![2013 Birkie (Photo: Brett Morgan)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/04/Photo-Birkie2013-BrettMorgan.jpg)
It may be the start of the offseason, but there is plenty of activity still surrounding the American Birkebeiner. Here’s the latest:
Registration for the American Birkebeiner ski marathon events, to be held February 22, 2014, will open this year on Monday, June 3, 2013. Registration for these three main Birkie events–the Birkebeiner 50/54K, Kortelopet 23K, and Prince Haakon 12K–will be completely online this year.
The mission of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is to promote cross country skiing as a fun, energetic activity that is part of an active and healthy lifestyle. This effort focuses both on young and adult skiers. To this end the Foundation annually provides grant funding to skier development programs throughout the nation. This year the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) is announcing and accepting applications earlier than last year and announcing recipients earlier as well
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s annual Birkie T-Shirt Design Contest is now open for entries! The winning design will be featured as the official T-shirt of the 2014 American Birkebeiner to be held February 20-23, 2014, the 41st annual event.