Time for stars, stripes & glitter!

Lumi trip leader Oumar and his girlfriend at the 2023 World Championships in Slovenia

It’s a bit of an understatement to say that Lumi trip leaders Oumar Cherif, Holly Brooks and I are pumped for the World Cup to be in our backyard this weekend. 

The last time a World Cup was hosted on US snow was the pre-Olympic World Cup in Soldier Hollow Utah, way back in 2001. Four years ago, in 2020, when the World Cup was scheduled to take place in Minneapolis, it had to be canceled just days before when Covid-19 shut down international travel. Now with this winter – the warmest Minneapolis winter on record – presenting significant snowmaking challenges, we’re THRILLED to be just a day away from watching the world’s best cross-country skiers sprint around the 7 km of ski trails in Wirth Park.

Huge thanks to the Loppet Foundation and the greater Minnesota cross-country ski community for all of their work retaining – even covering the course in construction blankets for protection at one point – these 7 km that were mostly made during a cold snap in January. 

We hope to see you trailside! Do you already have your fan bib? Lumi trip leader Oumar and his partner Rita who both live and ski in Minneapolis pitched the idea of American skier fan bibs after experiencing the incredible Norwegian fans at the World Championships in Slovenia last winter. Let’s see those stars, stripes and glitter! Go Team USA!

Norwegian fans returning to the stands from their official Norway Ski Team Fan Truck at the World Champs in Slovenia

If you’re traveling to Minneapolis for the World Cup and don’t yet have your fan bib (which is also a fundraiser for the National Nordic Foundation!), you’ll be able to buy one at the venue, but it's not too early to start thinking about which smiling athlete’s face you want on your bib! And keep an eye out for the Lumi group at the venue, including Oumar, Holly and me. 

Lumi trip leader Holly walking with Lumi guests to the Holmenkollen World Cup last winter

If you want to cross-country ski in Europe next winter or cheer for Team USA at the Holmenkollen World Cup or Trondheim World Championships, we’d love to answer any questions you might have about 2025 Lumi trips. Right now we’re offering an early booking discount of $300 per person.

Lumi Guests at Holmenkollen, Photo by David B. Torch - Screenshot from the New York Times article “Skis, Songs and Shots at a Supremely Norwegian Sports Festival”

See you in Minneapolis this weekend! 
Garrott Kuzzy
garrott@lumiexperiences.com