I pick a specific time for my lesson? Once you have registered and paid for your lesson, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to our SignUp Genius that will allow you to choose the date and time of your lesson. Please note that we do not allow lessons to be booked less than 72 hours in advance of the lesson date.

I want to register for a private lesson with a group of people. How does this work? The person who registers first is the group leader. That person is the only one who pays for the lesson, creates a new Group/Team, and selects a timeslot on SignUp Genius. Additional group members can follow these steps to join the group for the lesson:

1. Click the blue Sign Up button above. You will not be charged.

2. Complete the registration form and agree to the waiver.

3. On the next page, select “Join an Existing Group/Team” and enter the Team Name and password that your group leader has created.

4. On the next few pages, enter additional information and continue to select your rental options (if needed).

5. Complete your registration - you’re all set! Please do not select an additional slot on SignUp Genius. We’re excited to see you out on the trails!

How do I register a group larger than six? Please contact [email protected] to coordinate a group larger than six.

All lessons purchased are good for the 2024/25 winter season. We do not allow transfers from one winter season to the next

The Loppet Foundation offers equipment rental, lift tickets, and a friendly environment to learn how to snowboard and downhill ski in an affordable, convenient, and effective way at The Trailhead. After purchasing, you can come experience our hill and/or purchase equipment rentals at the Trailhead. Please be prepared to verify your pass purchase info when using the Alpine Learning Hill.

Financial Assistance: The Loppet provides financial assistance for those in need. To apply, please fill out this Financial Assistance form. Our staff will be in touch with you with next steps once your application has been submitted. Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions.

Off-season training program for junior cyclists looking to enhance their competence on the bike through a structured training regimen consisting of sport-specific strength and circuit training. Classes are structured to accommodate all abilities, ensuring every participant gets a developmentally appropriate level of challenge according to their individual goals, competence, availability, and rate of progression.

• Dates: January 6th - March 13th

• Day/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:45 PM

• Location: The Trailhead Studio at Theodore Wirth Park

• Equipment needed: Water bottle, towel, and tennis shoes

Financial Assistance: The Loppet provides financial assistance for those in need. To apply, please fill out this Financial Assistance form. Our staff will be in touch with you with next steps once your application has been submitted. Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions.

The 10-Week Classic + Skate Ski Program meets twice a week for ten weeks, focusing on both classic and skate ski technique (classic and skate equipment needed to participate in these sessions). Beginner participants must attend one of our 3-Week Beginner Clinics before they register for a 5 or 10-week Winter Ski Programs, or have equivalent skill and experience. Novice to advanced skiers are split into ability and age-specific coaching groups, so that each participant is challenged appropriately. Trail Kids sessions include technique drills, relays, games on skis, distance adventure skiing, and preparation for upcoming race events. The main focuses are developing skills, having fun, and falling in love with a lifetime sport!

• Dates: January 6th - March 12th, 2026

• Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM – 7:30PM

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction: Skate and Classic technique

• Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height) & Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used for both techniques.

The Trail Kids Ski Program - Session 2 offering meets twice a week for five weeks. The offerings will teach either skate or classic technique, so only one type of ski equipment is needed to participate. Beginner participants should attend one of our 3-Week Beginner Clinics before they register for a 5-Week Winter Ski Programs, or have equivalent skill and experience. Novice to advanced skiers are split into ability and age-specific coaching groups, so that each participant is challenged appropriately. Trail Kids sessions include technique drills, relays, games on skis, distance adventure skiing, and the opportunity to participate in a race event during their practice at no additional cost. In Trail Kids the focus is on developing skills, having fun, and falling in love with a lifetime sport!

Skate Ski Program: Monday/Wednesday - Wirth

• Dates: February 9th – March 11th (no practice Presidents Day)

• Days/Time: Mondays/Wednesdays from 6–7:30pm

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction: Skate technique

• Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height). Combi boots can be used.

