About the Sleeping Giant Loppet

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. Visit http://www.thunderbay.ca/Visiting/Sleeping_Giant.htm to check out some great views and learn the legend of the Giant. 

The word "Loppet" has its roots in Scandinavian culture and refers to a mass participation cross-country ski event which includes longer marathon length distances and both citizen and competitive elements (read more on the name change).  Positioning our event as a Loppet lets the larger Nordic community know what we're all about.  We offer something for everyone from Jackrabbits completing their first 8km Mini-Loppet to elite athletes battling it out on the Burma trail in the 50km Free event. 

The event has become a true ski festival and we now offer the RBC Sleeping Giant Sprints on the Thursday evening before the Loppet.  Moving forward, the Loppet will stay true to its billing as a "citizens' race" - families, age-groupers and competitive athletes alike, will want to join us on the first Saturday in March for a GIANT friends and family Ski reunion!