| American Birkebeiner
Still going strong 30 years down the trail
By Mark Parman Feb. 22 marks the 30th running of the American Birkebeiner. Thirty winters have come and gone, changing forever this country's largest and most prestigious cross country ski race.
In that very first Birkebeiner on Feb. 24, 1973, 35 skiers strapped on
their skis and made their way across frozen Lake Hayward, the start of a 50 kilometer northwoods jaunt. There was only one wave. It was a local race with mostly local skiers, although the first race was won by Swede Eric Errson, director of the Telemark ski school.
Some skiers wore blue jeans and flannel shirts. One carried what looked like a Duluth pack. The skis were wooden, the bindings the old faithful 75mm and the poles bamboo.
In 1973, there was no manicured trail, machine groomed as it is today. Actually, two skiers on alpine skis pulled by snowmobiles accomplished the grooming the morning of the race. The track ran north from Hayward to Telemark Lodge through fields and along fencelines, in places only one skier wide. The trail occasionally used the ditch, paralleling the railroad tracks near Phipps.
That first race cost $10. And the late fee cost $2 extra. The shorter 20K
option, which started in Seeley, set skiers back $8. This shorter, "easier" race was for women and skiers under 20 years old. Yes, the Birkebeiner has changed.
Take number of skiers for instance. This February, the Birkebeiner office expects as many as 6,000 skiers on race day.
"Last year we had about 5,400 (registered) skiers," says Shellie Milford, American Birkebeiner assistant director. "I would expect us to reach that."
That number could climb higher, according to Milford, particularly with good weather (i.e. snow and cold). In 1997 on the 25th anniversary of the race, 7,900 skiers registered. Since then, with several years of bad weather, registration has lagged from that peak level. "If conditions are good, we'll reach 6,000," Milford predicts. Last year,
the office registered over 600 skiers the Thursday and Friday before the Birkebeiner when skiers realized the race was a go. Not expecting the rush, the office ran out of numbers and had to borrow a few paper bibs from Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival director Gary Crandall. 
| Many skiers recall the days when the race started in Hayward. |
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Four skiers from that original race will attempt to ski their 30th Birkebeiner. Karl
Andressen, the young 79 year old from Eau Claire, is the grandfather of the bunch. Dave Landgraf, the youngest of the four, is still fast enough to make the elite wave. Last year, he rolled in at 112th place overall. John Kotar and Ernie St. Germaine make up the rest of the quartet.
Shirley Riedmann begins her first year as executive director of the American Birkebeiner, replacing Cherie Morgan. One of Riedmann's
focuses will be promoting a four season use of the Birkebeiner Trail. "My vision is to expand the use of the trail for competition, recreation, enjoyment and education," she says. Riedmann would also like to work with the community to attract even more tourists to the Birkie Trail.
Already the American Birkebeiner has planned a running race on the
trail on Aug. 9, 2003. Also, expect the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation to offer more developmental programs, particularly for women and young skiers.
Riedmann takes over the running of the 30th American Birkebeiner, which should field even more international skiers since it will be included in a new eight race FIS Marathon Cup. It will definitely be more international than the first race in 1973.
Eight Worldloppet races make up the series, including the American
Birkebeiner and Keskinada Loppet in Canada. The Engadin, the Vasaloppet, the Tartu Maraton, the Konig Ludwig Lauf, the Marcialonga and the Jizerskapadesatka make up the rest of the cup. The Engadin, the Keskinada and the Birkebeiner will use freestyle, while the other five races will be classic technique.
Last year's winner, Italian Maurizio Pozzi, will travel back to Wisconsin to defend his title, but he could face fierce competition from a recently
formed Norwegian long distance team. According to Norwegian writer Brynjar Skaerli of Langrenn.com, Team Intersport, coached by Steinar Mundal, is reportedly headed to North America in 2003 for the Keskinada and the Birkebeiner. Members include 1988 Olympic silver medalist Erling Jevne, Jorgen Aukland, Anders Hallingstad and Rune Torseth.
Rumors are circulating in Midwestern ski circles that Bjorn Daehlie will fly over with the Team Intersport, but nothing could be confirmed at
press time concerning Daehlie's appearance at the American Birkebeiner.
For the first time in the history of the race, elite skiers will be drug tested.
"It's scheduled to happen," says Milford. "Everything's in place."
