RANGELEY – The Academy of Motion Pictures held its much-ballyhooed cornerstone event last weekend.

This weekend, the Rangeley Lakes Cross County Ski Club will get its turn.

On Saturday, the club’s 75-kilometers of pristine snow-blanketed trails will host a cross-county skiing event that is expected to draw around 400 skiers, including the top college competitors, former Olympians and those just looking for a leisurely day out gliding across the snow.

The 8th Annual Rangeley Lakes Loppet features two classes, the timed race or the un-timed touring, and two distances in each class, 25 kilometer or 50 kilometer. Skiers can choose whether they want to complete the course on skate skis or classical skis.

So far, just over 350 skiers have signed up for the loppet, over 100 of them in the touring class. Participants ages range from just under 10 to well over 60.

So why would a person subject themselves to what the average three-times-a-week-for-30-minutes exerciser would consider torture?

With a laugh, race organizer Linda Dexter said there are three reasons.

One – those competing in the race class are highly-trained competitive Nordic skiers who are out there to win.

Two – those out in the touring class want the personal challenge of completing a hilly 15- or 30-mile course without pressure from the clock.

And three – “It’s just plain fun,” Dexter said.

But what’s more noteworthy than the feats of the skiers is the community effort behind the race.

More than 80 volunteers from the area will be on site on race day, holding out sports drinks at refueling stops for the competitors, and giving out soup and cookies at regular feed stops and at the start/finish line.

“I am not in this alone,” Dexter said. “There is a lot of community involvement and there always has been. The people who are backing me up are just superb. It’s a big thing we’re pulling off here. It’s like throwing a major party. This is our event.”

Countless others, who won’t be there for the race, have helped out, the organizer noted.

Seven area eateries have donated the food that will be doled out over the course.

In fact, gourmet food is one of the perks the loppet is known for whether it’s the hot soup on the trail or the sausage and peppers grilled up after the race.

Last year, Dexter was involved in the event as a ski patroller. While out on the trails, she admits she did “quite a bit of eating. But,” she noted, “you burn it all off.”

While the sounds at the cross-county club will be skiers grunting their way up the hills or swooshing down the other side, in town, registers will be clanging away.

The race is growing in reputation every year because of the good course conditions, yummy food, coveted prizes and friendly atmosphere. That’s just among skiers.

As for those Rangeley-area residents, Dexter said that, “People in town are starting to realize this is a serious sport that can bring business to town. It’s just one more thing that will add to the economy of the Rangeley area.”

The event is also crucial to the club. With race registration priced at $65 and touring registration at $35, the loppet serves as the fund-raiser of the year and helps keep the club going.

For more information about the Rangeley Lakes Loppet or for last-minute registrations, contact the Rangeley Lakes Cross Country Ski Club at (207)864-4309.

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