Classic Ski Program: Tuesday/Thursday - Wirth

• Dates: February 10th – March 12th

• Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays from 6–7:30pm

• Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)

• Type of instruction: Classic technique

• Equipment needed: Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

Skate Ski Program: Tuesday/Thursday - Hyland

• Dates: February 10th – March 12th

• Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays from 6–7:30pm

• Where: Hyland Lake Park in Bloomington - Hyland/Jan’s Place

• Note: we are not meeting at Jan’s place but on the north side of this parking lot. You will access the Midsummer practice area by a paved path.

• Type of instruction: Skate technique

• Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height). Combi boots can be used.

LNR Spring Yoga

This yoga class series will be based in Hatha tradition with a focus on a gentle flow between poses, flexibility, balance and strength. It will be geared toward the athlete who wants to supplement their training routine as well for those who want to explore and deepen their yoga practice. With a focus on finding steadiness and alignment in poses, this hour long class is a perfect complement to the runner, skier and biker alike.

Strength for Endurance Athletes

The Adult Strength for Endurance Athletes program will primarily focus on building a solid base for nordic skiing, running, and other endurance sports by utilizing body weight movements, barbells, free weights, and plyometrics. Participants will learn to use correct technique for movements through hands on instruction. Also, a large focus for the sessions will be mobility and movement mechanics. This will be a beneficial course to improve your overall performance for endurance sports, whether you are new to strength or have been doing it for years.

Women's Spring Brick Training

This program will focus on some creative “brick” workouts that stack mountain biking, trail running, and strength training into a single workout session. The training group is beneficial for anyone who wants to increase their fitness. The class is open to intermediate to advanced fitness-level athletes over the age of 18 years old who identify as female and have some experience with mountain biking and trail running.

Financial Assistance: The Loppet provides financial assistance for those in need. To apply, please fill out this Financial Assistance form. Our staff will be in touch with you with next steps once your application has been submitted. Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions.

Trail Adults is designed for adults who want to learn to mountain bike with confidence and safety or take their skills to the next level. This six-week program blends focused skills instruction with guided trail riding. Each session begins with coaching on one or two key mountain bike skills, followed by a ride on the Loppet trails where you’ll practice and apply what you’ve learned alongside your coach.

Financial Assistance: The Loppet provides financial assistance for those in need. To apply, please fill out this Financial Assistance form. Our staff will be in touch with you with next steps once your application has been submitted. Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions.

Trail Kids Mountain Bike Programs are part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming.

Trail Kids offers six-week mountain bike sessions for novice to advanced riders. Participants ages 7-13 will explore the paved & single-track trails in and around Theodore Wirth Park while gaining skills they can use for a lifetime! (for programming for 13 and older, check out LCW Juniors programs)! The focus of the mountain bike sessions is to develop skills, meet new friends, and have fun while building confidence riding single track trails.

Female-identifying, trans, and nonbinary youth are welcome to join any offering in which they feel most comfortable: Girls Rock or Co-ed

Ability Level Guide: For those who have NO experience mountain biking on singletrack trails it is highly recommended that they take one of our Beginner Mountain Bike Clinics before joining the six-week evening sessions. When registering your child make sure to indicate their ability level as described in the Trail Kids MTB Skill Level Guide.

Ages: Ages 7 – 13, beginner to advanced abilities welcome; we split into different coaching groups based on ability, pacing, and age. We do not have programs for kids 6 years of age and under, so please do not register them until they turn seven years old.

Equipment Needed: All participants will need their own mountain bike, helmet, and water carrier (no bottle cage on handlebars - CamelBaks are a great option too!). Mountain bikes need to have both front and back wheel brakes on the handle bars (no peddle brakes). No kickstands are allowed. Tires must have tread and be wide enough to ride safely on mountain bike trails. For more on mountain bike equipment, view the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide.

*Please note that rental bikes are not available for our 6-Week offerings.

Swag: Trail Kids T-shirt and water bottle for all participants available at no additional cost. In an effort to reduce waste, TK Swag is now listed as an optional “add-on” during your registration. If you’d like your participant to receive this swag please ensure it is selected.

Friend Requests: For safety and equity reasons, Trail Kids does not offer friend requests as part of registration. The mass quantity of friend requests made it impossible to accommodate them all and greatly impacted safety and group dynamics. We would love to allow everyone to practice with their friends, but if we cannot accommodate all friend requests, we cannot offer them to everyone. We encourage riders to embrace the opportunity to form new friendships through our programs!

