American Birkebeiner

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) is searching for three cross country skiers to depict the two Birkebeiner warriors and Inga, the mother of baby Prince Haakon, at this year's 39th annual American Birkebeiner ski race. Each year a trio is selected to ski the 54 kilometer journey from Cable to Hayward, WI, re-enacting the historic rescue of the Prince more than 800 years ago. This year's American Birkebeiner ski race takes place on Saturday, February. 25, 2012. The deadline for submitting entries is November 15, 2011.

The three skiers selected will dress in authentic gear and ski on wooden skis to depict the historic event.

The two Viking warriors were called “Birkebeiners” for the protective birch bark leggings they wore. They skied more than 50 kilometers through rugged mountains and forested terrain to smuggle the infant son of King Syverresson and Inga of Vartieg from Lillehammer to safety in the town of Trondheim, during the Norwegian Civil War.

The rescued prince became one of the most popular kings in Norwegian history, and the Birkebeiner soldiers became a Norwegian symbol of courage, perseverance, and character in the face of adversity.

This historic rescue inspired the creation of three ski marathons: The Birkebeinerrennet in Lillehammer, Norway, launched in 1932 and skied on the same route as the famous rescue; the American Birkebeiner, launched in 1973 when the late Tony Wise looked to his Norwegian roots to create a high-profile event for Telemark, his ski lodge in Cable, Wisconsin; and the Canadian Birkebeiner, launched in 1985 in Alberta, Canada.

The Birkie 2012 warriors and Inga will serve as “ambassadors on the trail,” encouraging both skiers and volunteers. The warriors will carry a baby doll along the course until Main Street where they’ll pick up a real infant “Prince” before skiing the last two blocks with Inga to the finish line.

“The re-enactment has become a great tradition that our skiers, volunteers, and spectators look forward to every year,” says Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. “We feel it is important to highlight the historic roots of the race with Inga, Baby Prince Haakon, and the two Birkebeiner warriors.

Ski the Birkie (or Korte) for Race Credit
On race day the two warriors ski the Birkie. If an "Inge" is skiing, she may opt to ski either the whole Birkie or cut off to the Korte. If you ski as a warrior or Inge, you will receive credit for completing the race.

Free Entry the Following Year!
Each winner will also receive a free 2013 Birkie or Korte race entry.

Skiing the Birkie as the Warriors and Inga

On race day the two warriors ski the entire American Birkiebeiner race course. Inga may choose to ski either the whole Birkie or cut off to ski the 23 kilometer Kortelopet course. Either way, she will ski with the warriors the final two blocks up Main Street to the finish line.

How to Enter the 2012 American Birkebeiner Warrior Contest

- Deadline for Entry: November 15, 2011

To enter, find a friend and tell us in 300 words or less why the two of you would be the best Birkie 2011 warriors, Torstein (TOR-stine) and Skervald (SHER-vol).

Entries must show ability, passion, a sense of tradition, and demonstrate that the pair is capable of skiing the 54-kilometer challenging course on wooden skis while wearing the warrior costumes, carrying weapons of the era, and transporting baby Prince Haakon.

“The Inga entries can be part of or separate from the warrior entries,” says Zuelsdorff. “Again, we are looking for a 300-word essay that shows passion, ability, a sense of tradition, and demonstrates why the entrant should be selected as the cherished mother of the baby Prince.”

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation will supply the Birkebeiner warrior and Inga outfits and Birkebeiner weapons. Selected skiers must supply their own wooden skis.

To enter the competition, email your 300-word essay to media@birkie.com (one essay per warrior pair and one for each Inga). The deadline for entires is November 15.

“Be concise and persuasive,” Zuelsdorff said. “The warriors and Inga winners from 2010 and 2011 will review the essays and select the winners who will ski as the 2012 Birkebeiner warriors as well as the winning Inga. All three winners will be announced on December 10, 2011.”

A Brief History of the Contest

The American Birkebeiner Warrior Contest started in 2003. All of the former winners have remarked that skiing as one of the Birkebeiner warriors or Inga made that race their most memorable and completed their overall Birkie experience.

Past Birkie Re-enactment Warriors:

2008:  Brothers Thom Gerst, Coon Rapids, MN, and Gary Gerst, Maple Grove, MN.
2009:  Jeff Cummisford, Waukesha, WI, and best friend, Richard Pierce, Verona, WI.
2010:  Brothers David Nelson, Medicine Lake, MN, and Grant Nelson, Duluth, MN, skied
           the re-enactment as a family with David's wife, Josie, as Inga and their son Karl
           as the Prince.
2011:  Gale Otterholt and Marv Franson, both from Eau Claire, WI.

Past Birkie Re-enactment of Inga and the Prince:

2008:  Gail Moede Rogall, Madison, WI, and son Bjorn.
2009:  Lyndsey Lewis, Fort Collins, CO, and son Piercen.
2010:  Josie Nelson, Medicine Lake, MN, and son Karl.
2011:  Gretchen Lindgren and her grandchild Finnley.

Comments from 2011 Participants

“As Torstein and Skervald we will step into the wooden skis we used to complete our first Birkie in 1976,” said Marv Franson. “Skiing side by side with citizen racers, we will inspire preservance and the ‘can do’ Birkie spirit as we encourage skiers throughout the ups and downs of the race course.”

“The Birkie has given us so much,” said Gale Otterholt. “This is our chance to give back to the skiers, volunteers, and spectators.”

Gretchen has now completed 19 Birkies on classic skis. She said, “What a thrill to become heroes for a day--to have the opportunity to engage the crowds, encourage fellow skiers, and carry on the tradition.”

For more information and to send your application essay, email media@birkie.com or call 715-634-5025.