American Birkebeiner

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is looking for two capable cross country skiers to dress as Birkebeiner warriors and ski the 54 kilometers from Cable to Hayward on traditional wooden skis for this year's Birkie on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

The ABSF is also looking for a skier to depict Inga, the mother of the baby Prince. Like the Warriors, Inga will wear traditional clothing and ski on wooden skis. Inga will ski either the 54-kilometer Classic Birkie or 23-kilometer Kortelopet before meeting up with the Birkie warriors and baby Prince Haakon at the finish line on Main Street in Hayward.

Inga and the Birkie 2012 warriors 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 will pick up a real infant "Prince" before skiing the last two blocks with Inga to the finish line.

"This tradition has become one of the highlights of the whole Birkie experience for participants and spectators alike," says Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. "Find a friend or two or do it as a family. It will complete your Birkie experience."

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

How to Enter
Warrior Entry: To enter the competition, tell us in 300 words or less why you and a friend would be the best Birkie 2012 warriors, Torstein (TOR-stine) and Skervald (SHER-vol). Entries must show passion, ability, sense of tradition, and demonstrate that the two of you are capable of skiing the 54-kilometer distance on wooden skis while wearing the warrior costumes, carrying weapons of the era, and transporting baby Prince Haakon.

Inga Entry: The Inga entry can be part of or separate from the warrior entries. Again, in 300 words or less, tell us why you should be selected to depict the mother of the baby prince in a way that shows your passion, ability, sense of tradition, and capability to ski either the 54-kilometer Birkie or 23-kilometer Kortelopet on wooden skis.

Email your 300-word essay to media@birkie.com (one essay per warrior pair and one for each Inga). The deadline for the essays is November 15, 2011, and men and women are encouraged to apply. All three winners will be announced on December 10, 2011.

To read more about history of the Warrior Contest and see a list of past warriors, go to the complete press release.