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"I started with wooden skis and now there are high tech, composite skis. The knickers have changed to fast, light racing suits, and there are a lot more women skiing now, my daughter being one of them. One thing will always remain the same, which keeps many participants coming back year after year; friendly people and kinship at such a large event. The community has always been strong. Everyone is great at the food and rest stops, very energetic and supportive."

~ Bruce Bostrom, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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2nd Annual Birkie Classic Trail Tour

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Come out with your friends and ski the new Birkie Classic Trail. After three years of work the new trail is complete and now reaches “OO”. The Birkie Classic Trail will be used as part of the 2009 Birkie.

The Tour is a non-competitive, untimed, fun event using both the new Classic Trail and the Birkie Trail. Skier registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and skiers can begin the tour anytime between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the County Rd. “OO” Trail Head cabin located three miles east from Seeley. The “Grand Opening” of the trail will be celebrated at 1 p.m. with installation of a recognition plaque in the “OO” cabin.

The Birkie Classic and Birkie Trails will be groomed for both classic and skate skiing. The route will be well marked and maps provided. The main Tour route will be 20K in length, with the option of adding a K to get to and from the Fire Tower highpoint, with short options of 4K, 6K, 10K and 14K available. Adventurous skiers can go further on their own if they wish, but shuttle service will not be provided.

Following the Tour you can enjoy a hot dog cookout, chili and hot chocolate at the “OO” cabin. There is no fee for the tour, but donations are welcome.

More info is available at 715/634-5025 or birkie@birkie.com.

2008 American Birkebeiner Video

Take a peek and join us this year, February 21, 2009!

Video footage courtesy of George Desort.

Upload your own Birkie experience. Click on the link on the right hand side to get started.

2009 Birkebeiner Warriors & Inga Winners Announced

The search for three cross country skiers and a baby to re-enact the 800-year old legend that inspired the creation of the American Birkebeiner cross country ski race is over. Click here to read the announcement.

Photo: Best friends Richard Pierce and Jeff Cummisford will serve as the 2009 Birkebeiner Warriors. Richard's daughter Lyndsey Lewis will serve as Inga wihile her one-year-old son Piercen will represent Prince Haakon.

Richard and Jeff pictured on one of their many Worldloppet trips. Photo taken at the 2006 Konig Ludwig Lauf in Germany.

~Photo courtesy of Richard Pierce.

Bjorn Daehlie Leads Birkie® Skiers for Cures

It is official, Bjorn Daehlie, the Norwegian cross-country skiing legend of the 90's will ski the 2009 Birkie as an Ambassador for Multiple Sclerosis Research. Despite retiring from the Nordic race circuit in 1999, at only 32 years of age, Bjorn Daehlie has always remained close to the Nordic skiing world. He is proud of almost always ending up “on page 1 of the placement list” as he likes to emphasize, adding that “it’s important for me to stay close to the Nordic skiing world, which gave me the opportunity to be what I am”.

The list of his skiing awards is huge:

Eight Olympic golds
Four Olympic silvers
Six time World Cup Champion
47 World Cup competition golds

Bjorn’s mother has suffered from MS for several years and raising needed funds for MS Research is important to him. MS will be the sole focus of our 2009 Birkie Skiers for Cures effort.

Persons raising the highest amount of donations will have the opportunity to meet, have lunch and ski with Bjorn during Birkie week. This was all made possible through the efforts of Birchlegger Ian Duncan, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, whose research involves the repair of the nervous system in MS patients.

Photo: Bjorn is pictured with his mother and neuroscientist Dr. Ian Duncan.

Join the Movement with Bjorn!

Click here to learn more about Birkie® Skiers for Cures and the MS Society.

American Birkebeiner Newsletter Carpe Skiem!

Carpe Skiem! is the American Birkebeiner's monthly Ezine. We give you the latest news, happenings, training tips and a Birkie Fever story in every issue. Stay informed by signing up here.

For Email Marketing you can trust

If you are on our mailing list and have been receiving the Carpe Skiem! there is no need to sign up again. If you were on our list and are no longer receiving information please email media@birkie.com so we can make sure you don't miss another issue!

Welcome to the Birkie®!

Welcome to the 36th annual American Birkebeiner, a citizen’s cross country ski race with something for everybody! The magic unfolds February 19-21, 2009 when 9,000 fit, colorfully-clad skiers from all walks of life and from around the world descend on northern Wisconsin to ski some of the most beautiful and challenging trails in the world.

It’s a Winter Wonderland.
It’s 3 days of excitement, camaraderie and challenge for everyone from ages 3 to 93.
It’s an annual celebration of fitness, personal endurance and outdoor enthusiasm.
It’s a cultural experience bursting with languages from 19 countries.
It’s Birkie Fever.

Find out more. Check out the site and discover why skiers from around the world are hooked. Sign up forCarpe Skiem, a monthly ezine that will show you how to get and stay fit. Read current and past issues of Carpe Skiem, by clickinghere. And do join us for the Greatest Show on Snow. The American Birkebeiner. February 19-21, 2009. Take the challenge; ski the adventure; LIVE the Birkie!

Planning Ahead.....

Birkie 2010 will be held on
Saturday, February 27, 2010.

Mark your calendars!

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February 21, 2009
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Birkie 2010
February 27, 2010

Birkie Classic Race

Birkie Skate Race

Kortelopet

Official Energy Drink

Host Facility

Prince Haakon 8K

Team Challenge Cup

Junior Birkie

Family 5K/10K

Barnebirkie

Barnebirkie
Birkie Trail Run