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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: 2018 Birkie Tour

  • Birkie Tour Price Increase Fast Approaching

    (Press release)

    Skiers Encouraged to Register by Thursday at 11:59pm!

    HAYWARD, Wis. (January 3, 2018) – With flurries in the air and Birkie week festivities a mere 49 days away, skiers are more excited than ever to get some training time in on their skis. The Birkie Tour, hosted by the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), is slated for January 14, 2018. The Birkie Tour is an untimed, non-competitive, “open-track” event where skiers choose their own distance while touring the world-class Birkie trail system. Friday, January 12, 2018, marks the next Birkie Tour price increase; skiers are encouraged to register by Thursday, January 11, at 11:59pm at www.Birkie.com.

    The Birkie Tour is a fun and casual event with a morning start time window, a variety of looped courses, warm trailside cabins, and aid stations along the legendary Birkie Trail course. Tour skiers are often skiers looking for a supported training day before February races; skiers thinking about the Birkie event, but unsure about being ready; skiers who simply love to ski with family and friends yet haven’t an interest in racing, or anyone interested in experiencing healthy, active, outdoor, winter activities. With 47, 27, or 16 kilometer looped course options available, skiers of all abilities will find a course to suit their needs. Skiers will park, start, and finish in the same location at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead, Cable, WI. The Après ski celebration in the heated Great Hall will include a Greek chicken pita meal, Birkie Brew-Ski, or soft drink for Tour participants. The first 700 Birkie Tour skiers will also receive a Birkie Dry Bag with their registration.

    Tour skiers can choose to ski either classic or skate techniques on one of the best cross-country ski trail systems in the World. As a Worldloppet event, skiers can also get credit and a stamp in their Worldloppet passport.

    Other Upcoming American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Events

    February 22, 2018 – February 25, 2018: Birkie week festivities begin on Thursday, February 22, 2018 with the Birkie Adaptive Ski, Barkie Birkie Skijor, Barnebirkie, Junior Birkie, and Birkie Giant Ski events, all on Hayward’s snow-covered Main Street. Registration for Friday’s Prince Haakon (15K) race is still open, however, Slumberland American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet registration is closed. Registration for all other Birkie week events is open and available at www.Birkie.com.

    March 10, 2018 marks the Fat Bike Birkie, the world’s largest fat bike race, where riders choose between a 47K (The Big Fat) & 21K (The Chico) ride through the north woods on perfectly groomed trails. Now in its 6th year, the race has grown from fewer than 200 riders in 2013 to a capped registration of 1200 riders in 2018. www.Birkie.com.

    Registration for all ABSF events is available at www.Birkie.com.

  • 2018 Birkie Registration Opens May 1

    Participants at the start of the 2012 American Birkebeiner in Cable, Wis. Registration for 2018 Birkie events opens Monday, May 1. (Photo courtesy of Darlene Prois/ABSF)

    (Press release)

    Birkie, Korte, Prince Haakon, BirkieTour & Fat Bike Birkie

    Hayward, Wis. (April 25, 2017) – The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) board of directors today announced that registration will open for the 2018 American Birkebeiner schedule of events on May 1, 2017. North America’s largest cross-country ski race, the Slumberland American Birkebeiner, is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2018, with the Kortelopet and Prince Haakon races slated for Friday, February 23, 2018. Additionally, Fat Bike Birkie, the world’s largest fat bike race, is March 10, 2018, with the BirkieTour hosted on January 14, 2018.

    Friday, February 23, 2018

    • 10:45am – Kortelopet 29K Classic & Skate Ski Race
      – North America’s second largest ski race will journey from the Highway “OO” Trailhead east of Seeley, WI, to the finish line on Hayward’s Main Street. 
    • 1:15pm – Prince Haakon 15K Classic & Skate Ski Race
      – A race which honors the eventual Norwegian King, rescued and skied to safety by Birkebeiner warriors in 1206, the Prince Haakon Race will begin near Mosquito Brook, outside of Hayward, WI, and will finish in downtown Hayward.

    Saturday, February 24, 2018 

    • 8:30am – 44th Annual Slumberland American Birkebeiner 50K Skate & 55K Classic Ski Race
      – 2018 Slumberland AmericanBirkebeiner skiers will embark on an over 50K journey (50K skate/55K classic) to their destination in Hayward, WI. North America’s largest cross-country ski race finds thousands of skiers recreating the journey that Norwegian Birkebeiner warriors traveled to save Prince Haakon – the very legacy of the American Birkebeiner race.

    There is a 10,500-participant race cap for the combined three races. Registration will close when this cap is reached. Wave Placement is based on a first registered, first seeded basis. Once a wave has filled, participants will be placed in the next available wave.

    As part of registration, 2018 Slumberland American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet, or Prince Haakon registrants have an opportunity to help the ABSF go greener by donating $35 to the ABSF toward a reusable Birkie gear bag. This reusable backpack or duffle style bag will be used in lieu of the large plastic bags skiers normally receive as part of their packet at bib pick-up. The $125 value exclusive Birkie gear bag is available only while supplies last and only during the registration process. It is the hope of the ABSF that participants will choose this option which will ultimately assist in reducing the overall amount of waste generated by use of plastic bags during the annual ski events. The Birkie gear bag is a slightly larger version of that used by the US Ski Team athletes. Details are available at www.Birkie.com.

    Saturday, March 10, 2018 

    • 45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie
      – The Fat Bike Birkie is the world’s largest fat bike race and offers both 47K (The Big Fat) & 23K (The Chico) race options for riders of all skill levels. In its sixth year, the Fat Bike Birkie has grown from fewer than 200 riders in 2013 to an estimated 1200 riders from 19 states and two countries in 2017. In addition, a criterium obstacle course and fat bike expo round out the event weekend.

    Sunday, January 14, 2018

    • BirkieTour
      – The BirkieTour, an untimed, aid station supported tour of the Birkie Trail provides skiers with
      experience on the trail before February races, allows skiers who are not interested in racing an opportunity to experience a supported event, and extends skiers a fun and camaraderie filled atmosphere, with family and friends, at their leisure, on the legendary Birkie Trail.

    Registration for all events is available at www.Birkie.com.