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Thank you to all of our Sponsors:
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American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is a PROUD member of the Worldloppet Ski Federation
Click here for more information
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Our Offices Have Moved!
Our New/Temporary
Location is:
10636 Hayward Ct. -
Unit 4
Hayward, WI 54843
(Hwy 77 across from Wal-Mart, in the
Big Log Building,
East Side)
Mailing Address is still:
P.O. Box 911
Hayward, WI 54843
Phone Number is still:
715-634-5025
You can always reach us at: [email protected]
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PLUS! More SWEET Swag for Top Finishers in the Trail Run & Trek!
- Pint Glasses for Marathon Relay
- Top Male & Top Female Finishers in the Marathon & Half-Marathon will receive these AWESOME jackets
- Salomon Shoes for Top Finishers, too!!
Don't Delay!
Register HERE Today!
Birkie Trail Run & Trek
Don't miss out on this GREAT Event!
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Greetings From the Birkie!|
Dear Friends -
The Birkie Trail Run preparation is really in full swing as we are now just over 2 weeks away. The northern � of the trails are in great shape, the bugs are gone and it is shaping up to be a great event! Birkie Ridge will be a great venue - hope you will join us!
The crazy weather that we all experienced last winter during Birkie 2014 continues, this time in the form of LOTS of rain and high winds. This combo has wreaked havoc on the southern � of the trail - causing portions to flood and bringing down hundreds of trees. Currently, sections of the trail are closed south of Gravel Pit while clean up continues - stay tuned to the website and Facebook for the latest updates as they get cleaned up and re-opened.
Winter is just around the corner as well...and that means time for Birkie prep!! There are only a few spots remaining in the 2015 Birkie so if you plan to join us, I wouldn't wait too much longer. With a variety of enhancements and a few new improvements to help with flow and congestion, I really believe 2015 will be great!
I hope your fall is going well and you have plenty of time to get out and enjoy the activities you love. We look forward to seeing you out on the trails!
I can always be reached at [email protected], don't hesitate to drop me a line if there is anything I can help you with.
Get Out & Go!
Ben Popp
Executive Director
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Here's What's New for September...
- " Birkie DIRT " : Trail Run & Trek - 2 weeks away!
- Register Now! Price Hike Sep.16th!
- Relay Teams, 10 Spots Remaining!
- Got Poles?! Out There does!
- Finish Line Foods!
- Birkie Offices Have Moved: Temporary Location!
- Annie Hart: Ambassador of the Birkie
- SWIX Corner: Name behind the Brand, part 2
- Trail News: Trail Closures due to Storm Damage!!
- Call for Entries: Inga & Warriors Contest
- Gear West: For Junior Skiers
- Sunday Ski Demo: Feb. 22, 2015
- SWIX Birkie 2015: Don't delay, Register Today!
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Birkie Trail Run &Trek
Saturday, September 27th
Trail Run Fee Increase September 16!
Don't Delay! Register today!
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3- or 6-person Marathon Relay
ONLY 10 Team Spaces Remain!!!
Remember there's NO Event Day Registration!
Click HERE to Register Today!
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Loaner Trek Poles
If you really want to do the Trek but do not have poles, Out There Shop, Presenting Sponsor of the Birkie Nordic Trek event, will loan you a pair! The poles will be available at the start/finish area tent on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, email Out There Shop at info@outthereshop or call 1-800-252-9583.
Click Here to visit Out There online.
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Trail Run & Trek Fee Increase September 16!
Register by Sep. 15th & SAVE!____________________________
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Finish Line Recovery Food
Whether you are running the marathon or trekking the Birkie Trail, we'll be ready for you at the finish! Look forward to
Olympia Granola bars - which are wheat & dairy free, non-gmo, no trans fats - as well as bananas, HEED, and water.
Post Race Picnic-in the Big Tent!
The grills will be fired up ...
for all the fun after your Birkie Trail event! Your picnic lunch-compliments of the Cabin Stop of Hayward (the location of bib pick-up on Friday) will include the following: Birkie Brats, Pasta Salad, Coleslaw, Cookies, Craft Beer on Tap, Pop and Water. Lunch and your first beer is free for all participants and just $5 for friends and family.
Need Something Different?
If you have any dietary needs or preferences, please feel free to bring any back-up food and drink you may want. You can also stock up on snacks for your hotel room, cabin, a gift for friends you're staying with, and extra munchies for Saturday, all at the Cabin Stop when you come to pick up your bib. Choose from organic chips and salsas, the gluten-free section, bakery, artesian cheeses, hummus, crackers, even Ahi tuna! Use the 10% coupon you'll receive at bib pick-up.
