It’s the biggest event of the US skiing calendar with thousands of nordic skiers looking towards Saturday’s start as the hallmark event of their season. This year’s Birkebeiner promises to live up to its role as America’s biggest race and Fischer is on-hand to support and celebrate the event. “It’s been a great winter in the midwest and around the country,” explained Peter Ashley, Nordic Director for Fischer Sports USA, “A great season means a great Birkie.” Fischer athletes favored in the elite ranks of the hallmark marathon include US 30K national champion, Sylvan Ellefson, and Matt Liebsch, a former Birkie winner and consistent threat in any US skate marathon. Both Liebsch and Ellefson narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic team this season adding motivation for success in Hayward on Saturday. Fischer Race director, Chris Hall called Ellefson and Liebsch, “The strongest American Fischer skiers to race the Birkie to date.”
On the women’s side, Fischer athlete Chelsea Holmes skied to a second place in the 20k mass start freestyle event at US Nationals and a win a month later at the 2014 Boulder Mountain Tour. Of Holmes and Fischer teammate Caitlin Patterson, Hall called them, “two legitimate racers ready to vie for the top step of the victory podium.”
