Junior Birkie

Thursday, February 19, 2026
Skate 1.5K, 3K Race / Team Relay Race
~~Main Street, Hayward, WI~~
Mt. Telemark Village - Cable, WI

RACE RESULTS

Individual Races

The Junior Birkie is a competitive ski event for young Birkebeiner warriors ages 6-13 years old. ~~Racers start behind the Hayward Intermediate and Primary school and finish to roaring crowds at the American Birkebeiner Finish Line on Main Street in Hayward, WI!~~ NOW at the American Birkebeiher Trailhead for 2026! Skiers under the age of 10 compete in a 1.5K race, while skiers between the ages of 10 and 13 race a 3K course. See you on the start line!

Team Sprint Relays

Teams of two skiers, grades 1-12, compete in a relay race to earn legendary team status in the Junior Birkie Team Sprint Relays. ~~Teams will start and finish in downtown Hayward, WI, on the American Birkebeiner Finish Line.~~ Now at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead for 2026! The race begins immediately after the individual races at 3:00 pm. #Birkie2026

Your updated 2026 Jr. Birkie Participant Guide is here! Allow this guide to become your best friend, as it has all the information you need for a great race day at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI.

2026 PARTICIPANT GUIDE

American Birkebeiner Trailhead Venue Map

Register Now for the 2026 Jr. Birkie!

	Sept 1 thru Jan 29	Jan 30 thru Feb 18 (7PM)
Individual Participant	$25	$30
Team Sprint Relay	$15	$15

Race registration is online only and closes at 6:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

There is no race day registration.

See below for age groups and distances for each event.

Birkie Junior Gear Bag, $60

Produced exclusively for the Birkie by SWIX
Participants purchasing the Jr. Gear bag will receive the bag at Bib pick-up in February
If unable to pick up a pre-purchased Junior Birkie Gear Bag at the Jr. Birkie, they may be picked up at the Birkie Office, or shipped after the event for an additional fee. Pick up or request shipping deadline is MARCH 31, 2026.
The ideal bag for your youth’s sports and ski gear, both wet and dry; or everyday school adventures
Dimensions: 12″ wide x 9″ deep x 15″ high
Reinforced #8 zippers
Tarpaulin panel on the bottom section for waterproofing and greater durability
Bottom wet-sealed compartment for Nordic Boot storage
Sports Shield zipped compartment for glasses or visor, with brushed lining to prevent lens scratches and quick, easy access
Large top-load zippered compartment for warm-up clothing, extra hats, and gloves
Main pack body is made from tough 600D PVC backed polyester
Padded EVA foam back offers cushioning and breathability over pressure points, and padded shoulder straps
2 – side mesh pockets for water bottles
This bag may not be used at gear bag drop on race day (Birkie, Korte or Prince Haakon)

Registration Refund Protection

Protect your registration! Get reimbursed up to 100% on your registration if you can’t compete for a number of reasons. Protecht offers refund protection so you can insure your non-refundable registration fee in the case of injury, illness, or other unexpected events. Protecht can be purchased during your initial registration or up to five days after registration is completed.

Individual Age Groups

For the individual races, skiers are assigned an age group based on their year of birth (see table below). All races are freestyle technique – competitors may use skate or classic technique, however, there may not be classic tracks set on the courses. U8 and U10 age groups will ski 1.5K, U12 and U14 will ski 3K.

Year of Birth	Category
2018-2019	U8
2016-2017	U10
2014-2015	U12
2012-2013	U14

Individual Race Schedule

Time	Category	Individual Mass Start Distance
1:30 pm	U10 Boys	1.5K
1:40 pm	U8 Boys	1.5K
1:50 pm	U10 Girls	1.5K
2:00 pm	U8 Girls	1.5K
2:10 pm	U12 Boys	3K
2:20 pm	U12 Girls	3K
2:30 pm	U14 Boys	3K
2:40 pm	U14 Girls	3K

The Junior Birkie Individual Race is part of the SWIX CXC Youth Cup for U12 and U14 age categories. Licensed skiers are seeded and earn points in the CXC Youth Cup overall standings. For information about the CXC Youth Cup visit: http://cxcskiing.org/pages/events/cxc-youth-cup.html

Wax Policy

As part of the CXC Youth Cup, no fluorocarbon waxes are allowed; athletes may only use fluoro-free glide and kick wax.

Details

ALL teams will consist of 2 skiers.
Each skier will ski 2 non-consecutive legs of the relay, 4 laps total.
Teams may be mixed gender, male, or female. First place awards will be given for each category.
A team must consist of 2 skiers in the same age group. Age groups for the relay are based on grade as follows:
- Grades 1 – 3 will ski on a 300 meter course.
- Grades 4 – 5 will ski on a 500 meter course.
- Grades 6 – 8 will ski on a 500 meter course.
- Grades 9 – 12 will ski on an 800 meter course.
We strongly encourage teams to be made of athletes in the same grade range, however, if not possible, the team will ski in the oldest grade range.
A participant without a team may still register and can be matched with another skier. Select ‘Create a New Team’ and then ‘I need a partner’ during the registration process.
Races are not timed, first across the line for each category are the winners.

Schedule

Time	Race	Distance
3:00 pm	Grades 1 -3	4 x 300m
3:15 pm	Grades 4 – 5	4 x 500m
3:30 pm	Grades 6 – 8	4 x 500m
3:45 pm	Grades 9 – 12	4 x 800m

Post Race

Refreshments will be available in the Celebration Zone after the race!

Awards

All individual finishers will receive a Junior Birkie medal. The top three boys and girls for each age-group will have an award ceremony immediately following at the Podium, just beyond the finish line in the Celebration Zone. The first place relay team for each grade range will also receive an award!

View Junior Birkie Results »

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