About the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation

The mission of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is:

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated, as reflected in the Birkie Mission Statement, to hosting one of the world’s best cross country ski events, the American Birkebeiner, maintaining one of the nation’s premier recreation trails, and promoting healthy lifestyles for people of all ages. The American Birkebeiner is made up of several events in addition to the 51K and 55K Birkie marathon races and the 24K Kortelopet race (the second largest ski race in North America).

American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is a membership organization. Memberships are annual for individuals, families and businesses. The Foundation is lead by a 13 member Board of Directors with six permanent and several part time and seasonal staff. The permanent staff includes an Executive Director, Director of Race Operations and an Office Manager.

The late Tony Wise who looked to his Norwegian heritage and patterned the ski marathon after the Birkebeiner Rennet, which had been held in Norway since 1932, founded the American Birkebeiner in 1973. Both events honor and re-create a historic Norwegian event when in 1206, two warrior soldiers, called “Birkebeiners” because of the birch-bark leggings they wore, skied infant Prince Haakon to safety during the Norwegian civil war. Prince Haakon subsequently became King of Norway, and the Birkebeiner soldiers became a Norwegian symbol of courage, perseverance and character in the face of adversity.

Over the years many thousands of people, both elite and “Citizen Skiers,” have enjoyed the thrill of personal triumph crossing the finish line of the Birkie and earning their prestigious award medallions.

In 1978 Wise formed the Worldloppet League, which now unites the American Birkebeiner with 19 of the world’s most prestigious ski marathons. In the trying days of the Cold War, Wise envisioned the exhilaration of marathon skiing as a conduit to international understanding. Today, skiers from many nations come to America to ski the Birkie. The Tony Wise Legacy Fund seeks to perpetuate his vision by creating an endowment to further the events and programs of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation.

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation was formed in 1985 when Tony Wise lost control of the event in the bankruptcy of his Telemark Resort property and other interests. Since then the ABSF has endeavored to preserve his legacy in the Cable/Hayward area.

Promotion of cross country skiing and protection and maintenance of the American Birkebeiner Trail are two of our primary goals. Each year our ABSF Development Grant Program awards thousands of dollars in grants to youth skiing organizations throughout the region and nation to foster young people making skiing part of their life.

Our Trail Fund was established to raise money to help offset our annual $130,000 trail budget. This money is used to pay for mowing and grooming the trail, repairing erosion, removing fallen trees, and providing signage throughout the year.

Please consider a donation into these funds. All donations to the ABSF are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

The ABSF office is located in downtown Hayward, WI. The Board of Directors is elected to staggered, three- year-terms by Foundation membership at the Annual Meeting held each August.

We invite you to join skiers, the ski industry, and dedicated people in the Cable/Hayward area and the nation in perpetuating these uplifting ski events and the most life affirming sport on snow.

If you would like to stay up to date on the latest information about the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation and its events click here to subscribe to our Carpe-Skiem e-newsletter.

Congratulations to the new 2020-2021 ABSF Board Members

Mike Mandli, Kathie Pautsch, Karen Manske and Bill Brown

Current Board of Directors

Paul Eckerline
President
2021

Dennis Kruse
Vice President
2020

Michael Brown
Treasurer (Appointed)
2019

Kathie Pautsch
Secretary
2020

Charlie Dee
2022

Sue Scheer
2021

Jan Guenther
2021

Yuriy Gusev
2021

John Kotar
2020

Michael Mandli
2020

Jeff Tumbleson
2022

Tom Duffy
Representative, Sawyer County Board of Directors (Appointed)
2019

Brett Rondeau
Representative, Bayfield County Board of Director (Appointed)
2019

Foundation Committees

Competition

• Chair: Dennis Kruse
• Members: Bryan Fish, Sue Scheer, Jeff Tumbleson, Scott Wilson
• Committee Meeting Minutes »

Finance

• Chair: Michael Brown
• Members: Tom Duffy, Dennis Kruse, Steve Narveson, Sue Scheer, Lisa Schmock
• Committee Meeting Minutes »

Skier Development

• Chair: Jan Guenther
• Members: Terry Penman, Scott Chapin, Eric Maki, Jane Mandli, Charlie Dee, John Oman

Trails and Facilities

• Chair: Mike Mandli
• Members: Bryan Fish, Gerry Hansen, Jeff Tumbleson, Scott Wilson, Terry Penman
• Committee Meeting Minutes »

Documentation

• Chair: Charlie Dee
• Members: Sue Scheer, John Kotar, Paul Eckerline
• Committee Meeting Minutes »

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 membership-based organization that is governed by non-profit foundation bylaws.

A.B.S.F. Bylaws

A.F.S.F. Procedures Manual

Board of Directors:

Meetings are held the 3rd Monday of each month at the Birkie office (10527 Main St, Hayward WI), at 3:00PM (normally, no meetings are held February, June or November).  See next section for special information regarding the Annual Meeting.

Finance Committee:

Meets the same day as the Board of Directors meeting at 1:00PM, at the Birkie office (10527 Main St, Hayward WI).

2020 – Board Meeting Minutes

2019 – Board Meeting Minutes

2018 – Board Meeting Minutes

2017 – Board Meeting Minutes

2016 – Board Meeting Minutes

2015 – Board Meeting Minutes

2014 – Board Meeting Minutes

2013 – Board Meeting Minutes

2012 – Board Meeting Minutes

2011 – Board Meeting Minutes

2010 – Board Meeting Minutes

Become an American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Board Member!

Any member of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation can submit a nomination form and get on the ballot for the 2020 ABSF Board of Directors election.  We need passionate, active outdoor enthusiasts to ensure the health and development of the American Birkebeiner organization.  We encourage members with a passion for mountain biking, trail running, hiking, and Nordic skiing, to consider running for the Board of Directors.

There are four board of director positions, within the 13-member ABSF Board, that are up for election this summer.

Not an ABSF member? Click here to join or renew your ABSF membership.

To Be a Birkie Leader, Apply by  5:00pm, CDT, on June 24, 2020

Everything you need to know about the nomination process is included in the documents below.  If you have any questions, please contact Audun Mikkelson at audun.mikkelson@birkie.com or 715-634-5025.