Visit the Cabin Stop online. Then we'll see you there at Bib Pick-Up. where 7 sampling and prize stations will be waiting for you!
 | | Come see the Cabin Stop's amazing selection of cheeses & craft beers! |
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Watch for THIS sign on the West side of Hwy 63, in Hayward for
Bib pick-up Friday, September 26th, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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Event Registration Ends 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 26th!
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Birkie's Moving & Remodel
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The Birkie Office has Moved!
Over the next six months, our Main Street office building will be undergoing a much needed remodel, so please plan to visit us in our temporary office location at 10636 Hayward Court - in the big log building on Hwy 77, across from Walmart. Our hours will remain the same as always, Monday - Friday from 9-4 - we'd love to see you so stop on over!
We are very excited about our remodel! The new space will not only be a more productive workspace for our growing staff, it will be hugely more energy efficient, and as a bonus, we are reserving the front third of the space for a special American Birkebeiner Museum. Here is what you can expect come spring:
To learn more about our remodeling project and the American Birkebeiner Museum - click here to read more on our website.
If you have connections with a building supply manufacturer and are looking for a tax deduction, we are interested in talking to you! Windows, siding, lighting/electrical, plumbing, metal roofing, interior furnishings, appliances, cabinetry, landscaping - we need it all and are prepared to recognize partners in this endeavor. Please contact Amy Rowley, ABSF Development Director for more information - [email protected].
Important to note: Our phone number and USPS address remain the same:
715-634-5025
PO Box 911
Hayward, WI 54843.
If you plan to ship us any goodies, please use the new address of
10636 Hayward Court, Unit 4
Hayward, WI 54843
Thanks for your continued support of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation!
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Annie Hart: Birkie Ambassador
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Meet Annie Hart - Ambassador of the American Birkebeiner
Annie Hart, is our new Ambassador for the Birkie. She is a great advocate and roll model for kids on being active and sports minded. We hope you enjoy this first installment in an ongoing series from the new Birkie Ambassador Annie Hart.
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 | | Annie Hart for American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation |
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"Annie's Birkie Countdown"-the Birkie ABCs-starts today with an introductory video with Annie Hart, and will be a weekly piece featured on the Birkie's Facebook Page every Wednesday up until Birkie race day (February 21, 2015). So enjoy this week's video, and look forward to the rest of the alphabet as we countdown to race day!
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 The Name Behind the Brand: Part 2 of 3
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As Swix grew, Astra decided to expand its product lines by purchasing Trygve Liljedahl's ski pole factory in Lillehammer, Norway in 1974. Liljedahl was a visionary who had made a major industry of ski pole manufacturing. He was the leader in his field and produced ski poles for both elite and recreational skiers. When Astra took over, Liljedahl was almost 60-years-old and was trying to slow down his hectic lifestyle. Swix was now one of the world's leading ski pole brands. Keep Reading
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To see the beginning of the story, Click Here for Part 1 of 3 in the August Carpe Skiem. Go to "Swix Corner."
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BIRKIE TRAIL NEWS:
"Pending further inspection & clean up from storm damage (September 4th), the Birkie Trail is CLOSED from Gravel Pit to Hatchery, until further notice", says Birkie Trail Director, Chris Campbell.
Please note, this trail closure will have no effect on the Trail Run & Trek - which will start/end at the Birkie Ridge Trail Head, north of Seeley on Hwy. 63.
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 | | Radar image from September 4th, 2014 |
 | | Ben surveys downed trees along the Birkie Trail, September 5th. |
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Beginning October 1st ~ Warriors & Inga Contest Opens!
Each year the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation looks for three capable cross country skiers to dress as the original "Birkebeiner" warriors and Queen Inga and ski the 54 kilometers Birkebeiner Classic from Cable to Hayward, WI, on traditional wooden skis and in full period costume provided by the Birkie.
Inga will ski either the 54-kilometer Classic Birkie or 23-kilometer Kortelopet before meeting up with the Birkie warriors and baby Prince Haakon at the finish line on Main Street in Hayward.
The Warriors & Inga group will serve as "ambassadors on the trail," encouraging both skiers and volunteers along the way. The warriors will carry a baby doll along the course until Main Street where they will pick up a real infant "Prince" before skiing the last two blocks with Inga to the finish line.
"This tradition has become one of the highlights of the whole Birkie experience for participants and spectators alike," says Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. "Find a few friends or do it as a family. It will complete your Birkie experience."
Enter the Contest HERE, October 1st & Good Luck!
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Junior Racing Primer
Courtesy of Gear West XC Ski & Run
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Surprise, your child likes cross country skiing! Your child wants to learn to ski better, and you want equipment that fits correctly. Many of us at Gear West have kids who race, so we have experience. Our advice? Let them have fun at whatever level of racing or skiing they choose. Opportunities range from local fun events, to high school racing and Junior National Qualifiers, all the way to Junior Nationals.
