We just completed a very successful BirkieTour last Saturday. More than 600 skiers did the event, with cold conditions under a bright blue sky. I saw a lot of smiling faces and we've received many very positive comments.

Ski conditions are fantastic for both skating and striding. A ribbon of snow has been plowed on Lake Hayward to preserve the course even if we get a warm-up.

I'm very happy to report that we've reached an agreement with Telemark Resort allowing us access to the property. This means that the courses for the Birkie, Kortelopet and Haakon 12K races will be the same as last year. More info can be found below.

We expect more than 11,000 total skiers here for Birkie week, with the Birkie now just 31 days away. Things are busy here as we and our 50 race chiefs prepare for your race. We will be ready!

You'll receive two Carpe Skiem electronic newsletters in February to keep you updated on the Birkie events. You can always check our website for information and updates as well.

Stay Fit and see you on the Trails!

 Ned Zuelsdorff

There are currently less than 100 positions remaining in the 2011 Prince Haakon 12K. There is an overall Registration Deadline of January 31, 2011 for the Prince Haakon and a registration cap of 400 skiers. Skier registration will close upon reaching the cap or the deadline, which ever comes first. For more information or to register for the Prince Haakon click here. 
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*Prizes will be awarded randomly as skiers cross the finish line of each race, so skiers of every level will have the opportunity to win! 

Join the nearly 50 skiers who won prizes last year! 

Pins are available by emailing [email protected] or calling 800.242.3358.  Pins will also be available at the Birkie office and on-site at the Birkie in February.
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Telemark Resort is open for business and the 2011 Birkie, Kortelopet and Haakon 12K races will all be held on the normal courses that make use of Telemark property.

On Friday, February 25th the Junior Birkie will be held at Telemark starting at 9:00 a.m. Skiers and spectators will be able to enter the facility to stay warm and use the restrooms. The same is true for Race Morning. Skier bus drop off will be near the lodge and skiers and spectators can find a warm spot while they wait for their race before walking down to the start line.

Thursday and Friday race bib pick-up, the Skier Expo and the Ski Demo will still be held at the Hayward Middle School in Hayward. Late bib pick-up on Saturday morning will be at Telemark Lodge.

On Saturday evening the Awards Ceremony will be held at Telemark. The Awards Ceremony will start with a slide show of the day's events and continue with recognition of the winners, the Skiers for Cures program and a thank you to our sponsors and volunteers.

Telemark Resort is also renting rooms and anyone interested in lodging should contact the resort at 715-798-3400.
 

Watch the Birkie Live on Race Day. The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation provides significant financial support to CXC (Central Cross Country Skiing) allowing them to produce a live webcast of the race. From 9:00 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, February 26th the Birkie will be available here.

In addition to this opportunity Filmmaker, George Desort will be producing a comprehensive video of the 2011 American Birkebeiner events. The video will be available for purchase following the events and a trailer will be available on Sunday, February 27th at www.birkie.com.
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By Phil Van Valkenberg  
 

For me, the highlight of another great Birkie Week last winter was volunteering Friday morning as the starter for the Junior Birkie.  This may be one of the lower profile events, but it is a wonderful race series attended by about 300 kids. It's a level above Barnebirkie and includes kids through high school age. I used to volunteer when I lived up north and have come back to do it since. I missed 2009 due to travel arrangements and regretted not doing so. Got up to Hayward Thursday in 2010 so was able to help.

The Junior Birkie is so special because it is scads of kids having a great time racing on skis. The spectators, mainly family, love it too. We got to the lodge before seven when it was as quiet as Tut's tomb.  It was -14 degrees on the bank clock when we rolled through Cable. Then we spent a couple hours setting up the course in the stadium area.  The cold was a shock to the system after our reasonable southern Wisconsin winter, but the bright sun warmed things up by race time.  There were many age classes, boys and girls races and finally...Continue Reading.