The world’s best cross-country skiers will converge in Minneapolis this weekend, and behind the scenes, a host of volunteers and small local businesses are hard at work making it possible.

The FIS Cross-Country World Cup will take place at Theodore Wirth Regional Park on Feb. 17-18, drawing athletes and visitors from around the globe. The race, which was already canceled back in 2020 at the dawn of Covid-19, almost didn’t happen this year due to an unseasonably warm winter. It’s the first time the competition is being held on American soil in more than two decades. It’s been even longer since it’s been in Minnesota.

Proponents say it will be a boon for the Twin Cities. Claire Wilson, executive director of the Loppet Foundation, says she’s expecting about 30,000 people to visit Minneapolis over the course of the weekend.

“We have ticket holders from all 50 states, multiple international visitors, and then about 180 athletes from 21 different countries who are going to be here,” she says. “It’s incredible.”

The Loppet Foundation, a Minneapolis nonprofit launched two decades ago in the name of cross-country skiing, is largely responsible for operating the race, which some refer to as “the Olympics in the off year.” Last weekend, from Feb. 9-13, more World Cup races were held in Canmore, Alberta.

Wilson says the foundation is working with U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association – the governing body for Olympic-level skiing and snowboarding – to put on the event in Minneapolis. But a small army of volunteers is also pouring in lots of time and effort to make the race happen.

Jan Guenther, owner of Gear West ski and bike shop in Long Lake, says Wilson and the Loppet are working “morning and night” to get things ready for the race. Guenther deserves some credit, too: Her store is sponsoring athletes, and the Loppet itself. She says there’s a “spiderweb of support in many different arenas” working in the background.

“They have a host of volunteers and sponsors, and it’s the energy and money from all of them that is allowing this to happen,” Guenther says. “They’re all passionate about it.”

Jeremy Hecker, racing services manager at Pioneer Midwest in Osseo, will be there, too, waxing skis for a couple U.S. athletes. Ian Ivens, another Pioneer Midwest employee, also plans to go to provide wax services for the Australian team. It’s all being done on a volunteer basis.

“Besides that, we’re going to have several employees on hand to jump in and help out with testing,” Hecker says. “We have a fairly large involvement in the World Cup, and my week’s going to be busy.”

Several competitors have even stopped into Pioneer Midwest to buy equipment and use the store’s rollerski treadmill.

To be sure, this is all happening at difficult time for winter sports businesses. A lack of snowfall has hurt sales at both Gear West and Pioneer Midwest. “It’s the winter that never happened,” jokes Guenther, who says business is down “significantly.” For his part, Hecker says Pioneer Midwest’s sales “were definitely down a bit” over previous winters. Clearly, both are eager to welcome any additional business or buzz.

In a Feb. 3 interview on myTalk 107.1’s Shop Girls broadcast, Guenther noted the heavy involvement from small stores in big events like the World Cup.

“People don’t realize it’s our small stores sponsoring these events,” she said on the show, which is hosted by TCB editor-in-chief Allison Kaplan. “It will get harder and harder to have these events go on. A lot of events are falling by wayside. It’s very expensive to keep them going. Every consumer has to go where they feel they are treated well, but I believe they should factor in what small businesses do for the community.”

Minnesotans participating in this weekend’s races are certainly grateful for the support. Alayna Sonnesyn, a cross-country skier who hails from Plymouth, will be racing along with Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins. Sonnesyn says she’s “excited to bring the world to my home.”

Sonnesyn says she’s raced many times in Theodore Wirth Park in middle school and high school. In a Tuesday afternoon phone interview after competing in World Cup races in the Canadian city of Canmore, Sonnesyn notes that cross-country skiing is available as a middle school and high school sport in Minnesota, which isn’t the case in many other states and countries.

“We embrace the sport so much in the state of Minnesota,” Sonnesyn says. “It’s the perfect location for this to come together.”