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Have you watched the 2016 Birkie recap video?
It'll be the best 3 minute highlight of your day. We guarantee it.
Watch it now.
Release your inner warrior! Register now - waves fill quickly!
Kortelopet - Friday, February 24, 2017
Prince Haakon - Friday, February 24, 2017
44th Slumberland American Birkebeiner - Saturday, February 25, 2017
Birkie Tour - January 1, 2017
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Live Music, Fabulous Food & Libations Await!
Phase 2 ABSF Capital Campaign Kickoff Event
Join us at The Rivers Eatery in Cable, WI, for the official kickoff of the ABSF Phase 2 Capital Campaign. On Monday, June 27, from 6pm – 8pm, you'll enjoy live music, tasty food, cold beverages, good company, and the opportunity to bid on on fantastic auction items including a lifetime entry for all ABSF events! Phase 2 is the final phase of our Honoring the Legacy – Ensuring the Future Capital Campaign. Learn more on June 27 or read more now. Register now for this fun night in Cable!
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 Be Among the First to See the American Birkebeiner Trailhead and New Start Area!
Save the date! The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation's Annual Meeting is your opportunity to get an up close and personal view of the awesome, new, permanent Birkie start venue. We'll be dedicating the new American Birkebeiner trailhead cabin, touring the new 9,000 square foot Great Hall, unveiling our Phase 1 Capital Campaign Donor Recognition wall, and enjoying excellent food, drink, and company! The festivities begin at 6pm on August 6. Click here for details! Annual meeting registration will open on Friday, May 27th! |
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 New! Birkie Trail Kids Summer Program
Birkie Trail Kids is a program designed to get kids outside trail running, biking, orienteering, canoeing, and more! The program will expose kids to different outdoor activities, increase their general physical development, and teach them the love of outdoor sport - all while having fun! All levels of ability are encouraged to participate. Coaches will lead the kids through exercises, games, and different activities on the Birkie Trail and other local trails. A mountain bike is beneficial, but not required for the program. The kick-off informational meeting is Sunday, May 22 at 3:30pm at Fish Hatchery Park, Hayward, WI. The program runs for 12 weeks and will be held Mondays & Wednesday's from 9:00am to 10:30am and is open to kids ages 7-13. Registration is open! |
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 2017 Official Birkie Poster Design Contest Opens June 1:
With summer in the air, the Birkie team is thinking ahead to the upcoming snow season and the 2017 Slumberland American Birkebeiner. With each new year comes the need for a new poster design that will become the official image of next year's Birkie events. The image will be used as the official 2017 American Birkebeiner poster and placed on the cover of the pre-race issue of the Birch Scroll, as well as the 2017 race participant guide. Here is where you come in! We need your help and creativity in developing the design for the official poster. Please submit your amazing designs (they always are) to us by July 1, 2016 for consideration for next year's soon to be iconic poster design. Click here for additional details, forms and the official rules.
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Getting You Ready for the Birkie Trail Run - OCTOBER 1, 2016
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Plan to Escape to the North Woods!
 
Whether you're a skier looking for an off-season training program or a runner who can't wait
to get back out on the trails, the Birkie Trail Run & Trek has an event for everyone!
Ultra Marathon- Marathon - Marathon Relay (teams of 3 or 6)
Half Marathon - Nordic Trek - 5K - 1K Free for Kids!
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 Camp at Birkie Ridge Trailhead!
This October, participants in the Birkie Trail Run & Trek can choose to camp under the stars at Birkie Ridge within sight of the start/finish line! Whether you're a camper (tent) or glamper (camper or RV) Birkie Ridge Trailhead is available on Friday, September 30th and Saturday, October 1st, for a mere $10 per night. There will be portable toilets, water, and a community fire pit available. No generators or pets are allowed at the campground. RV hook-ups are not available. Campers can pre-register until Thursday, September 29 at 11:00pm. Check-in and registration will be available on site from 3:00 to 7:00pm on Friday, at bib pick-up on Saturday, and check-out is no later than 12-noon on Sunday. Register now! |
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More Birkie News!
There is always something happening at the Birkie! Read on to learn more!
