Erin Bianco of Ely skis in the Women's Sprint Qualification at the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.
Thirteen years in the making, the Stifel Loppet Cup delivered world-class cross-country skiers, large crowds of cheering spectators and a "bluebird day" in Minneapolis.
KAXE contributing photographer Lorie Shaull made the trip down to the Loppet Cup Sprint cross-country skiing World Cup event and shares some of her observations.
MINNEAPOLIS — After more than 20 years, the Cross-Country World Cup was finally back in the U.S., specifically to Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. The last time a World Cup race was in Minnesota, it took place in 1985 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.
As of the 2023-24 season, Ely skier Erin Bianco is a professional World Cup athlete. The Loppet Cup Sprint on Saturday, Feb. 17, was her fourth World Cup race in front of approximately 20,000 cheering spectators.
Lorie Shaull
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Contributed
Erin Bianco (39) skis up one of the hills during a warm up lap before the Women's Sprint Qualification at the Loppet Cup on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
The crowds were loud and cheered for athletes from all countries, but especially turned it up a notch for the U.S. skiers.
Bianco said later, “I couldn’t even feel how tired I was because I was in a tunnel of noise! It was so sweet ... it got me up that hill for sure!”
There was no mistaking the sound of the crowd when Olympic gold medalist and Afton, Minnesota, native Jessie Diggins approached.
Lorie Shaull
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Contributed
Jessie Diggins skis in a warm up lap for the Women's Sprint Qualification at the Loppet Cup at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Diggins was instrumental in establishing a Minneapolis stop for the World Cup. After her Olympic gold win in 2018, she used some of that leverage to push for the stop. It almost happened, but COVID-19 changed that plan.
Finally, everything came together over the weekend.
Lorie Shaull
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Contributed
Afton native Jessie Diggins skis in the Women's Sprint Quarterfinals at the Loppet Cup. The event was held at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Feb. 17-18, 2024.
The Loppet Foundation, a Minneapolis nonprofit, was able to secure the $3.5 million needed to cover expenses.
Luckily, temperatures over the weekend remained cold enough to keep the course in fairly good shape. And some 6 inches of freshly fallen snow covered Theodore Wirth Park in a nice white winter blanket.
Lots of Jessie Diggins fans
Lorie Shaull
A young Jessie Diggins fan holds a sign at the Loppet Cup on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
Another young Jessie Diggins fan with a Diggins sign at the Loppet Cup on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
A fan cheers for Jessie Diggins shown on a Jumbotron at the start of the Loppet Cup Women's Sprint Quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
A Jessie Diggins fan wears a Diggins jersey and takes a photo shortly after Diggins finished the Loppet Cup 10-kilometer race on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
A young Jessie Diggins fan waits in line for a Diggins autograph at the end of the Loppet Cup on Sunday, 18, 2024.
Fashionable, festive spectators
Lorie Shaull
Emily Monroe has glitter applied to her cheeks at a Glitter Up! Station at the Loppet Cup on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Jessie Diggins is known for wearing glitter on her cheeks.
Lorie Shaull
Cross-country skiing fans wear decorated red, white and blue sunglasses at the Loppet Cup on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
What did the bananas say to Jessie Diggins as she skied by? "Yellow there!" Diggins, the World Cup points leader wears a yellow bib. These three fans wore yellow banana costumes for unknown reasons at the Loppet Cup on Sunday Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
Spectators wore festive outfits and a ski-themed Vikings hat at the Loppet Cup on Sunday Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
Spectators in USA jerseys cheer Jessie Diggins after she finished the 10-kilometer race at the Loppet Cup on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
Anthony Santi of Minneapolis wears a red, white and blue outfit and waved a flag throughout the Loppet Cup races on Saturday Feb. 17, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
Many Steger Mukluks sightings throughout the Loppet Cup on Feb. 17-18, 2024. The mukluks are made in Ely and Jessie Diggins is known for wearing her white Arctic Steger Mukluks after races.
And a surprise win!
Lorie Shaull
Gus Schumacher of Alaska skis in the Men's 10-kilometer race at the Loppet Cup at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. He won the event and became the first American man to win a World Cup distance event since 1983.
