The Junior Birkie has become a Premier Midwest Youth Event
By Bruce Manske
Birkebeiner skiers, both old and new alike, have a long and storied history. Cross country skiing began as a form of transportation, it became a popular recreational activity, and soon developed intoa competitive sport.There is a story behind every great cross country ski event. The Junior Birkie is no different; it began a long time ago, in a land far away.
Legend has it, while wearing protective birch bark leggings, backcountry skiers trudged through the mountains and rugged forests of Norway’s Osterdalen Valley, from Lillehammer to Trondheim, during the Norwegian Civil War. These noble warriors successfully smuggled Prince Haakon, the son of King Sverresson and Inga of Vartieg to safety, and affectionately became known as Birkebeiner skiers. To honor Nordic traditions and history in America, Tony Wise launched the American Birkebeiner in 1973. Wise called upon skiers to challenge themselves against the snow-covered hills of Northern Wisconsin. Because of his call, thirty-four men and one woman were on the starting line, clad in woolen sweaters and knickers, for the 50-kilometer race from the Lumberjack Bowl in Hayward to Telemark Lodge in Cable, Wisconsin.
Posted February 2, 2026 at 11:31 am
