Sioux Lookout well represented during annual Sleeping Giant Loppet

Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer

Skiers from Sioux Lookout hit the trails in Thunder Bay during this year’s Sleeping Giant Loppet on March 7.
Fifteen Sioux Lookout residents competed in the loppet, which takes place at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Participants said they enjoyed the warmer weather, but it led to tougher trail conditions during the end of their races.
“It was a lot of work. The trails started out really nice but, as it warmed up, it got slower and slower. It ended up being a lot more work, but we got through it,” said Joyce Timpson.
“I finished at around the same amount of time as when I did it five years ago,” she said.
“It was really good. I had a lot of fun… It was nice, and the conditions were pretty good. They started out nice but then it got pretty warm, so it made it tough to ski near the end. It was a nice, beautiful day, and I didn’t have to dress too warm,” said Ron Laverty, who participates in the loppet annually.
“It was a lot of fun, and there was a lot of people from Sioux Lookout there. It’s nice to see the skiers from Sioux Lookout,” he added.
“For all the kids, and Mike, it was their fourth time participating. For me, it was my second time… It’s great to show up, to see the comradery, and to see the huge cross-country community we have in our area,” said Nancy McCord.
“It’s very pretty at some points on the trail… Completing the race was awesome, and I felt super proud of myself,” said Donovan McCord.
“I thought it was very fun… When I passed the line I felt so proud of myself. I literally tied with my dad exactly,” said Ethan McCord.
“I would definitely love to try the longer races when I’m older,” he added.
“It was fun… My goal is to come in the top-three in the 20-kilometre race,” said Christopher McCord.
Timpson said she used this year’s loppet as an opportunity to fundraise for a future project at Cedar Bay. She said the funds she raised, by receiving pledges, are going towards a new latrine facility.
“I’ve done fundraising before in previous years, and the money goes towards Cedar Bay. This year, we’re looking at building a new decent latrine facility at the parking lot… It’s going to cost us about $20,000 and we have about two-thirds of that already. We have about 60 per cent, and I raised about $1400,” said Timpson.
Timpson said people can still donate towards the new latrine facility. She said she can pick up donations, receive e-transfers addressed to jbtimpson@gmail.com with the password ‘loppet’, or cheques can be made out to Friends of Cedar Bay to Timpson, Box 461 Sioux Lookout, P8T 1A8.
The Sleeping Giant Loppet takes place annually, and has been ongoing since 1978.
Their website reads, “Originally called The Thunder Bay Ski Tour, the first Loppet was held in 1978, in what was then Sibley Provincial Park near Thunder Bay Ontario.  The event name was changed to the Sibley Ski Tour in 1982.  The Park name was eventually changed to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park to reflect the iconic geological formation that forms part of the Sibley Penninsula and dominates the view of the Lake Superior Harbour from the City of Thunder Bay. The Sibley Ski tour became the Sleeping Giant Loppet in 2009, in order to align the name with the Provincial Park where the event takes place and use the name both the Province and City use for promotion.  People from other parts of the province, country and world associate the Sleeping Giant with our community and the essence of Northwestern Ontario.”

Sleeping Giant Loppet Results (Sioux Lookout Participants)

8km Race

Blake Woodrow – 35th out of 290 – 37:27
Maple Woodrow – 82nd out of 290 – 52:02
Winter Woodrow – 130th out of 290 – 1:00:39
Brad Woodrow – 131th out of 290 – 1:00:41
Ethan McCord – 178th out of 290 – 1:16:13
Michael McCord – 178th out of 290 – 1:16:13
Christopher McCord – 198th out of 290 – 1:22:04
Donovan McCord – 231 out of 290 – 1:36:02
Nancy McCord – 231 out of 290 – 1:36:02

20km Race

Ron Laverty – 225th out of 289 – 2:19:53
Joyce Timpson – 274th out of 289 – 3:04:35

50km Freestyle Race

Brent Heron – 13th out of 91 – 2:47:42
Brodie Marshall – 19th out of 91 – 2:52:34

50km Classic Race

John Davies – 20th out of 37 – 4:11:55
Ian Stanley – 29th out of 37 – 4:44:37