American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Hosts the Nation’s Elite Junior Skiers for the 2026 Junior Nationals XC Ski Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2026 Cable, WI — The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) hosted the 2026 Junior Nationals XC Ski Championship, welcoming the nation’s elite junior skiers to Mt. Telemark Village in Cable, Wisconsin. From March 9th through the 14th, over 400 athletes, spread across U16, U18, and U20 age groups, competed representing ten regions from across the United States, including: Alaska, Far West, Great Lakes, High Plains, Intermountain, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain.
Sanctioned by US Ski and Snowboard, the week consisted of four competition days:
- Monday, March 9, 2026: 7.5/5K Freestyle Interval Start
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026: Classic Sprint
- Friday, March 13, 2026: 14.6/11.3/8K Classic Mass Start
- Saturday, March 14, 2026: 4-Person Mixed Gender Freestyle Relay
The week kicked off with an Opening Ceremony in downtown Cable, WI that included a parade of athletes, an educational performance from the Mukwa Dancers and Hay Creek Singers, an appearance from the American Birkebeiner mascots Inga and the Warriors, and a special treat from local favorite, Tilly’s Pies. The Closing Ceremony on Saturday was held at the Mt. Telemark Village Hub, bidding a warm farewell to athletes from around the United States.
Visitors were impressed with the venue and organization. “The Birkie is putting on one heck of a show this week for young athletes representing every region of the United States. Thank you!” said Sara Keuler in a Facebook comment. The week-long event also included nightly social and educational gatherings for youth athletes, parents and coaches alike.
Weather varied greatly throughout the week with competition temperatures ranging from 50F to -7F. New snow brought a challenge to groomers and wax technicians throughout the week, but the race course was in excellent condition each day.
The week-long event was a collaboration between the ABSF and the Cable Area Chamber. A huge thank you to the Junior Nationals Local Operating Committee, a mostly volunteer group that spent many hours before and at the event to ensure junior racing was at its finest last week. The ABSF would like to thank all the volunteers and local community for coming together to once again welcome incredible junior skiing to Northern Wisconsin.
A full list of results can be found at birkie.com along with photos for use with this press release. For additional comment reach out to the Birkie media department at 715-575-1168 or media@birkie.com
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Posted March 16, 2026 at 9:45 am
