American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation

Racing to Save a Ski Season . . . Adaptations and Impacts of Virtual Racing: Part II

White-knuckled, we caravanned down I-94 from St. Cloud to Minneapolis in the midst of a bomb cyclone of wind, snow, and ice. Braving the conditions, we crawled toward our destination: the 2021, hybrid City of Lakes Loppet at Theodore Wirth Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic—and a hearty desire to stay healthy for the remainder of the ski season—we decided to drive separately. Now, we were inching our way to a late start for our...

Community Feature News

Tradition and Transformation: The Birkie Plans its 50th Anniversary

Ben TheyerlJune 27, 2023

Tony Wise could see 10,000 years at once. The last ice age had sent a glacier down over Wisconsin, and then tore it back. In the process, the landscape and lilt of a place emerged. Deep-pocketed kettles, ridges, gentle and subtle rolling hills, all draped in the needly green of the pines. Gaze at it, and time didn’t seem like something that moved forward, but instead danced within the bounds of a whole epoch. A...

Community News Resources Waxing

The Pros & Cons of League-wide Wax Protocols: the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League

Rachel PerkinsJune 6, 2022

In case you missed it, here’s part 1 and part 2 of this series, in which industry representatives and expert ski technicians discuss ski performance theory and what impact a single-wax policy may have on competitive skiing. What goes on inside the wax cabins and trucks at high-level competitions from the SuperTour to the World Cup seems, in equal parts, expertise, artistry, and alchemy. And, for those looking to understand to which conditions their pair...

Multimedia Nordic Nation Podcasts

Nordic Nation: Caitlin Gregg — Athlete, Mother, and Team Birkie Head Coach

Rachel PerkinsSeptember 1, 2021

In early July, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation announced the launch of the Team Birkie professional racing team. The elite post-graduate training group would pull from the three primary midwestern clubs, the Loppet Foundation, Central Cross Country Skiing (or CXC), and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. While the midwest has a strong culture of cross country skiing with a breadth of strong youth and masters racing teams, it has been nearly a decade since the...

Community News

Borah Epic Donated to American Birkebeiner (Press Release)

Rachel PerkinsAugust 5, 2021

After nine years, the Borah Foundation is passing ownership of the Borah Epic to the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Hayward, Wi. – August 5, 2021 – The Borah Epic was founded in 2013 with the intent of hosting an unforgettable mountain bike race on the pristine singletrack trails between Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin. Since its start in 2013 with less than 200 participants to its most recent 2021 event with close to 1,000 riders, the Borah Epic has...

General News Racing

Team Birkie Launches (Press Release)

FasterSkierJuly 5, 2021

NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Heidi Ledermann marketing@loppet.org TEAM BIRKIE LAUNCHES! Three of the largest cross country ski organizations in the Central Region combine forces to start a professional racing team Minneapolis (July 2, 2021) — Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC), the Loppet Foundation, and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) are teaming up to create a high performance racing team – so that the next Jessie Diggins can stay home to train, inspire...

Community General News

A Conversation with Ben Popp of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation

Jason AlbertJuly 15, 2020

Last week, FasterSkier connected with Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) based in Hayward, Wisconsin. It’s mid-July and needless to say, some of our readers are already thinking about the 2021 Birkie. Amongst the topics we discussed were the possible modifications for that marquee race and how the organization is preparing for several possible scenarios. We also touch upon the ABSF’s agreement to purchase and develop Telemark Lodge. FasterSkier:...

News Racing Regional / Local

American Birkebeiner Becomes a Visma Ski Classics Challenger Race

Jason AlbertAugust 29, 2019

Back in June, the Worldloppet International Ski Federation announced the cessation of the FIS Worldloppet Cup. In short, that race series was a collaboration with the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the Worldloppet marrying elite level and popular marathon ski racing. The American Birkenbeiner was intermittently a stop on the FIS Worldloppet Cup. “It was just not getting traction attracting the elite athletes and tying those elite athletes to popular skiing,” said Ben Popp, the...

Community News Racing

The Worldloppet Cup Comes to an End; Ben Popp Discusses the Results of the Worldloppet Annual General Meeting

Rachel PerkinsJune 27, 2019

On June 17th, an update was posted on the Worldloppet International Ski Federation website following the annual general meeting in Isafjordur, Iceland to announce the end of the FIS Worldloppet Cup series. While skiers will still be able to earn FIS points in each of the individual marathon races across the globe, the series will no longer be sanctioned by FIS, meaning cumulative points earned by the winners will no longer be totaled and there...