Trail Kids MTB Race: As part of our Trail Kids program all participants will have the opportunity to participate in our Adventure MTB Race which is included with the Loppet Trail Kids MTB Program registration fee. The goal of the race is to introduce youth to trail racing, as well as to provide some competition for more experienced participants. There will be one race scheduled during a normally scheduled practice.

Weather Cancellations: While Trail Kids embraces the belief that the outdoors can be enjoyed in any weather, there are some weather circumstances, including high temperatures, thunderstorms, etc. that can create unsafe or wildly unpleasant experiences for our coaches and participants. We will occasionally cancel or shorten practices due to extreme weather. We make weather calls the day of, 90 minutes before the start of practice. We will contact you via email and/or Team App about adjustments to practices; please do not ask in advance. Assume practice is always running unless you have received an email or a Team App notification otherwise (be sure that you can receive Team App notifications and do not unsubscribe from RunSignUp). Due to the lack of adequate indoor space and additional programs utilizing it already, Trail Kids is unable to shift practices inside on days where we have inclement weather/AQI. In instances where practice is canceled due to inclement weather, we do not offer

refunds or make up practices.

Financial Assistance: To apply please fill out the Loppet Financial Assistance Application. We will follow up with you with instructions on how to register at a price that is manageable for your family. Applications for programs that start two weeks or less from the date of submission will not be approved. *Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions. In most instances there will be a $500 financial assistance cap per person/per year.

Sibling Discount: For those families who have three or more kids in the Trail Kids offering we can provide a fifteen percent discount code. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Refund Policy: The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 6 weeks before the program starts. Between 6 weeks and 4 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 25% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program. During the program, if your child has a medical issue that makes it impossible to participate, please contact the TK Admin team email at [email protected]. If the Loppet cancels a program, a full refund will be issued. For instructions on how to request a refund, click here.

The Run & Orienteering program is part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming.

Participants ages 7-13 will learn the basics of orienteering skills while enjoying the trails around Theodore Wirth Park. This program also incorporates ultimate frisbee, slack line skills, and other running games as warm up activities for the main session which is focused on trail exploration and orienteering.

Practices include:

• Orienteering skills using orienteering maps to find hidden controls in the woods like a treasure hunt

• Agility and strength exercises to develop age appropriate motor skills

• Balance work and slacklining

• Games, relays, ultimate frisbee, pillow polo, and soccer mixed in throughout the sessions

Gear: Participants will need a good pair of running shoes and water bottle for each session.

Ability Levels: Participants are assigned to coaching groups based on age and past experience with orienteering. When you register you can indicate the appropriate orienteering ability levels listed below:

• White Level: Beginner with no experience in orienteering

• Green Level: Beginner to intermediate orienteering skills: Participant has participated in at least one or two 6-week sessions of the Trail Kids orienteering program.

• Blue Level: Intermediate to advanced orienteering skills. Participant has participated in at least three to four 6-week orienteering sessions.

• Black Level: Advanced orienteering skills with two plus years of orienteering experience and a desire to be challenged and compete at local MNOC meet events.

Swag: Trail Kids T-shirt and water bottle for all participants available at no additional cost. In an effort to reduce waste, TK Swag is now listed as an optional “add-on” during your registration. If you’d like your participant to receive this swag please ensure it is selected.

Friend Requests: For safety and equity reasons, Trail Kids does not offer friend requests as part of registration. The mass quantity of friend requests made it impossible to accommodate them all and greatly impacted safety and group dynamics. We would love to allow everyone to practice with their friends, but if we cannot accommodate all friend requests, we cannot offer them to everyone. We encourage riders to embrace the opportunity to form new friendships through our programs!

Trail Kids R/O Race: As part of our Trail Kids program all participants will have the opportunity to participate in our Adventure Run Race which is included with the Loppet Trail Kids Run Orienteering Program registration fee. The goal of the race is to introduce youth to trail racing, as well as to provide some competition for more experienced participants. There will be one race scheduled for each of the three sessions during a normally scheduled practice.

