American Birkebeiner

The Birkie Sit-Ski event has attracted so many adaptive athlete registrations this year, that we have made a few changes to ensure the best possible experience for the skiers and to allow even more skiers to participate.

Events Moved to Friday, Feb. 24

We have moved the two main events to Friday, Feb. 24. Friday is a day that already draws huge crowds on Main Street due to the new Giant Ski and the Barkie Birkie events. The Main Street finish of the Sit-Ski event will now be its own attraction as well and be organized to allow even more participants.

Two Sit-Ski Events

Both start at 12:30 on Friday, February 24:

• 500 Meter Sit-Ski
• 3K Sit-Ski
  See Details Below

Top Six Finishers to Ski Again on Saturday, Feb. 25

Starting at 12:00 noon on Saturday, the top six Sit-Ski finishers from Friday's 3K event will be invited to ski the final 3K of the American Birkebeiner. These Sit-Ski athletes will start at Wheeler Road and finish alongside other Birkie skiers on Hayward's Main Street. This event is closed to other Sit-Ski athletes.

Sit-Ski Demo - Thursday and Friday, Feb. 23-24

In addition, anyone who is interested can try out Sit-Ski equipment on snow at the Ski Demo area outside the Birkie Expo on Thursday and Friday at the Hayward Middle School.

Thanks to UW Madison, Becker Law, and Others

Sit-Skis have been constructed at the University of Wisconsin in Madison thanks to generous donations from Becker Law Office, S.C., and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, and with help from a strong group of volunteers. This equipment is then donated to ski centers that are willing to assist and foster use of this adaptive equipment by disabled athletes.

Anyone interested in participating in the Birkie Sit-Ski events should contact the American Birkebeiner office at birkie@birkie.com or 715-634-5025. There is no charge for participating in either Birkie Sit-Ski event.

Birkie 500 Meter Sit-Ski Event
12:30 PM, Friday, February 24, 2012
Starts at the far west end of Main Street / Finishes at 2nd Street on Main Street

Birkie 3K Sit-Ski
12:30 PM, Friday, February 24, 2012
Starts at the Hayward Golf Course / Finishes at 2nd Street on Main Street

American Birkebeiner 3K Sit-Ski
12:00 Noon, Saturday, February 25, 2012
Starts at Wheeler Rd. / Crosses Lake Hayward / Finishes on Main Street

Participants will start as a group with guides on the far west end of Hayward's Main Street and finish at the Second Street finish line.

All Birkie Sit Ski finishers will receive a Birkie Sit-Ski Finisher medal.

Participants will self seed themselves based on ability and preparation, and start in rows of three or four, with guide skiers to provide assistance, if needed. The start will be on the Hayward Golf Course with skiers completing a lap of the course and then proceeding down Main Street to a their finish at Second Street.

All Birkie Sit-Ski finishers will receive a Birkie Sit-Ski medal.

The top six finishers will be invited to participate in the American Birkebeiner 3K Sit-Ski event on Saturday, February 25, 2011.

The top six participants from Friday's Birkie 3K Sit-Ski Event will start at the Wheeler Road crossing of the Birkie Trail, three kilometers from the Birkie finish line on Main Street. The course will come across Lake Hayward to the Birkie finish line on Main Street. Participants must have a guide ski with them. All American Birkebeiner Sit-Ski finishers will receive a Birkie finisher medal. No additional awards will be presented.

Birkie Sit-Ski bibs and timing chips will be available at the Birkie office in Hayward all day Thursday and Friday morning of race week. 

Each Sit Skier makes his or her own arrangements for a sit-ski. The Birkie office does not have sit-skis available.

Register Online or Print Form Below.

Registration for the Birkie 3K and 500 meter Sit-Ski will close on January 31, 2012. Applications received after that date will not be accepted.

There is no registration fee for the Birkie 5K and 500 meter Sit-Ski event.

We strongly encourage all 3K Sit Skiers to ski with a Guide. Guide skiers must register for the 3K Sit-Ski event by completing the registration form. Guide skiers will be assigned a "Guide Bib" which can be picked up with the Sit Skier's registration packet.

Email your Birkie
Sit Ski Story To:

media@birkie.com