Gone are the days when a cup of coffee was the strongest stimulant on the course. In part, drug testing is a response to Spanish skier Johann Muhlegg's positive samples after last February's Olympic games in Salt
Lake City. Muhlegg won the 1999 Birkebeiner, beating American Carl Swenson by over three minutes. Swenson was the 1998 Birkie champion.
According to Riedmann, the American Birkebeiner wasn't coerced into drug testing.
"We weren't forced to do it (by the FIS). We were encouraged to participate in the program. It's good business and common sense."
The Birkie office is working out details and logistics of the testing with
the USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency). Because of blood testing's high costs, officials will likely only test urine samples this year.
The course will run north to south once again, starting on the runway at Telemark Resort and ending 51 kilometers later in downtown Hayward. This is the opposite direction as the original race in 1973. The last time the race ran south to north, Hayward to Cable, was the blizzard race of 1991.
For the third year, the Korteloppet will use the first nine kilometers of the Birkebeiner course, then turn back onto the Telemark trails, finishing at Telemark Resort. Korteloppet skiers have given this newer course almost universal approval.
New this year, the Over the Hill race will commemorate the fourth American Birkebeiner, which was the first race to use the north to south route, climbing over Mount Telemark right at the start. This 12K classic
only race will start at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, and go up and over the Morgedal headwall on Mount Telemark, just as the fourth Birkebeiner did.
In keeping with the 1976 Birkebeiner, skiers are encouraged to use wood skis in this race/tour. The Over the Hill will join the Chequamegon Communications Family Fun Race 10K course after the descent of Mount Telemark. Skiers can register on race day for $12, the same price as the 1973 race.
Once again, the American Birkebeiner will remain a freestyle race, with separate recognition for classic skiers. However, there are plans in the works for a separate classic and a women's race, as early as 2004.
"The board has agreed that we need a classic and a women's race," Riedmann says. "But I want to be absolutely clear. Although we have agreed to do something, the what and when has not been decided."
These races would happen sometime during Birkie week, and the board and staff are discussing options.
This year in the classic division, according to the Birkie office, awards will now go to five year age groups instead of 10 year increments in the previous Birkebeiners. Classic/freestyle change requests must be in the Birkie office no later than 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10. The request must also include $10.
This year, only the overall classic and freestyle awards will be presented at the closing ceremonies Saturday evening at Telemark Resort. The top three overall awards in the freestyle events of both the Korteloppet and the Birkebeiner will be handed out at the finish line. Age class awards will be presented for the Birkebeiner at the VFW Center in Hayward at 4 p.m., and given out for the Korteloppet at Telemark Resort at 2 p.m.
As we go to press, snow conditions on the course are thin, with only Lake Hayward offering decent skiing. El Niņo once again is wreaking havoc with the Midwest's winter. According to Milford, rumors around Hayward had the race moving to Colorado, then Chile. In the event of race cancellation, like the 2000 nonevent, contingency plans are in place.
"We'll have some fun and get the ball rolling in another direction," says
Milford. Although Riedmann expects optimal conditions to run a full race, she knows the weather is the one variable she and the staff can't control.
"I'm a situational leader and always have fall back plans. Contingency plans in case of poor conditions include shortening the race, holding the race on lake, rollerskiing or possibly a combination of running, rollerblading and ice skating. She also didn't rule out the manmade snow at Telemark Resort.
Snow or no snow, the 30th anniversary of the American Birkebeiner will go on, and Riedmann and staff have planned a big party. Leinenkugel's will sponsor Big Top Chautauqua's Blue Canvas Orchestra Saturday night at the closing ceremonies. A candlelight ski down Mount Telemark and a reenactment of the flight of the baby Hakon Hakonsson will open the festivities Saturday night. Snowshoe races, hot air balloons, American Indian dancing and a turkey bowling fund raiser are also in the works.
Even though 30 winters have come and gone, a few things have stayed the same at the Birkebeiner. The hills along the route haven't gotten any easier, particularly the Seeley Firetower Hill. It still rises above 1,700 feet. Equipment, waxes and training methods have evolved beyond anyone's imagination, but 51 kilometers is still, well, 51 kilometers.
But mostly, from the winner who crosses the line in about two hours
time to the course sweeper, feelings of joy and accomplishment greet us when we cross the finish line in Hayward. We're still smiling on Main Street after 30 years.
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