Weather Cancellations: While Trail Kids embraces the belief that the outdoors can be enjoyed in any weather, there are some weather circumstances, including high temperatures, thunderstorms, etc. that can create unsafe or wildly unpleasant experiences for our coaches and participants. We will occasionally cancel or shorten practices due to extreme weather. We make weather calls the day of, 90 minutes before the start of practice. We will contact you via email and/or Team App about adjustments to practices; please do not ask in advance. Assume practice is always running unless you have received an email or a Team App notification otherwise (be sure that you can receive Team App notifications and do not unsubscribe from RunSignUp). Due to the lack of adequate indoor space and additional programs utilizing it already, Trail Kids is unable to shift practices inside on days where we have inclement weather/AQI. In instances where practice is canceled due to inclement weather, we do not offer

refunds or make up practices.

Financial Assistance: To apply please fill out the Loppet Financial Assistance Application. We will follow up with you with instructions on how to register at a price that is manageable for your family. Applications for programs that start two weeks or less from the date of submission will not be approved. *Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions. In most instances there will be a $500 financial assistance cap per person/per year.

Sibling Discount: For those families who have three or more kids in the Trail Kids offering we can provide a fifteen percent discount code. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Refund Policy: The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 6 weeks before the program starts. Between 6 weeks and 4 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 25% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program. During the program, if your child has a medical issue that makes it impossible to participate, please contact the TK Admin team email at [email protected]. If the Loppet cancels a program, a full refund will be issued. For instructions on how to request a refund, click here.

A spotlight shines bright on the Loppet Foundation-managed singletrack trails at Theodore Wirth Park with the return of the popular spring and summer mountain bike race series. Meet us at The Trailhead for the Wirth on Wednesdays (WOW) events.

The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Park has some of the most accessible trails around, including the popular Conundrum, Area 36, 45 North singletrack loops, all linked by the amazing paved trail network composed of the Grand Rounds, Theodore Wirth Parkway, and Luce Line trails.

Saddle up and get ready to ride in this fun race series that will surely WOW you!

The Mountain Bike Camps are part of the Loppet’s Trail Kids year-round programming. Trail Kids offers half day (8am – 12pm) mountain bike camps for beginner to advanced riders ages 7-13. While embracing the Loppet values of play, stewardship and well-being, these mountain bike camps focus on having fun, meeting new friends, and building a participant’s confidence in riding singletrack trails. Participants will learn in teams with riders of similar ages and abilities as they engage in skill work, destination rides, games, and progressive challenges that reinforce trail riding competency and stewardship. Participants will explore the single-track trails at Theodore Wirth Park and access an extensive network of paved trails for destination rides all while gaining skills they can use for a lifetime! Trail Kids mountain bike camps are instructed by coaches trained in teaching mountain bike skills, games, orienteering, and singletrack riding.

Equipment Needed: All participants will need their own mountain bike, helmet, and water carrier. Mountain bikes need to have both front and back wheel brakes on the handle bars (no peddle/coaster brakes). Kickstands also need to be removed. Tires must have tread and be wide enough to ride safely on mountain bike trails. For more on mountain bike equipment, view the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide. Trail Kids does not have the dedicated facilities for storing participant bikes outside of MTB Camp programming time.

Loppet Bike Rentals: In need of a bike for camp? Trail Kids has a limited number of rental mountain bikes available for an additional fee of $30. If you choose to rent a bike, make sure to select this add-on when you register (as supplies last).

Friend Requests: For safety and equity reasons, Trail Kids does not offer friend requests as part of registration. The mass quantity of friend requests made it impossible to accommodate them all and greatly impacted safety and group dynamics. We would love to allow everyone to practice with their friends, but if we cannot accommodate all friend requests, we cannot offer them to everyone. We encourage riders to embrace the opportunity to form new friendships through our programs!

Swag: Trail Kids T-shirt and water bottle for all participants available at no additional cost. In an effort to reduce waste, TK Swag is listed as an optional “add-on” during your registration. If you’d like your participant to receive this swag please ensure it is selected.

