Birkie News Archives for
Volunteer of the Year & Shellie Milford Award Winners
Congratulations to Volunteer of the Year – Dan Clark and Nancy & Bill Bauer for earning the Shellie Milford Spirit of the Birkie Award. Dan, Nancy and Bill were recognized at the annual Sunday post-Birkie volunteer dinner on February 22, 2026.
Fast Course Conditions at Fat Bike Birkie 2026
CABLE, WI (2/28/26) – The 2026 Fat Bike Birkie, the premier fat tire bike race in the Midwest, delivered another high-energy, adrenaline-packed event on Saturday. Riders from 14 states (Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Missouri, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Washington, Indiana) and even one rider from New South Wales, Australia tackled the legendary Birkie Trails, pushing their limits on snow-packed terrain in […]
Fast conditions lead to course record at the 52nd Slumberland American Birkebeiner
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HAYWARD, WI (February 21, 2026) – A combination of recent weather changes including a week-long warm-up with rain followed by freezing temperatures provided fast snow conditions for the 52nd annual Slumberland American Birkebeiner presented by Pioneer Midwest. Luke Jager out of Anchorage, Alaska took first in the men’s 50-kilometer race with a time of 1:50:45 – a new course record. “I’ve never skied conditions like this at the Birkie,” said Alayna Sonnesyn the […]
Adjustments to Birkie Week 2026 due to weather
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation adjusts Birkie Week due to weather Hayward, WI (February 16, 2026) – Due to the past week’s warm temperatures and the uncertainty surrounding the impending weather coming to the Hayward/Cable area on Tuesday into Wednesday, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) is making adjustments to the Birkie Week of events. Event organizers have postponed Wednesday’s Open Track to Thursday, and the events originally scheduled to take place Thursday on Hayward’s Main Street will now be […]
WPR features ‘Wave 70’ for skiers aged 70 and older
A “fear factor” keeps 71-year-old Mary Eloranta of Pewaukee training for the American Birkebeiner all year long. The famously hilly and demanding 30-mile ski marathon through Wisconsin’s Northwoods begins in Cable and finishes on the snowy Main Street of Hayward. Going that distance through tough terrain takes tremendous stamina and conditioning, especially for older racers. […]
Birkie One Brings Cross-Country Skiing to Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School
For the fourth consecutive year, Birkie One has brought its Learn to Ski program to students at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School—introducing dozens of young skiers to the joy of cross-country skiing. This year also marked an exciting milestone: the program’s first season utilizing Nordic Rocks skis, making the experience more accessible and seamless […]
Junior Nationals Weekly Details Released
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is proud to be hosting the 2026 XC Junior National Championships on March 7-14 at Mt. Telemark Village! We look forward to welcoming racers and spectators to the Cable/Hayward area for a great week of junior racing and social activities. March 7-14, 2026Saturday, March 7th: Arrival and Training Day, 9am-3pmSunday, […]
Gov. Evers Visits Mt. Telemark Village
From left: Sec. Anne Sayers, ABSF Executive Director Ben Popp, Spirit of 35 skier Jim Shattuck, ABSF Marketing Director Shawn Connelly, Gov. Tony Evers, Dr. Kate Eichten, and ABSF Development Director Louise Droessler On Tuesday, January 20th Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers flew into Cable Union Airport to continue his week of travel highlighting tourism and […]
Ski for Parkinson’s Raising Funds for 10 Years!
Dear Skiing Friends, I am once again skiing the American Birkebeiner – Kortelopet Open Track and raising funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation – Team Fox–Endurance. I will be skiing on February 18, in the Kortelopet 29km Open Track. Thank you for your past donations and good thoughts. I am attaching the link for the fundraising page. You will note my continuing […]
WXCO Recaps Seeley Hills Classic
After two winters of snow shortages and warm temperatures, the Seeley Hills Classic is finally back on its traditional course. Civic Media’s Maddie Schaffer talks with Event Director Kristy Maki about the 2026 event back on the Seeley Hills.
Author Jerome Poling’s Birkie Book Wins Major Award
From WI Historical Press Facebook Post: Congratulations to WHS Press author Jerry Poling! Jerry’s book, “American Birkebeiner: The Nation’s Greatest Ski Marathon,” was just awarded the prestigious ULLR Book Award from Skiing History. The award honors outstanding contributions to skiing’s historical record in published book form. “American Birkebeiner” is the definitive history of the world-class cross-country […]
Countdown to Birkie Kickoff
The holidays are over and the new year is here! We have the best snow in years, and a January full of skiing events leading up to the greatest week of XC skiing on the planet. Join us as we begin in the countdown to Birkie Week 2026!
Hundreds of Youth Skiers Compete in Annual Gitchi Gami Games
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Hosts Hundreds of Youth Skiers for the Annual Gitchi Gami Games at Mt. Telemark Village 12/22/24 Cable, WI — The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) welcomed hundreds of Nordic ski racers to Mt. Telemark Village in Cable, Wisconsin, this past weekend for the Gitchi Gami Games, a cornerstone early-season competition that continues to draw elite and developing […]
Madnorski Talks Skiing & Birkie on WPR
How to enjoy Wisconsin’s winters outside, even in the dark Carrie Eaton is president of the Madison Nordic Ski Club. She shares insights on getting out and taking advantage of snowy weather
Mt. Telemark Village Competition Venue Officially Named The Carlson Competition Stadium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cable, WI – December 19, 2025 – The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) is proud to announce the official naming of the Mt. Telemark Village competition venue at the Birkebeiner Trail Head: The Carlson Competition Stadium. Dr. Brent Carlson’s investment in our future allows for us to develop a venue that will not only enable us to host the most competitive youth and development events in the country, but […]
New Yorker Journalist Reflects on her Birkie Experience upon a Leukemia Diagnosis
From New Yorker Instagram Post: On May 25, 2024, Tatiana Schlossberg gave birth to her daughter. A few hours later, her doctor noticed that her blood count looked strange. The diagnosis was acute myeloid leukemia, with a rare mutation called Inversion 3. “I wasn’t sick. I didn’t feel sick. I was actually one of the […]
WTMJ Outdoors spotlights Birkie winter events
Now that the snow is flying across the State of Wisconsin, what better time to talk about all of our favorite outdoor winter activities? WTMJ Outdoors host Steve Scaffidi sat down with the folks at Crystal Ridge Ski Area in Franklin, representatives from the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce (think lots of snow), and we […]
WHSM – Musky 101 talks Turkey Birkie
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is kicking off the start of the ski season. The Turkey Birkie is a chance to ski on a 1.2-kilometer loop of machine-made snow. The three-day long festival kicks off Friday, November 28 at Mt. Telemark Village in Cable. The Turkey Birkie is an early-season event that utilizes the snow making […]
