HAYWARD, Wis. (Feb. 12, 2015) – Besides the main races on Saturday, Birkie Week is jam-packed with over a dozen other ski events, starting on Thursday, Feb. 19 and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 22. See Birkie Race Guide for complete details.
The Elite Sprints, presented by FITS & Madshus, kick off the American Birkebeiner action at noon Thursday on Main Street. The dogs take to the streets following the sprints in the Barkie Birkie, presented by Northern Lakes Co-op Feed Mill. Skijors and their dogs will compete in 3 km and 5 km races starting on Main Street at 2 p.m.
The International Bridge Dedication and Opening Ceremony follows at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Giant Ski, presented by Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce, races follow the Dedication and Opening Ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
Don’t miss the Birkie Fever Legacy Bash on Thursday evening from 6-9 at the Steakhouse & Lodge in Hayward. Space is limited so pre-register online or call the office to reserve your spot.
Youth events fill the Friday schedule. The Junior Birkie, youth ski event being presented by Gear West, begins on Main Street Hayward at 9 a.m. Friday. Skiers must register by Thursday. The Adaptive Ski event follows at 11:30 a.m. The Barnebirkie, youth ski tour presented by Swiss Miss & Johnson Bank, wraps up the children’s ski races at 12:30 p.m. when 2000 kids race, finishing on Main Street.
In the afternoon, the 5 km and 10 km Family Fun Ski begins on Main at 3:30 p.m., followed closely by the Nikkerbeiner, a five-kilometer wool and wood ski tour at 3:32 p.m. Dust off the woodies and recapture the good old days. Both events presented by Out There.
For snowshoers, at 10:00 a.m. Friday, the Cable Natural History Museum leads a snowshoe hike in the local woods.
On Sunday, skiers can recover from the Birkie, Korte and Prince Haakon by taking in the On-Snow Ski Demo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Highway OO Trailhead. Skiers can demo skis, boots and poles as well as a Trek fat bike.
Fast & Female wraps up the week from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hayward High School. Fast & Female concentrates on getting more girls into cross country skiing.
Posted February 12, 2015 at 12:32 pm
