©american birkebeiner ski foundation/kelly randolph
Be a ‘Birkie’
Midwest Hosts Country’s Largest ski MaratHons
Cross-Country skiing is a great Cross-training exerCise for enduranCe athletes that is light on the joints, and one of the world’s largest ski marathons is ChiCago’s neighbor.
While Chicago is known for its flat terrain, athletes in the area looking to maintain or improve endurance skills through the winter have one of the best skiing opportunities just over the Illinois-Wisconsin border; the American Birkebeiner, or “Birkie,” is a 55K course in Hayward, Wisc., and is North America’s largest cross-country ski race. Founded in 1973 by Tony Wise, the American Birkebeiner mimics the Norwegian event, which started in 1932, according to a Slumberland Birkie press release. In 1206, two warrior soldiers, called “Birkebeiners” because of the birch-bark leggings they wore, skied infant Prince Haakon to 20
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safety during the Norwegian civil war. The Birkebeiner soldiers became a symbol of courage, perseverance and character in the country. The first ski marathon had 35 participants, and today, about 13,500 skiers partake in the events. Overall, more than 250,000 skiers have participated in the 44 years of the American Birkebeiner, and in 2016, the Birkie Trail was named the number one cross-country ski destination in the United States by USA Today. The 2018 American Birkebeiner will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, and 13-time
finisher Chad Giese from Wilmette, Ill. can attest that the Birkie is the race for skiers. “It’s the biggest event of the year in the U.S. for skiers at any level and truly reminds us why we love this sport,” Giese says. “People come from all over the U.S. and Europe to test themselves on one of the most challenging courses there is, and the excitement that this race generates is like no other race.” Participants can choose from the 55K Classic Ski Marathon, or the 50K Skate Course, both of which span from Cable to Hayward. However, the event weekend