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 36 Days Until the Birkie Trail Run & Trek!
If running, trekking or walking in the north woods, under a canopy of colorful leaves along the beautiful Birkie Trail sounds like a perfect day to you, you're in luck! September 26 is the Birkie Trail Run and Trek, presented by Salomon, and we're working hard to make it the the best fall event on your calendar. We've created a full schedule of events! You'll find on-site camping (no mosquitos in September!), big tent finish line festivities, picnic-style noms and craft beers provided by Northern Lakes Cabin Stop, music by Duck for the Oyster, events for all ages and abilities, games for kids (we've even got cookies & milk!), and we're just getting started! Oh, did we mention the celebration continues Saturday evening at River's Eatery with music by Molly and the Danger Band! Check out the great course maps - 5K, half-marathon, marathon, and marathon relay! We can't think of a better way to escape to the north woods this fall, can you?
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 Only 183 Days Until the Birkie!
Registrations are rolling in for the Slumberland American Birkebeiner events and wave placement is well underway! Be sure to register before your wave fills and before the September 7th price increase!
Register for the Birkie now!
Register for the Kortelopet now!
Register for the Prince Haakon now!
Wave Updates!
- Classic Waves 3 - 5 are nearly 50% full
- Skate Wave 1 is 60% full
- Skate Wave 2 is 78% full
- Skate Wave 3 is 76% full
- Skate Waves 4 - 5 are 70% full
Registration will open for all other Birkie week events very soon! As of today, nearly 7500 participants have registered for the Birkie, Korte & Prince Haakon. If you've already registered for a Birkie event, check your inbox for your confirmation email.
Questions? Call us at 715-634-5025 or email.
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 The Legacy of the American Birkebeiner
In 1973, a determined group of 35 skiers assembled at the start line of the first American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon. Who could have imagined that 43-years later over 10,000 skiers would participate in the Slumberland American Birkebeiner – the largest cross-country ski marathon in North America. Recently, longtime Birkie friend and skiing historian, Tom Kelly, presented The Legacy of the American Birkebeiner, an inside look at the origins of the Birkie. Chock full of legendary stories of the race’s roots, and of Tony Wise, Birkie founder, whose ingenuity and vision created a ski race that has become an iconic festival of cross-country skiing - you won't want to miss it!. You'll also learn more about the newly named Tony Wise Museum of the American Birkebeiner, slated to open in 2016.
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 Now That's What We Call an Annual Meeting!
From hikes, to runs and rides, members of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation family gathered for a day of fun before they got down to business for the annual ABSF meeting. Congratulations to board members Sue Scheer, Jan Guenther, Yuriy Gusev and Paul Eckerline for being re-elected for another 3-year term, respectively. We are thankful for our entire board of directors and the many hours they volunteer as Foundation leaders. From stories, to facts, to details on the health of the ABSF, you're invited to peruse the 2015-2015 Annual Report. If you're not already an ABSF member, you're invited to join us today.
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 ABSF Grant Deadline is Fast Approaching!
The deadline for ABSF Skier Development grants is September 1. Each year, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation awards $40,000 to organizations that encourage the growth of cross country skiing. It is the mission of the ABSF to promote a healthy, active lifestyle and we encourage all youth and adult ski programs to apply. Click here for more information and grant applications.
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 And the Winner is...
The official t-shirt of the 2016 Slumberland American Birkebeiner has been chosen! Brooke Wentland, from Madison, WI, created the winning design as selected through on-line voting on Birkie.com.
Wentland caught Birkie Fever during the the Kortelopet in 2011 and plans to compete in her first Birkie in 2016 (Go Brooke!). The official Birkie t-shirt will be available for purchase this November in the online Birkie Store or at the Birkie retail shop in Hayward. Did we mention that the Birkie is only 183 days away!
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 On the Trail to Good Health!
The Birkie is on a mission to get people of all ages and abilities on the trail to good health. We’ve recently teamed up with Essentia Health for Be Healthy Hayward, a program designed to get folks ready to walk or run the Birkie Trail Run & Trek 5K on September 26. With weekly group run/walks, tips from Essentia Health physicians, and progressive training plans, over 50 people have joined in on the active Birkie lifestyle!
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 2016 Official Birkie Poster Contest Winner!
The ABSF is pleased to announce the winner of its first ever official poster design contest. Christopher Schmidt, Minneapolis, MN, is the winner of the 2016 Slumberland American Birkebeiner poster contest. Congratulations Chris! As part of Schmidt's prize package, he will receive two complimentary race registrations for any Birkie skiing event; VIP Parking at the race start; his poster design on the cover of the 2016 pre-race Birch Scroll magazine and ski sticker, and more. You can own a copy of the poster this November! Watch for it in the online Birkie Store or at the Birkie shop in Hayward.
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 Birkie - August 2015
Volunteer of the Month
Congratulations to the Birkie's first ever "Volunteer of the Month" - Nancy Bauer. A long-time volunteer, it was Bauer's idea to have mascots on Main Street for the Barkie-Birkie - she even created the costumes herself! Thank you for your dedication, Nancy! If you're interested in volunteering for any of the exciting Birkie events, just let us know!
(L-R Caitlin Compton Gregg, Nancy's granddaughter, and Nancy Bauer at the Birkie Tour January 2015)
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 Lovin' the Trail in Winter and Summer!
