Mark your calendars for the 37th American Birkebeiner® from Feb. 25-27, 2010!
The 2010 events include the 50K Birkie Skate sponsored by Becker Law Office, Subaru 54K
Birkie Classic, and 23K Kortelopet Skate and Classic races sponsored by Premier Physical Medicine & Wellness Clinic.
Birkie 2010 also features shorter races, events and festivities for:
- men, women, teens and kids
- families
- the super fit
- the super enthusiastic
- those vowing to get in shape
- those wanting pure and simple recreation
- those wanting to meet like-minded fitness buffs
- those wanting challenge, excitement and fun
- those wanting to support friends, family and skiers from around the world!
From the Barnebirkie to the Birkebeiner...Take the Challenge, Ski the Adventure, Live the Birkie!
Find out more at http://www.birkie.com
or call us at 715.634.5025. We're eager to hear from you! 2009
American Birkebeiner Trail Run, Relay & Trek
Sept. 26, 2009
The 2009 American Birkebeiner Trail Run includes you choice of:
- 26.2 mile Marathon Relay
- Individual 13.1 mile Half Marathon
- 21K Birkie Trail Trek
- 5K Fun Run/Wlak
Learn more visit www.birkie.com
The Birkie®:
37 Years of Inspiring Skiers
to Live Fit, Healthy Lives!
"Tony Wise asked me to design a good trail system at Telemark. I spent
14 days there and laid out trails similar to the Vasalopet trails in
Sweden. Later, Marty Hall added more hills. From the point of view of
competitive skiers, it is a very good course."
~ Sven Wiik, Nordic guru, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
"The Birkie has been a factor in my life since the first time I skied
the trail in 1976. My philosophy is to do whatever we can do to foster
participation in the overall event. I want more people on the snow and
enjoying the weekend."
~ Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director, Cable, WI
Praise for 2009 Events!I had a great time skiing my first classic birkie in many years. I want to congratulate Ned and everyone else who have worked so hard to bring the Birkie and the classic trail to near perfection.~Mick Nice work with the buses this year. The addition of the skier drop-off area was an excellent change. This was the easiest year (out of 12 completed) that I have ever had to get dropped off and bused to the start. Thanks for this change, I hope you can keep this change in place for future years.~Eric Beautifully groomed trails Many eager, enthusiastic volunteers Fewer grumpy contestants More space and less congestion on the skate trails Outstanding finishes. Is the winner of the classic going to have some bragging rights to his kids and grandchildren?! To me the day is close to a religious experience, you are excited but respectful, almost reverent to the course and the challenges of the day. The people you are skiing with are all comrades on a mission to soak up the day and dig within to see what we all have down deep. I pray I will be able and worthy to ski again next year.~Hugh Thanks for a wonderful event! It's truly a pleasure being a participant.~Roger |
|
Greetings from the Birkie®!
|
|
 Hi Skiers and Friends!
It was a fantastic year for the Birkie and we hope you enjoyed the event! We ended up with 7,455 skiers in the Saturday races, our second largest event ever. Based on your responses the Classic Trail was rated challenging, but wonderful. We are happy that you like it. I've heard from many skate skiers who had the chance to see the "Classic train" go past them. It was great having Bjorn here and we know that many of you had the chance to meet him.
We are already working on the 2010 event and welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send them to birkie@birkie.com.
We're also working on preparations for the 7th Birkie Trail Run, Relay and Trek on September 26, 2009. Hope to see you on the trails.
Stay Fit!
Ned Zuelsdorff
Executive Director
ned@birkie.com
|
National Guardsmen Complete Birkie in Iraq
HAYWARD, Wis., March 2, 2009 - While Birkie skiers were just going to sleep on Friday, February 20, a very different Birkebeiner started more than 5,000 miles away. Chaplain Kenath Harris and Sergeant John Kurtz, Minnesota Army National Guardsman, skied their event on roller skis on a stretch of pavement at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
Chaplain Harris, a veteran of four Birkebeiners and one Kortelopet and former Williams College skier from St. Paul, Minnesota and Sgt. Kurtz, a former competitor in international and national biathlon events and skier of three Kortelopets from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, serve together as members of the 834th Aviation Support Battalion providing resources for helicopter operations.
