Conditions: Good to excellent for classic.
It seemed like the snowmaking loop was set up for classic skiing today with a double track usually appearing in the middle of the trail [ For the Mayor's Challenge classical races today -- Ed. ] . It was good to get back on the Theo loop today. You forget how hilly it is--but a great loop. If we could just get some more snow for the rest of the Theo trails, it would be awesome!

(Bill Lundberg)

Conditions: Excellent on snowmaking loop. Fair to good on Front 9.
Brought rock skis and skied on and off the manmade loop. Conditions were fair to good on front nine... Groomed, smooth, some thin spots. I was very happy to get off the manmade loop, and was not disappointed. Very good rock ski conditions. Because of the thin wind blown areas, I would only use rocks skis off the manmade loop, but more snow would make the natural snow areas perfect. Looked like the back 9 and back 40 had also been groomed, but it was dark and I did not venture out there.

(Sue Schroeder)

Conditions: Manmade loop in great shape; back 40 appears groomed.
I did not explore the back 40 as I had good skis on, but it appears the new snow was groomed (not just rolled). The classic track was awesome on the manmade course today; deep, straight, and running to the tops of the hills, which is how I like it. Skate lane very firm but not icy. For kick, the new snow is transformed and mixed with granular ice, so you will want something with some tack and durability like Oslo, powergrip, toko green binder, or covered klister. Or just use a warmer than recommended hardwax and reapply often.

(Zach Handler)

The Competition trails (Snowmaking loops) at Theodore Wirth Park will be closed to public skiing during the times: Friday Feb 13 NCAA Central Region Race Classic Mass Start 5:00-1:30 (competition trails are being prepared with a best line classic track early Friday morning); Saturday Feb 14 Freestyle Individual Start 7:00-2:00; Sunday Feb 15 Freestyle Sprint Race 6:00-2:00 (a small portion of the manmade loop, about 1.5 k, will remain open for Sunday, but is only accessible from the Main Chalet parking lot near the tubing hill). All spectators are welcome to attend what should be an exciting weekend of competition.

(Nels Dyste)

Conditions: Freshly groomed on snowmaking loop.
Skated the man made at 6 am this morning. Groomer was out and was taking a pretty deep cut for re-grooming. Should be in great condition once the grooming firms up.

(Patrick Johnson)

Conditions: Perfect grooming for skate and classic.
Manmade loop was perfect in all respects at noon today. Track and deck both nicely firmed up. I kicked on covered klister. Its at the point where straight klister would work as well.

(Zach Handler)

Conditions based on skating on manmade snow around 5pm. Trails are in fantastic shape even after the H.S. race. The hills have a little sugar on them with only one or two tiny icy patches showing through on the entire loop.

(Andrew Jones)

Conditions: Not too soft and held up spectacularly.
Hats off to those in charge of grooming the trails for the Loppet. Even after 2500 laps by 724 skiers, plus 134 fat bikers, the 3.3k loop was still firm and fast for the last skiers in the Sunday skijor race.

(Adrian Swanson)

Conditions: Near perfect (at 6:30am) on the snowmaking loop.
Skated the man made loop at 6:30 this morning. Only 2 other people out enjoying the nicely groomed - firm track for skate. Classic tracks also looked really nice. Hopefully with the colder temps things will stay firm for the races.

Photos:

(Patrick Johnson)

In an effort to try and get the Hap loop at Wirth to firm up, the Loppet Foundation is asking that skiers stay off the course after the following times: Thursday night 9pm; Friday night 8pm; Saturday night 8pm. Park board staff will make 4-5 passes of the course tonight in an effort to grind the ice pellets into a finer material with hope that the man-made snow will bond together and ultimately harden up for the events this weekend.

(Craig Rudd)