Camp Registration by Ability/Experience

We offer beginner and intermediate/advanced camps on different weeks so we can keep all participants appropriately challenged based on their riding ability. Beginner camps are designed for participants who have not taken a Trail Kids mountain bike program, are new to mountain biking, or are still working to gain proficiency in the fundamentals. See below for descriptions of camps and make sure to read through the Trail Kids MTB Ability Level Guide before registering your child. If your child is new to Trail Kids programs but has prior experience in mountain biking that fits the intermediate/advanced skill levels then feel free to register them for the intermediate/advanced camps.

Beginner Mountain Bike Camp Description

If your child is a true beginner rider with no experience, they should sign up for the beginner clinic. During the beginner mountain bike camp, the participants will be coached on a variety of fundamental mountain bike skills, so they can become safe and confident riders. Skills include:

1. Ready/neutral position for descending hills

2. Side/Side bike body separation

3. Pedaling/shifting efficiently

4. Controlling speed and braking safely

5. Cornering confidently

6. Handling obstacles and rocky terrain

7. Riding with vision

8. Ratcheting

Intermediate/Advanced Mountain Bike Camps

This camp is for riders who have mastered the green/beginner level skills, and are riding at the blue/intermediate, or black/advanced level based on the Trail Kids MTB Ability Level Guide. This camp will focus on more advanced bike skills along with riding some of the difficult single track trails/sections in and around Theodore Wirth Park.

All Girls MTB Camp

This camp welcomes female identifying campers of all skill levels to a week long mountain bike camp experience. Beginners: Participants will be coached on a variety of fundamental mountain bike skills, so they can become safe and confident riders along with riding more of the single track trails around Theodore Wirth Park. Intermediate/Advanced: Participants who have taken a past mountain bike camp, Trail Kids program, and who ride at the blue, or black mountain bike skill levels are also welcome to register and will focus on progressing their bike skills along with riding more of the difficult single track trails around Theodore Wirth Park. For ability level guidance, check out the Trail Kids MTB Ability Level Guide. Non-binary and trans participants are welcome to register for this week of camp!

MCA Prep Camp - Get Ready to Race

Looking forward to racing with a MCA (Minnesota Cycling Association) Middle school team in the fall? This camp is intended for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders looking to develop racing skills. The MCA Prep/Ready to Race mountain bike camp will focus on race oriented bike skills (starts, cornering, climbing, passing, etc.) along with riding more of the single track trails around Theodore Wirth Park. Participants in this camp should be riding at the blue bike skill level or above according to the Trail Kids MTB Ability Level Guide.

Weather Cancellations

While Trail Kids embraces the belief that the outdoors can be enjoyed in any weather, there are some weather circumstances, including high temperatures, thunderstorms, etc. that can create unsafe or wildly unpleasant experiences for our coaches and participants. We will occasionally cancel or shorten practices due to extreme weather. We make weather calls the day of, 90 minutes before the start of practice. We will contact you via email and/or Team App about adjustments to practices; please do not ask in advance. Assume practice is always running unless you have received an email or a Team App notification otherwise (be sure that you can receive Team App notifications and do not unsubscribe from RunSignUp). Due to the lack of adequate indoor space and additional programs utilizing it already, Trail Kids is unable to shift practices inside the Trailhead on days where we have inclement weather. In instances where practice is canceled due to inclement weather, we do not offer refunds or make

up practices.

Financial Assistance

The Loppet provides financial assistance for those in need. To apply, please fill out this Financial Assistance form. Our staff will be in touch with you with next steps once your application has been submitted. Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions.

Trail Kids Mountain Bike Programs are part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming.

Trail Kids offers six-week mountain bike sessions for novice to advanced riders. Participants ages 7-13 will explore the paved & single-track trails in and around Theodore Wirth Park while gaining skills they can use for a lifetime! (for programming for 13 and older, check out LCW Juniors programs)! The focus of the mountain bike sessions is to develop skills, meet new friends, and have fun while building confidence riding single track trails.

Female-identifying, trans, and nonbinary youth are welcome to join any offering in which they feel most comfortable: Girls Rock or Co-ed

Ability Level Guide: For those who have NO experience mountain biking on singletrack trails it is highly recommended that they take one of our Beginner Mountain Bike Clinics before joining the six-week evening sessions. When registering your child make sure to indicate their ability level as described in the Trail Kids MTB Skill Level Guide.