"I decided to do the Birkie in Iraq after ...Continue reading, click here.
|
2009 Skier Numbers at the Birkie
We've compiled skier numbers for this year's event. Highlights include more people in the Classic races and more women. The summary table is available here.
|
 2009 Birkie Skiers for Cures
Birkie Skiers for Cures Joined the Movement with the Multiple Sclerosis Society
in the fight to cure MS. Participants in the 50K American Birkebeiner®
sponsored by Becker Law Office, 54K Birkie® Classic sponsored by Subaru,
23K Kortelopet presented by Premier Physical Medicine & Wellness
Clinic, and the Johnson Bank Prince Haakon 8K collected donations and
raised awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.
The fundraising
effort was the most successful Birkie Skiers for Cures campaign yet. At
this point over $95,000 has been raised for the National MS Society.
Thank you to the many skiers, donors and supporters of the program.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated by all of the individuals and
families affected by multiple sclerosis.
It is not too late
to donate! Help us reach our goal of raising over $100,000 for Birkie
Skiers for Cures 2009 benefiting the National MS Society! Click here to make a contribution or contact us to purchase a MS Birkie Skiers for
Cures pin, call 715-634-5025 or email birkie@birkie.com.
|
|
Still have your timing chip?
Please return your timing chip and strap to the following address ASAP.
Failure to do so will result in a $100 charge. Thank you for your
cooperation!
Peak Timing Systems
5126 Scott Path
Robbinsdale MN 55422
|
Skier Photos Available From Action Sports International
Action Sports International is proud to have been your Official Race Photographer. ASI captured your proud accomplishments on the race course. Now, share the memories with friends and family for years to come. Please visit www.asiphoto.com to view and order your race photos and commemorative products.
|
|
I Won't Skip Another Birkie
By Jennifer Feldman
 On a beautiful day in February 2007, my friend Carolyn and I prepared to ski in our second Kortelopet. She was outfitted in classic gear while I sported skate skis. Because we skied at different paces, we planned to meet inside Telemark Lodge after the race.
I finished first. The race had been exhausting and demanding yet satisfying and rewarding as well. There was never any question that we would enter again next year.
The night before, we had stayed quite a distance from the start of the race and I thought it would be fun to stay right at Telemark Lodge the next year. After the race, .......continue reading click here.
Birkie Fever Stories Needed
We know you have a story to tell. Whether you are a skier, spectator or volunteer we want to hear from you. Birkie Fever is a phenomonen that touches many people in many different ways. Share your Birkie Fever with others. Send 300 word essays or short quotes and photos to media@birkie.com. Afraid you can't write? Don't let that stop you. We can take your words and weave them into a great Birkie Fever story.
|
Mark Your Calendars for the 37th American Birkebeiner®: Feb. 25-27, 2010
From
the Barnebirkie to the Birkebeiner, this citizen's ski race features
something for everyone. Watch for 37th anniversary details in upcoming
issues of Carpe Skiem and online at www.birkie.com.About the Birkie® From
February 25-27, 2010, more than 7,000 fit, colorfully-clad skiers from
all walks of life and from around the world will descend upon the
Wisconsin northwoods to participate in the 37th anniversary American
Birkebeiner, a cross-country ski race that weaves more than 50
kilometers (30 miles) along a hilly, heavily wooded trail from the
Telemark Resort near Cable to the finish line on Main Street in
downtown Hayward.
For
some, it's serious business. The Birkebeiner is part of the
Worldloppet, a circuit of 15 Nordic ski races held on four continents.
The race attracts a top cadre of professional racers from 19 countries,
including past and present Olympians and those competing in the
International Ski Federation standings.
For
many hundreds of others, though, it's an annual celebration of personal
endurance and outdoor enthusiasm. Since its inception in 1973, 'The
Birkie' has grown into the largest cross country ski marathon in the
nation. While pros may complete the course in about two hours, legions
of weekend warriors soldier on in triple that time. Citizen skiers can
compete in the full race or sign up for 23 kilometer Kortelopet or one
of our many other events.
You
don't even have to click into skis to join in on the party. An
estimated 15,000 to 20,000 spectators line many portions of the route,
and it seems all of Hayward is there cheering at the finish line.
Equipment demos, citizen sprints, family fun races/tours and other
events round out the weekend. Live the Birkie®
|
Upcoming Events
2009 American Birkebeiner Trail Run, Relay and Trek
Saturday, September 26, 2009
2010 American Birkebeiner Events
Thursday, February 25 - Saturday, February 27, 2010
For more information visit www.birkie.com
|
|
|
