American Birkebeiner

The Prince Haakon 12K Event:

• Exciting, fun event allowing skiers interested in a shorter event the opportunity to be part of the Birkie experience.
• Spans 12 kilometers from the Birkie/Korte Start Line at the Cable Union Airport to the finish line at Telemark Resort.
• Attracts first-time racers and other skiers looking for a shorter event. Please note that the 12K course does include several challenging uphills, downhills and turns and is not suited for beginning skiers. Beginning skiers should consider the 5/10K Family Fun Event.
  
• Is open to both skate and classic style skiers age 13 and older. There is a 400 skier limit.
• Begins at the Birkie and Kortelopet start line as the final wave on Saturday, February 26 at 10:15 A.M.
• Registration will be accepted until Monday, January 31, 2011, or until the event is filled, whichever comes first.
• Includes two aid stations located at 5K (Powerline) and 11K (Telemark Trails).
• Is a timed event and all skiers will be issued timing chips and official results for skate and classic races will be posted.
• The first male and female finishers in the skate and classic races will receive awards. All finishers will receive finisher pins.

The American Birkebeiner Board of Directors set a registration cap of 8,400 skiers for the 2011 Birkie and Kortelopet races. A cap of 400 skiers has been established for the Prince Haakon event. In addition, to the cap there is also an overall deadline of January 31, 2011 for the events.

Skier registration will close upon reaching the cap or the deadline whichever comes first. The status of registration for the 2011 event will be reported in the Birkie's Carpe Skiem electronic newsletter as well on the Birkie website.

On the 12K course Skate skiers will use the Birkie Skate trail and Classic skiers will use the Birkie Classic trail for the first 7K. Both routes will then follow a connector trail and join the Kortelopet trail that will be groomed for both skate and classic skiing.

Prince Haakon 12K skiers will then ski with Kortelopet skiers for the next 4K to the final aid station where Haakon 12K skiers will leave the Kortelopet trail and course and ski directly toward the Telemark Resort and Kortelopet finish line for the 12K finish. Refer to the map of course, right hand column of this page.

• Prince Haakon 12K finishers will receive a pin when they cross the finish line at Telemark.
• Awards will be presented to the first male and female finisher in the skate and classic races only.
• Results will be officially published.

Prince Haakon Skiers will be bused to the start area using the same bus system as the Birkie/Korte skiers. Click here for more information.

• If you are a Classic skier, please step out of the track and to the side when another skier comes up behind you to pass. Classic skiers are prohibited from using skating techniques.
• If you are a Skate skier, please do not ski over the Classic track. You may however, step into the track and glide or double pole.
• Please do not impede other skiers at any time.
• Ski Patrol volunteers are on the trail and can provide medical assistance, if you need it.

For more information on bib pick-up, click here.