Other News

ABSF Announces Groundbreaking of New Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center

Alex KochonMay 28, 2018

(Press release) 2500 Donors from 37 states & Canada Help ABSF to Reach Capital Campaign Goals Hayward, WI (May 25, 2018) — The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) has been enhancing the quality of lives for nearly half a century. For generations, ABSF events and the award-winning Birkie Trail system have been motivating adventurous spirits to embrace an active, outdoor lifestyle. In support of providing the infrastructure, spaces, and places to keep that spirit alive,...

Other News

2019 Birkie Registration Now Open

American BirkebeinerMay 1, 2018

(May 1 press release) Who: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation What: Registration opened for the 2019 American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation slate of events. When: As of noon today, well over 1000 registrations have already been received for the Slumberland American Birkebeiner race alone. Event Dates: Friday, February 22, 2019 Prince Haakon 15K Ski Race Saturday, February 23, 2019 45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie 47K and 21K The Fat Bike Birkie is the world’s largest fat bike race...

Other News

Birkie Tour Price Increase Fast Approaching

American BirkebeinerJanuary 3, 2018

(Press release) Skiers Encouraged to Register by Thursday at 11:59pm! HAYWARD, Wis. (January 3, 2018) – With flurries in the air and Birkie week festivities a mere 49 days away, skiers are more excited than ever to get some training time in on their skis. The Birkie Tour, hosted by the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), is slated for January 14, 2018. The Birkie Tour is an untimed, non-competitive, “open-track” event where skiers choose their...

Other News

Little Bellas Launches Birkie Weekend Camp

FasterSkierJune 13, 2017

Press release) Little Bellas, a national organization dedicated to helping young women realize their potential through cycling, announces the Birkie Weekend Camp in Hayward, WI, Saturday, August 12th at the Highway 00 Trailhead. The Birkie Weekend Camp is an all-girls adventure program designed to get girls hooked on the sport of mountain biking. The one-day program will focus on improving skills and having fun. “We’re so excited to be bringing the Little Bellas program to...

General Opinion Racing

2017 American Birkie: An Experience I’ll Never Forget

Ian TovellMay 8, 2017

The following firsthand account was written by FasterSkier intern Ian Tovell, who attended this year’s American Birkebeiner in February, which was estimated 10,000 people coming out for a casual ski on a 5-kilometer loop, on-snow demos, live music, food and a beer garden. Photos from Ian, FasterSkier contributor Vince Rosetta, and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. *** The 2017 American Birkebeiner will be a race that no one will ever forget. It will be remembered for a tremendous...

General News Racing

Birkie Canceled; ‘BirkieStock 2017’ Offered as an Alternative

American BirkebeinerFebruary 24, 2017

(www.Birkie.com at 1:00pm today.

Other News

Kortelopet Moves to New Day with Help from Tourism Grant

American BirkebeinerFebruary 12, 2017

HAYWARD, Wis. (Feb. 9, 2017) – The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is racing into the new year with a marketing campaign aimed at promoting its Kortelopet (Korte) cross-country ski race and the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle. With help from a $12,450 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation looks to increase participation in the 29 kilometer race slated for Feb. 23, 2018. This year’s...

General Interviews News

As Birkie Outgrows Its Britches, New Developments for America’s Biggest Ski Race

Vince RosettaJanuary 2, 2017

It has been an exciting 2016 for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF). After a successful completion of the Tony Wise Museum in Hayward, Wis. Just like in previous years, the ABSF has been busy in the offseason, making improvements to the American Birkebeiner (including the 50-kilometer skate and 55 k classic marathons, set for Feb. 25, 2017) and its trail system. In mid-December, FasterSkier checked in with Ben Popp, ABSF executive director, on the phone to...

Job Postings

American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Seeks Development Director

American BirkebeinerOctober 2, 2015

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is seeking a development director, responsible for facets of fundraising, membership, outreach, sustainer programs, honor wall, and grant submissions.

Other News

Birkie Completes Phase I of First-Ever Capital Campaign

American BirkebeinerJune 19, 2015

(

Other News

Slumberland Furniture Becomes Title Sponsor of the American Birkebeiner Ski Race

American BirkebeinerApril 3, 2015

(www.birkie.com. contact the Birkie office at

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