Ages: Ages 7 – 13, beginner to advanced abilities welcome; we split into different coaching groups based on ability, pacing, and age. We do not have programs for kids 6 years of age and under, so please do not register them until they turn seven years old.

Equipment Needed: All participants will need their own mountain bike, helmet, and water carrier (no bottle cage on handlebars - CamelBaks are a great option too!). Mountain bikes need to have both front and back wheel brakes on the handle bars (no peddle brakes). No kickstands are allowed. Tires must have tread and be wide enough to ride safely on mountain bike trails. For more on mountain bike equipment, view the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide.

*Please note that rental bikes are not available for our 6-Week offerings.

Swag: Trail Kids T-shirt and water bottle for all participants available at no additional cost. In an effort to reduce waste, TK Swag is now listed as an optional “add-on” during your registration. If you’d like your participant to receive this swag please ensure it is selected.

Friend Requests: For safety and equity reasons, Trail Kids does not offer friend requests as part of registration. The mass quantity of friend requests made it impossible to accommodate them all and greatly impacted safety and group dynamics. We would love to allow everyone to practice with their friends, but if we cannot accommodate all friend requests, we cannot offer them to everyone. We encourage riders to embrace the opportunity to form new friendships through our programs!

Trail Kids MTB Race: As part of our Trail Kids program all participants will have the opportunity to participate in our Adventure MTB Race which is included with the Loppet Trail Kids MTB Program registration fee. The goal of the race is to introduce youth to trail racing, as well as to provide some competition for more experienced participants. There will be one race scheduled during a normally scheduled practice.

Weather Cancellations: While Trail Kids embraces the belief that the outdoors can be enjoyed in any weather, there are some weather circumstances, including high temperatures, thunderstorms, etc. that can create unsafe or wildly unpleasant experiences for our coaches and participants. We will occasionally cancel or shorten practices due to extreme weather. We make weather calls the day of, 90 minutes before the start of practice. We will contact you via email and/or Team App about adjustments to practices; please do not ask in advance. Assume practice is always running unless you have received an email or a Team App notification otherwise (be sure that you can receive Team App notifications and do not unsubscribe from RunSignUp). Due to the lack of adequate indoor space and additional programs utilizing it already, Trail Kids is unable to shift practices inside on days where we have inclement weather/AQI. In instances where practice is canceled due to inclement weather, we do not offer

refunds or make up practices.

Financial Assistance: To apply please fill out the Loppet Financial Assistance Application. We will follow up with you with instructions on how to register at a price that is manageable for your family. Applications for programs that start two weeks or less from the date of submission will not be approved. *Limitations apply, please see the application form for rules and restrictions. In most instances there will be a $500 financial assistance cap per person/per year.

Sibling Discount: For those families who have three or more kids in the Trail Kids offering we can provide a fifteen percent discount code. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Refund Policy: The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 6 weeks before the program starts. Between 6 weeks and 4 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 25% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program. During the program, if your child has a medical issue that makes it impossible to participate, please contact the TK Admin team email at [email protected]. If the Loppet cancels a program, a full refund will be issued. For instructions on how to request a refund, click here.

Junior Loppet is a year-round, after-school program designed to empower middle school students in Minneapolis through a variety of outdoor activities, such as cross-country skiing, mountain biking, trail running, orienteering, paddling, camping, and nature exploration. The program targets schools where the majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Junior Loppet fosters key outcomes of experience, healing, belonging, and empowerment. The program meets 2-3 days per week during the school year and runs throughout the summer, offering a combination of training, events, races, and weekend camping trips.

Through these outdoor adventures, students develop healthy habits, enhance their social and emotional skills, and build meaningful connections that set them on a path to success. Junior Loppet creates a supportive environment where youth can grow, thrive, and build resilience through physical activity, teamwork, and personal achievement.

Junior Loppet Summer programming will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants can look forward to paddling, hiking, orienteering, nature connection, team building, archery, gardening, outdoor play, biking, and mountain biking.