The Birkie Turns 35 (page 2)

“We skied on the side of the road, on plowed-up snow banks, through fields - following only an occasional ribbon tied to a tree for direction.” Kotar tells of skiing for kilometers without seeing another skier, wondering all the while if he was even still on course. There were only 34 skiers who made that inaugural trek from Lake Hayward to Telemark Resort in Cable, so naturally they spread out considerably over the approximately 48 kilometer distance.

Click the photo for a larger version.

A select group of skiers, having skied the first 10 consecutive Birkies, were dubbed “founders,” by Wise and were, from then on, known as such. That group included Jacque Lindskoog, the only woman to ski the first two Birkies. Kotar, Ernie St. Germaine and Dave Landgraf remain the only people who have skied every Birkie to date.

The Birkie Trail evolved from a cobbled together series of logging roads, highway shoulders, railroad beds and ultimately ski trails into a contiguous trail. Upon its first incarnation in 1977, the actual trail was only 15 feet wide and groomed only for classic skiing. The trail was created strictly for the race and, in its early years, was only groomed for that purpose – a shadow of the recreational asset it was to become. As race numbers exploded and as skating technique came on the scene, the trail was necessarily widened to resemble more or less what it is today, though some hills and corners have been modified to better accommodate the flow of skiing the trail from either direction.

Much has changed in 35 years in the sport of cross country skiing. But one thing has remained constant – the Birkie is always on the calendar for skiers across the country and around the world. “Skiers build their season and their calendar around the Birkie,” says Tom Duffy long time member of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation board of directors.

Despite challenging weather the past 10 years, the Birkie goes on. It has only been cancelled once, in 2000 – a year that saw a 10-inch base on the trail only a week before the event dissolve into a slushy mess after several days of rain and temperatures that failed to go below freezing. In 1998 the Birkie was shortened to half distance, finishing at County Highway OO in Seeley.

Click the image for a larger version.

Last year it was again shortened to half distance after thawing and freezing conditions rendered the trail problematic. Only the elite waves were allowed to race for a time, while everyone else was invited to ski to OO on an “open course,” essentially a tour, but still receiving credit for having skied the event. Much to everyone’s surprise, the grooming crew transformed the trail that was characterized by one local elite-level skier as “un-expletive-skiable!” into a delightful skiing experience.

And the beat goes on…

"The year has been very exciting and busy for us as we prepare for the 35th anniversary," said Ned Zuelsdorff, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. "We recently completed a successful fundraising campaign raising over $200,000.” With those funds the Foundation was able to purchase a new Pisten Bully groomer and complete another section of the new Birkie Classic Trail in time to be used for the 35th anniversary race.

Another major change for Birkie 2008 is the introduction of separate, smaller, five-minute alternating skating and classic wave starts. Once out of the starting gates, skiers will skate or stride on the Birkie or Classic ski trails until the 15-kilometer point where they will merge and continue together to the finish on Main Street in Hayward. This year skaters will ski a 51-kilometer course while classic skiers, using the longer Birkie Classic Trail, will end up completing 53 kilometers.

More on the next page