THUNDER BAY – The Sleeping Giant Loppet will not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced Saturday.
The cross-country ski event, held since 1978 (previously known as the Sibley Ski Tour), draws hundreds of skiers to participate in a variety of competitive and family-friendly races at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
Organizers pointed to provincial regulations prohibiting events of any size in provincial parks in a Facebook post Saturday afternoon, saying that was not expected to change prior to its planned date of March 6, 2021.
“Naturally the organizing committee is, and we know all skiers will be, disappointed by this cancellation,” organizers stated. “However, we accept that missing the Loppet for one year is a small sacrifice in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.”
The statement encouraged skiers to take advantage of ski trails at the park on their own initiative.
The Sleeping Giant Loppet is next planned for March 5, 2022.