Below we've listed some great race opportunities for your children.
Local Fun Races
If your child is interested in skiing events but might not be super competitive, they will have fun with one of the local youth races
linked here Youth races.
Click Here
Ski Werks Series
If your kids are more competitive they may want to sign up for the Ski Werks Series. Click Here for event website.
http://www.citiescup.com/races/
Jan 4 - Twin Cities Championships - Battle Creek
Jan 11 - Pre-Loppet - Wirth
Jan 18 - King Boreas - Lake Phalen Golf Course
Jan 22 - MYSL Team Sprints - Wed evenings - Wirth
Jan 31 - FinnSisu Sprints - evening sprints FS - Wirth
Feb 15 - Battle Creek SuperTour - Battle Creek
Mar 1 - Midwest Junior Championships - Wirth
Two Major Midwest Races with Special Junior Events
Junior Noque
Cross-country ski race for kids and teens taking place at the Forestville trailhead. The lighted loops, pole barn building with wax area, and stadium area enhance the Jr. Noque. Click Here for event website.
http://www.noquemanon.com/races/junior-noque/
Junior Birkie
Race day options include the 1.5 km (for 8-9 year olds), 3.5 km (for 10-18 year olds) freestyle (skate or stride) Mass Start Individual Race divided into age/gender races and the 3 by 1.5km High School Mass Start Relay by gender. Click Here for event website.
http://www.birkie.com/ski/events/junior-birkie/
Junior National Qualifiers
At the highest level of junior racing is Junior National Qualifiers, with the top skiers competing for spots on the Junior National Team to compete with top juniors from around the country. Click Here for more details on the Midwest JNQ website.
http://www.cxcskiing.org/pages/events/midwest-JNQ.html
Schedule
Dec. 20-21 Houghton
Sat. Classic Sprint
Sunday 10k/5k Skate interval start race
Jan. 17-18 Telemark JNQ
Sat. 10/5k individual Classic
Sun 15/10/5k Skate Mass Start
Jan. 24-25 Battle Creek JNQ
Sat. 15/10/5 Classic mass start
Sun. 10/5k Skate individual start
Feb. 14-15 Wirth JNQ
Saturday Skate Sprint
10k/5k classic individual start
Junior Nationals Championships
March 8-14, 2015 - Truckee, California
The biggest Junior Cross Country Ski event in North America will be hosted by Auburn Ski Club Training Center in Truckee, California, where 400 of the best junior skiers in the country will be competing in a week of sprints, distance races, and relays. Click Here for event website. http://xcjuniornationals2015.com/
Find Out More About Races for YOUR Junior Skier!
. Skiwerks Jr Race Series
. Upper Midwest Race Schedule -Many with Jr. Races
. Gear West Jr. Skis page
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Stay for SUNDAY of Birkie Week!
For the On-Snow Ski Demo
February 22 - "OO" Trailhead
Make It Part of YOUR Birkie Experience! The American Birkebeiner's Sunday On-Snow Ski Demo on February 22, the day after the big race, will celebrate its third year at the Birkie "OO" trailhead. Everyone from newbie skiers to elites can try out the latest in new equipment-skis, poles, boots, and bindings. These are products that are brand new, many to be released for the 2015-2016 season. Plus, the grills are going with plenty of food-don't miss the party! Keep Reading
See 5 Great Reasons to Go!
Click Here for complete details!
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Be sure to stay & play on snow, Sunday February 22nd, 2015 at "OO"
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2015 SWIX American Birkebeiner!
Though, some waves are closing there IS still room!
Don't Delay, Register Today!
REGISTER NOWFor the 2015 Swix American Birkebeiner Ski Events:
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Check Facebook First!
Get Birkie news, announcements, photos, contests, registration info,
and more ... as it happens!
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Is Your Email About to Change? ... Please help us make sure you are getting ALL communications from the Birkie. We don't want you to miss a thing!!
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To re-subscribe to Carpe Skiem ...
using your new email address!
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American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
 The Birkie is a year-round lifestyle choice for thousands of outdoor fitness enthusiasts of all levels. From its signature ski race--the legendary American Birkebeiner--sponsored by SWIX, the Birkie has grown into an exciting array of fitness and recreational opportunities. The 107-kilometer Birkie Trail system attracts skiers, runners, bikers, trekkers, and hikers, from casual day-trippers to elite superstars. Located near Hayward and Cable, Wisconsin, the Birkie is now an outdoor sports mecca, a series of great races, a fitness destination, and a Lifestyle. SKI . RUN . BIKE . LIVE!
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