{image1}Birkebeiner skiers have a history that dates back to 1206 in Norway, but the "Birkie," held right here in Wisconsin, has made the Cable-Hayward area world renown among Nordic skiers.
The American Birkebeiner, held Feb. 24-26 this year, is expected to draw more than 9,000 skiers and about 15,000 spectators.
In addition to the 51-kilometer Subaru American Birkebeiner and 23-kilometer Johnson Bank Kortelopet ski races, a new event, the 12K Prince Haakon race sponsored by Johnson Bank, has been added to the three-day event.
The American Birkebeiner is a Nordic ski festival beyond comparison with spectator and participatory events for all ages. In addition to the 51- and 23-kilometer ski races, a number of pre-race events will be held Thursday and Friday, Feb. 24 and 25.
Ski events kick off with the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, the largest children's cross country skiing event in the nation, followed by the Salomon Elite Sprints, Century Tel Junior Birkie, Hayward Chamber of Commerce Citizen Sprints and Cheqtel Communications 10K.
In addition to ski events for all ages and fitness levels, Birkie 2005 highlights include opening and closing ceremonies; health, nutrition, fitness, equipment and training seminars; ski expo and demonstrations; pasta feeds; and post-race music.
Among the skiers is 90-year-old Hermann Nunnemacher from Milwaukee. Nunnemacher has his sights set on finishing one more race. He and his wife, Erika, will ski the shorter event and meet longtime friend and Birkie skier Allan Stenmark at the end of the day.
Stenmark, 57, was a young boy when he and his father began cross country skiing with Nunnemacher. It became such a tradition that in 1976 the two entered their first Birkie. They went on to complete 10 Birkies before Nunnemacher decided to take a break. Stenmark continued on and is registered for his 29th Birkie in 2005. Nunnemacher wants one more go at it and is registered for the 23K Kortelopet.
"It will take me about five hours but I don't care," Nunnemacher said. "When you are 90-years-old, come on. I am not breaking any records. I just want to finish it."
At the other end of the age spectrum is 7-year-old Reiley Schulz of Ashland preparing for another Barnebirkie. She has been doing the race since she was 3 years old.
The Place and Its History
This writer has featured the Birkie in past Sports Buzz columns, but the place where the event is held, and its history, is better told in this forum.
According to a 1988 survey by the University of Wisconsin Northern Institute for Economic Development, an estimated $4 million is spent in the Hayward-Cable area during Birkie week. A 2000 survey conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism shows that 93.2 percent of all racers travel to the area during Birkie week because of the race. The average nights stayed in the area during Birkie week is 2.9, and the average daily expenditure per person is $145.62.
It requires tremendous community support to put on the largest ski race in North America. The race requires more than 2,000 volunteers, 56 chiefs and a year 'round office staff.
The Birkebeiner Trail is known throughout the cross country skiing world as one of the finest. American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation staffers groom and track the trail on a regular basis throughout the winter season. The Birkie Trail remains open and free to the public through the efforts of the Foundation.
Membership fees to the Birkebeiner Foundation contribute to the preservation and maintenance of one of the most challenging and beautiful trails in the world.
The trail has undergone many changes over the past several years. Two buildings have been constructed at the midpoint at Highway OO to help service the skiers and store equipment.
State-of-the-art grooming equipment has been purchased to ensure the best possible skiing conditions for weekend skiers as well as race participants. The trail has been widened and corners improved without losing sight of the importance of its aesthetic beauty and athletic challenge.
The American Birkebeiner was launched in 1973 as a small race calling on skiers to challenge themselves against the Wisconsin Northwoods. The race was patterned after the Birkebeiner Rennet in Lillehammer, Norway.
Thirty-four individuals -- 33 men and 1 woman -- raced in the first Birkie. Nineteen skiers also participated in the shorter 22K women's and junior's race. Over the years more than 100,000 skiers have experienced their own victory in finishing a race that welcomes skiers from all walks of life and all ages and abilities. Skiers from all 50 states and 20 foreign countries gather every February to celebrate and ski.
The race has experienced a few changes in its history. In 1984, wave placements were initiated to help alleviate bottlenecks and crowding at the start. Today there are 12 waves plus two elite wave starts. Food stations have continually been updated and support personnel, such as medical, waxing, and repair stations, have been added.
Of course, the history of Birkebeiner skiers -- so called for their protective birch bark leggings -- goes back much further than the Birkie.
They skied through the treacherous mountains and rugged forests of Norway's Osterdalen valley during the winter of 1206, smuggling the son of King Sverresson and Inga of Vartieg to safety. The flight taken during the Norwegian Civil War took the Birkebeiners and prince from Lillehammer to safety in the town of Trondheim.
Inga of Vartieg never became queen as the prince's father was killed before he could return for her in Vartieg. Norwegian history credits the Birkebeiners' bravery with preserving the life of the boy who later became King Haakon Haakonsson IV and forever changed Northern Europe's history.
The story and painting of the flight were the inspiration for the first Birkebeiner ski race held in Norway in 1932. To this day, Norwegian skiers still carry a pack, symbolizing the weight of an 18-month-old child, in the Worldloppet's Norwegian Birkebeiner Rennet race from Rena to Lillehammer. Thousands of skiers commemorate the journey with annual Birkebeiner races in Norway, Canada and the United States.
Wisconsin's Birkie is held in a natural place for cross country skiing. In some years, snow has had to be made and hauled into a shortened trail, but overall the Cable-Hayward area is in the Lake Superior snow belt.
In the midst of the Chequamegon National Forest, the area is a four season recreational region. This pristine environment has an abundance of wildlife, clean air and an unhurried pace of life.
When the snow flies, the area embraces it. In addition to cross country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing are very popular. Snowmobiling attracts scores of enthusiasts to the expertly groomed forest trails. All of the area's resorts, restaurants and taverns offer easy access to trails and conveniently located pit stops.
The Birkie is also part of an International Ski Federation (FIS) Marathon Cup series of eight races held in Italy, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Canada, and the United States. Created in 1999 through a partnership with the Worldloppet League and the Cross Country Committee of the International Ski Federation (FIS), the series encourages higher level competition similar to that found in World Cup events.
For more on the Birkie, see the Feb. 3 Sports Buzz column. Birkie.com offers more information on the event. For more on the Cable/Hayward area in general, visit cable4fun.com.
