More than 100 students take part in Lapset Loppet

ERWIN TOWNSHIP - Roughly 120 children participated in the Lapset Loppet, the final event of the 2015 Sisu Ski Fest, at the ABR Ski Trails on Tuesday.

Participants completed a 2.2k course on cross country skis before recieving a participation medal and heading inside for hot chocolate and cookies.

The event was held later than previous years after organizers decided the later start would increase the chance of missing the poor weather that affected last year's event, event coordinator Paulette Niemi explained.

"The Sisu board decided already last year ... after the bitterly cold weather to move the Lapset Loppet to March in future years so that we would have a better chance of having warm weather for the kids to ski in," wrote Niemi in an email to the Daily Globe. "The event will be held in March in the future as well."

The weather cooperated for the most part Tuesday, with falling snow providing a fresh layer of powder for the kids to enjoy.

"The kids don't care (about the cold), they love it," said Niemi. "They are having a fun time today skiing with their friends."

It also provided the kids with an opportunity to demonstrate to the parents and grandparents in attendance what they've learned over the four weeks of ski classes they have been taking, Niemi said. The students still have another two weeks of classes according to Niemi.

Members of Hurley's third grade class began the course at 9:45 a.m. with second graders from Ironwood, as well as any other participants, beginning the course shortly before 1 p.m. The two starting times were to accomodate the large number of participants, Niemi explained, with Hurley providing approximatley 50 students and another 70 Ironwood students and a handful of other children completing the course as well.

Along with Niemi, around 30 volunteers - including 16 business management students from Ironwood High School - were stationed around the course and in the ABR chalet to make sure the event went smoothly.

This is the fifth year that the Sisu Ski Fest has included the Lapset Loppet, with Jacquart Fabric Products sponsoring this year's Loppet.