American Birkebeiner
| American Birkebeiner | |
|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | sporting event |
| Date(s) | February |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | Cable-Hayward, Wisconsin |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1973 |
The American Birkebeiner (or Birkie) is the largest, and one of the longest (51 km Freestyle and 56 km Classical events) cross country ski races in North America. It debuted in 1973 and has been a part of Worldloppet as long as Worldloppet has been around. The two premier events are the 55 km (34 mi) classic and the 51 km (32 mi) freestyle race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin. Each year approximately 10,000 skiers participate in the Birkie, 26 km Kortelopet, and 12 km Prince Haakon events. The 43rd Birkie was held on February 20, 2016. The Birkie is a member race of the Worldloppet Ski Federation.
The race, which is held annually in February, was started in 1973 by Tony Wise. Wise, who started the Telemark Ski Area in Cable, Wisconsin in 1947, helped to popularize modern-day cross-country skiing when he built trails at Telemark in 1972. In February 1973, Wise drew on his Norwegian heritage in starting a race named after a famous event in Norway.
The Birkie was named after the Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet, which commemorates an important historical event. In 1206 a group of Birkebeiner party soldiers, who fought for Sverre Sigurdsson and his descendants in the Norwegian civil war, smuggled the illegitimate son of Norway's King Håkon Sverresson from Lillehammer to safety in Trondheim. In the Norwegian Birkie, skiers still carry packs symbolizing the weight of an 18-month-old child. The packs also contain extra food, clothing and survival gear to protect against unexpected weather changes in the harsh sub-Arctic mountains that the skiers cross during the race.
Skiers from around the world come to Hayward, Wisconsin for the race. The Birkie has a reputation for attracting skiers of varying ability levels. Olympians and national team members have competed in the event, and the Birkie also draws recreational skiers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and countries such as Canada. The race day also includes the shorter 23 km Kortelopet "Korte", a race geared more toward recreational skiers, and the Prince Haakon 13 km event for those who are not ready to take on the challenge of the longer courses. Registration is capped at 10,000 skiers in 2013, with an additional 20,000 spectators on the sidelines cheering on the competitors.
...
Wikipedia