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 Birkie Kids Mountain Bike Camp!
Whether you are visiting the area or live in the beautiful north woods, there is an adventure-filled opportunity available for kids just hankering to try something new this summer. On June 11, 2016, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, along with the Wisconsin High School Cycling League, and CAMBA, will host the Birkie Kids Mountain Bike Camp for youth ages 6-18. This one-day camp will be held at the ‘OO’ Trailhead, just east of Seeley, Wisconsin, on Highway OO. Regardless of level of ability, riders will learn proper skill, technique, and a healthy approach to riding. If you don’t have a bike, a limited number of loaner bikes and helmets will be available for this one-day camp experience on a first come, first served basis. Email to reserve a bike! Register soon! The 2015 camp filled up quickly! A registration fee of $30 will apply for each youth camp participant. |
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Join the Founders!
Become a Founder of the Tony Wise Museum of the American Birkebeiner. The Museum will celebrate and honor the history of the race and the achievements of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. The number of Museum Founders is limited to 500, and we’re about 125 people away from our goal. You’ll be able to say “I helped make this happen.” Click here to contribute today.
Pictured: L-R, Karl Andresen, John Kotar, Ernie St. Germaine, and Jacque Lindskoog in 1979
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 Official Birkie T-shirt Design Contest Opens June 1, 2016!
If you're interested in winning a fantastic prize package including a free Birkie entry, VIP parking near the start line, as well as new skis, bindings, and poles...read on! Get your creative juices flowing and submit a design for the annual Birkie official t-shirt design contest! The contest opens on June 1 - click here for rules and forms! The deadline for entry submission is July 1, 2016. The top-five designs will be placed on the Birkie website and the winner will be chosen through an on-line voting process! Submit as many designs as you'd like! We can't wait to see what you come up with for the 2017 official Birkie t-shirt! |
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 All Hail to the Chiefs!
It was a night of fiesta and fun as Birkie board members and staff celebrated the amazing contributions of our dedicated 2016 event race chiefs. Each year, this group of uber volunteers provides hands-on leadership to nearly 2000 dedicated Birkie volunteers. The chiefs assist with volunteer recruitment, are involved with most every aspect of event execution, and provide an infusion of enthusiasm throughout Birkie week. We simply couldn't do it all without them. Cheers to our fabulous Birkie family of race chiefs! We appreciate all that you do all year through! If you're interested in volunteering for a Birkie event, visit our website to learn more! |
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 Where in the World Does Everyone Sleep!?
In February, the otherwise small towns in and around Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin swell to accommodate the thousands of skiers and spectators who travel to participate in the Birkie festival of events. If you need a place to rest your weary Birkie-bones, the night-before or just-after a Birkie event, we can help. The ABSF office has two resources available to help you find just the right spot to catch some well-needed Zzzz's.
Housing Directory - First up, the Housing Directory, a comprehensive list of local hotels, motels, B&Bs, inns, and private homes (options include a room or an entire house!). From the Trail Run in October to the Fat Bike Birkie in March, the Housing Directory is available for the year-round slate of Birkie events. Request your copy now! Lodging prices vary based on accommodation and location. Dorm Housing - Option two is dorm housing, the most economical lodging solution. In 2017, dorm housing will be available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of Birkie weekend. Registration for dorm housing will open in December 2016. Mark your calendars as dorm housing fills fast! Read more about our lodging options. |
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Get Fat in 2017!
Fat Bike Birkie Registration is Open!
45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie - Saturday, March 11, 2017
World's Largest Fat Bike Race!
Epic Fun! The Best Time You'll Ever Have on Two Wheels!
Register Now! |
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Ski. Run. Bike Live! Train!
We've gathered some great training and lifestyle tips to keep you going this summer!
Read on!
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 The ABCs Of Better ZZZs
May is Better Sleep Month, and the perfect time for some reminders about how to maximize your quality of sleep every night. Quality sleep has been shown to enhance physical performance and cognitive function, improve general health, ward off stress and depression, and even regulate your metabolism which helps with healthy weight maintenance. Most people know that a quality mattress and pillow are integral to good sleep, but there are many environmental and lifestyle factors that play a role as well. Check out our tips for better sleep here. Visit us!