Recently, many Hayward area middle and high school mountain biking enthusiasts joined an exciting and competitive biking club – the Hayward Composite Mountain Bike Team. The team is affiliated with the Wisconsin High School Cycling League and operates under the guidelines of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). The new club is supported, in part, by the Birkie. Many of the riders are using biking as a great way to cross train for skiing this winter. All three organizations, NICA, the Hayward Composite Mountain Bike Team, and the Birkie, are encouraging more people of all ages to get out on bikes - leading to fun, fitness and a healthier lifestyle.
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 Winner of New Salomon Running Shoes!
Congratulations Connor!
Connor is lacing up his awesome new Salomon running shoes in anticipation of the Birkie Trail Run & Trek on September 26! Connor's name was drawn at random from all entries collected at the Birkie Booth at the Grandma's Marathon Expo. If you've been dreaming of trying a new pair of running shoes yourself, we've got great news for you! Salomon, presenting sponsor of the Birkie Trail Run & Trek will be at the event with a variety of running shoes for you to look at and try on!
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USSA and Tempur-Pedic® Sleep Center
A Match Made in Sleep Heaven!
How cool is this? The US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has recognized the importance of good sleep for athletes by opening the new Tempur-Pedic® Sleep Center at the USSA Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah, in partnership with Tempur-Pedic North America, LLC. In addition to providing a premium sleep experience for the resident athletes, the Center will also be tracking the impact of sleep on performance, recovery and training, and providing education on optimizing sleep quality. Curious about how a Tempur-Pedic mattress can improve your sleep? Come in for a test rest and experience Tempur-Pedic for yourself, or check out our selection online and learn more about the Tempur-Pedic® Sleep Center.
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Summer Skiing the Haig Glacier
Swix athlete Matt Liebsch has been leading a summer glacier
trip to the Haig Glacier for years. The remote location, accessed
by members of the Canadian and US National Teams over the years, is an ideal place to practice summer skiing. Matt lays out
five reasons why summer skiing is worth it:
1. “It’s an easy way to get high volume, big hour training without the constant pounding of only rollerskis or running. It’s easy to focus in a remote place away from … Read more
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Madshus Presents 2nd Annual
Peter Hale Memorial Scholarship Program
For High School Athletes Ages 14 to 18
Madshus, the world’s leading performance Nordic ski company, is pleased and honored to announce the 2nd annual Peter Hale Memorial Scholarship Program. Madshus will select one promising young male and female athlete, whose team will then receive a full Madshus set up of skis, bindings, boots, and poles to aid in their continued ski development. The scholarship recipients will be announced in the Fall of 2015. All nominations must be submitted to the Madshus Marketing Department c/o Carmi Schulman by September 15th. Click Here for Complete Details.
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 New Moon DEMO Bikes Now for SALE!
It's here! New Moon's annual summer sale of its demo and rental fleet! Save some dough on expertly maintained mountain bikes and even FAT bikes from Specialized. For list of models and prices, Click Here. Selection is limited, so stop by or call 715-634-8685 or 1-800-754-8685.
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 Get Ready for the Birkie Trail Run & Trek!
If you're in training, what better way to stay comfortable than in some technical wear made by Ogio? Our partner Advantage Emblem has imprinted some amazing Endurance Nexus performance gear with the Birkie logo and "InTraining." The apparel is moisture wicking with odor control, has zoned ventilation to prevent over-heating, and has reflective detailing for safety. Order today in the Birkie Store!
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 Win a Free Entry to the 2015 Birkie Trail Run!
Sign up for the Gear West mailing list and you will be entered. Winner gets a free entry to any of the eight Birkie Trail runs, relays or treks on Sept. 26th. Click here!
Do You Like to Run Trails? With a Group?
We have two more Threshold Thursday events August 20th and Sept 3rd. This is a four-mile timed training event on the trails at Baker Park. Click here!
Mark Your Calendars for the Annual Pigout Event at Gear West
Sept. 17th-20th. Meet factory reps, demo stand up paddleboards, and learn about the latest Alpine and Nordic gear. Check out all the events. Click here!
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 #RUOUTTHERE
The Days are getting Shorter and Fall will SOON be Out There. ~ Yes we did say that. Summer Ski camps are wrapping up and folks are getting out there and prepping for the upcoming winter season. Get Ready for fall and winter events by joining us Out There! We have a few spots remaining for our Out There TEAM at the Birkie Trail Run & Trek, so let us know soon if you would like to be a part of it. Keep up with all of the Out There events and activities! With fun things happening, contact us to join in. Also, coming up, on Aug. 22nd we will be hosting a fundraiser for US Ski Team Member Ben Saxton in the Twin Cities. Follow us on Facebook at Out There Nordic and visit us at OutThere.com. Hope to See YOU Out There Soon! Instagram #ruoutthere #shouldhavebeenoutthere #imsooutthere
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 Keep Cool and Carry On - From Alpina Sports
5 HOT Summer Training Tips – Biathlete Style!
From Max Durtschi—International Biathlete: Summer is an important time to accomplish a significant amount of skiing and shooting base work. A successful winter season begins with true grit in the summer months. The warm weather also provides ample hours of rifle training without freezing the trigger finger! In the summer I focus on:
1. Staying hydrated with an electrolyte mix!
2. A cold shower after training. Keeping the core temperature from rising too high is crucial for good recovery. Read more...
For MORE About MAX—Including his favorite way to eat scramble eggs - Click Here.
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