Huge snow falls just before the Loppet provided ideal conditions for 2,500 skiers from 23 countries. Cross-country skiing, of course, is a popular sport in Estonia and this year, as in previous years, ten skiers from the country participated in the Loppet. They proved their skiing talent and power as many of them skied 50 kilometres on Saturday in the classic race and another 50 kilometres on Sunday in the skating style race. Among the men, Rait Pallo and Ain Fjodorov finished in the top ten on Saturday and along with Tanel Mahlakorv, Ergo Jair, Otto Riisenberg, Margus Merivälja skied 50 kilometres on both days. Among the women skiers, Reeda Tuula Fjodorov, Vidrik Vaiksaar, Merle Kale and Kätlin Tänavots all skied in the women’s 50-kilometre classic race. Reeda Tuula Fjodorov finished 7th in the race and along with Merle Kale skied again on Sunday in the 50-kilometre skating style race.
Among the skiers from the local Ottawa-Gatineau Estonian community were Karl Saidla and Erik Vurma, a student at Carleton University, who finished 14th and 15th respectively in the men’s 50-kilometre ski race on Sunday. The Saidla family was well represented at the Loppet as Karl’s wife, Megan McTavish, demonstrated her skiing talent by finishing fourth in the women’s 50-kilometre classic race.
The weekend ended Sunday evening with the visiting Estonian skiers getting together with ski enthusiasts from the local Estonian community at the Old Mill Pub in Ottawa.