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 Back by Popular Demand!
Benchmark Your Training Progress!After a one-year absence, Concept2’s SkiErg Performance Series has returned with the new Online Logbook season on May 1, 2016. We’re excited to bring back this series of events using the Concept2 SkiErg, designed to help benchmark your training progress and see how you compare to other participants around the world. The SkiErg Performance Series spans the dryland training season, starting in May when many skiers get back to serious training, and continuing every second month through November. The series continues with SkiErg testing windows in July, September, and November. Testing may be performed at any time during the month and submitted to the Concept2 website via the free Online Logbook. Read complete details here! Visit us for complete details including how to submit scores to the Online Logbook. 
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If you cross-country ski, rollerskiing will help you prepare for winter.
Watch this video with Bill Pierce for this and more! For more training tips, news, and more, visit SkiPost. To get started, take your first few steps on grass to get comfortable with the roller skis; then find a big, flat, smooth, empty and traffic-free parking lot; remember to wear a helmet and gloves; practice circle drills and stopping; then slalom; then one foot, kick and glide.
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 #IamSoGettingOutThere
The Summer Training Season Has Begun! From Youth to Master’s, we’ve got you covered:
Plus, we've got news on even more things we're doing Out There! Find out more here! Get Loads of Other Happenings on Our Events Page! Read more here! Follow us on INSTAGRAM at "OutThereNordic" - use #ruoutthere, #weroutthere, #imsogettingoutthere, #SpringIsOutThere. And, keep an eye on our main webpage for more! Hope to See YOU Out There Soon!
-Bjorn & Kris
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 Tuesday Night Road Rides with New Moon
Bike season is upon us and a great way to maintain your fitness for the winter is with some regularly scheduled rides. All through the summer and fall we will host our Tuesday Night Road Ride, leaving from the shop at 5:30PM. In order to keep riding you'll need to keep your bike running smoothly, so we will be offering free maintenance clinics at several points during the summer. Check our Facebook page, website, or newsletter for specific details. Still got the itch to ski? We offer personal rollerski instruction as well, because you know the Birkie is only 7 short months away! See this Facebook Rollerski Event! |
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 Rollerski To Improve Your Birkie Race
For All Levels of Skiers, Not Just the Elites
I have listed the many ways rollerskiing (skate & classic) can assist ALL skiers of all levels, IF you have the desire and drive to improve:
Tip #1: Builds overall body fitness. Rollerskiing strengthens ALL muscles from your feet, legs, glutes, core (hips, lower back), shoulders, and arms. Very few dryland training activities activate all teh full body muscles other than paddle-boarding (if done with intensity). Teh combination of using both upper and lower body muscles at one time aids in total body fitness. Runing and weights, both done seperately, make you fit but asking your heart to pump blood to arm and leg muscles working togehter builds better XC ski fitness for winter. Keep Reading for all of Jan's rollerski training tips.
 Photo Credit: Illinois Rollerski Race Series |
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"Many people don't know that all of our Energy Gels and Roctane Energy Gels are made right here in our Berkeley, CA headquarters. Take a quick tour of our production facility and learn how your performance nutrition out there on the course for all Birkie events is made."
- Celia Santi, Sports Marketing Manager, hometown Wisconsinite, and proud Birkie sponsor!
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 You Can Hike for a Cure, Too
SportHill is proud to sponsor Jason Evans in his efforts to raise awareness about Huntington's Disease. Learn more about Jason and his mission to use outdoor adventure as a means to help those living with this neurological disorder on his Facebook page.
* While the Birkie's Skiers for Cures supports ALS, here's to all those who follow their vision and ski, bike, run, hike and otherwise get out there for a cure. Thank you!
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 Don’t Let Your Router Slow You Down
According to Recode, over 90 percent of homes in the U.S. have three or more internet connected devices, but are they receiving the best Wi-Fi signal they can? Many things can impact the Wi-Fi quality you experience including the number of devices connected to the signal, router placement within the home, channel the router is utilizing, internet speed you’re subscribed to, and router model. Read more here...
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