American Birkebeiner
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The American Birkebeiner (or Birkie) is one of the longest cross country ski races in North America. The 51-km race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin is a member race of the Worldloppet Ski Federation, a federation which includes the world's most famous cross country ski marathons such as Sweden's Vasaloppet and Norway's Birkebeinerrennet.
Started in 1973, the Birkie is one of the few races worldwide named after and commemorating a historical episode, from 1206 when a group of Birkebeiners - 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. At Birkebeinerrennet in Norway, skiers still carry packs symbolizing the weight of a 18-month-old child; this tradition, although not required, is also respected by some skiers in the American Birkebeiner.
The Birkie has a reputation of attracting skiers of various ability levels. Cross country skiing is particularly popular in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the Birkie draws a large number of skiers from this area who otherwise ski only recreationally. In addition to the Birkebeiner itself, the race day includes the shorter Kortelopet, a race geared more toward recreational skiers. Each year the race is attended by over 5,000 skiers and about 20,000 spectators.
External links
- American Birkebeiner official website (http://www.birkie.com)
- Worldloppet official website (http://www.worldloppet.com)