What to know about the American Birkebeiner
The American Birkebeiner is one of Wisconsin's biggest sporting events.
The cross-country skiing event, inspired by Norwegian lore, draws tens of thousands of spectators and competitors each year to the towns of Cable and Hayward. The 2024 installment marks the 50th running of the race.
If you want to learn more about the American Birkebeiner, or "the Birkie" as it is also known, here's what you should know.
What is the the Birkie, or American Birkebeiner?
The American Birkebeiner, or the Birkie, is the largest cross-country skiing event in North America. It includes both skate- and classic- style events that run on the Birkebeiner Trail.
What is the difference between skate- and classic- style cross-country skiing?
These are the two disciplines in cross-country skiing.
Classic, as you can tell from the name, is the traditional technique. It involves using a diagonal stride that looks like walking on skis with a long, forward stride. It is often done on groomed trails with dedicated tracks.
The skate style appears more like an ice-skating motion, with skiers shifting side to side and pushing off the ground with their skis.
Both require different styles of skis and poles.
When is the 2024 American Birkebeiner?
The 2024 edition of the American Birkebeiner is set to take place on Feb. 24. It is scheduled to be the 50th running of the event.
How long is the Birkie?
The two most anticipated races each year are the 50-kilometer (31 miles) skate and 55-kilometer (34 miles) classic events. All events take place the Birkie trail.
How many people competed in the Birkie?
For the 2024 event, there are 13,000 skiers registered for the event.
Where does the American Birkebeiner take place?
The American Birkebienier typically runs from Cable to Hayward each year on the Birkebeiner trail. However, due to low snowfall this year, the event could see a modified, looped course.
Event organizers remain confident the race won't have to be canceled this year, but it has been canceled twice before. The last time the event was canceled was in 2017 due to rain.
How long has the Birkie existed?
First created by Tony Wise, the first American Birkebeiner ran in 1973.
What does 'Birkebeiner' mean?
According to birkie.com, "Birkebeiner" is term used to honor two Norwegian soldiers in 2016 who skied the infant Prince Haakon to safety during the Norwegian civil war. The soldiers were called Birkebeiners because of the birch-bark legging they wore.
The first Birkebeiner event, the Birkebeiner Rennet, was held in 1932 to honor these soldiers.
How does the American Birkebeiner honor these soldiers?
In addition to hosting the event, the race pays homage to the original Norwegian event by having two skiers ski the course using traditional wooden skis while wearing full period costumes. They carry a baby doll, representing Prince Haakon, most of the race before picking a real infant for the final two blocks of the race.
Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the American Birkebeiner
