News from the ABSF If you're a member of the media, visit our Birkie Week Media Page.
Carol Ann Duffy, the first Worldloppet Master, passes at age 89
We are sad to announce that on July 21, 2024 we had to say goodbye to Carol Ann Duffy of Hayward, Wisconsin, born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Carol was the first Worldloppet Master earning diploma number one in 1980 along with her husband Tom who earned diploma number three. Back in 2018, for the 40th […]
RUNNING STORIES: North Carolina Running Coach Makes His Way to Birkie Trail Run
Elite trail runner Cory shares his fitness story with the Birkie: “I grew up in eastern Kansas and ran my first-mile race three days before I turned three. This was the beginning of my love for running. I spent most of my childhood running through the woods and sword-fighting corn stocks. Eventually, I began training […]
RUNNING STORIES: 76-year-old Kohler, WI Native Completes Over 200 Ultra Marathons
Roy, from Kohler, WI, shares his running story with the Birkie: “I started running on my 32nd birthday, July 1980 (a late bloomer, so I had to catch up to the fast guys) and have been running since. I entered my first race, the Mayfair Marathon, over Memorial Day Weekend in 1981. My first race […]
Grand Opening Scheduled for Base Camp at Mt. Telemark Village, Home of the American Birkebeiner
[Hayward, WI, July 12, 2024] – The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation will hold the Grand Opening Celebration of Base Camp at Mt. Telemark Village on Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 12:30P – 2:30P (15555 Birkie Blvd, Cable, WI 54821). “This is not about the Birkie or the ABSF, this is about a community doing something […]
American Birkebeiner Featured on PBS News Hour
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is committed to reducing our carbon footprint through our Birkie Green initiative, which acts as a filter for everything we do from events to building structures. Our Birkie Green initiative focuses on five areas: 1. Limit our use of unrecycled material for retail and for race swag.2. Increase our reliance […]
Free Birkie Entry with a Minimum $1,499 Purchase at Slumberland Furniture
For Birkie Ski, Run, or Bike Events*2025 – 2026 Slumberland Furniture and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation again welcome you to this “homey” way to get a free entry to a Birkie event – Ski, Run, or Bike. This program has been a great success for Birkie skiers, runners, and bikers over the last year, […]
Ben Popp Elected Worldloppet President
American Birkebeiner Executive Director Ben Popp elected President of the Worldloppet International Ski Federation. The Worldloppet Member delegates voted this past week at their Annual Summit in Sapporo, Japan – the venue of Sapporo Ski Marathon. Hayward, WI (June 17, 2024) — Ben Popp replaces Juha Viljamaa from Lahti, Finland, who has been the representing […]
Team Birkie Announces 2024-25 Regional Team
Team Birkie’s Regional Team adds four new members to Team Birkie for 2024-25. Aidan Ripp added to Continental Team. (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) – Emma Stertz, Dolcie Tanguay, Connor Roberts, and David Ronnevik, will join Team Birkie’s Regional Team. The Regional Team is an opportunity for athletes to continue their development of high level ski racing, as […]
Tamarack Health and Team Birkie Join Forces in Athlete Healthcare Partnership
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) – Tamarack Health and Team Birkie announced an exclusive partnership that redefines medical support for elite level skiers in the United States. The collaboration makes Tamarack Health the Official Healthcare Partner of Team Birkie, and guarantees its athletes medical care and support in the run-up to the 2026 Olympics. Tamarack Health provides comprehensive […]
RUNNING STORIES: Hayward Local Shares Her Running Journey
Josie, a Hayward, WI, local, shares her running story with the Birkie: “‘Athlete’ was one of the last things I would have called myself prior to tenth grade. I struggled in phy ed and had never participated in an organized sport. That year, however, a neighbor encouraged me to join the cross-country running team. I […]
Team Birkie Announces 2024-25 Marathon Team
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) – Team Birkie’s Marathon Team gets a boost for the 2024-25 season from three new, highly experienced ski racers. Abigail Drach, Nicole (Schneider) Eliasson, Vivian (Hett) Johnson and Maxwell Turnberg, will join Team Birkie Marathon Team returners, Delany Fitzpatrick, Sam Holt, and Jenna and Zach Nelson. All four newcomers are Twin Cities natives, […]
Team Birkie Announces New Coaching Staff and Structure
Ensrud named Head Coach, Salmela moves to High Performance Manager. (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) – Former Team Birkie skier, Julie Ensrud, has been named Head Coach of Team Birkie. Ensrud raced two seasons for Team Birkie after a distinguished NCAA skiing career at Northern Michigan University and the University of New Mexico. The Saltnes, Norway, native comes […]
RUNNING STORIES: From Colorado to Wisconsin: Brian’s Birkie Trail Run Adventure
In our ongoing Birkie Trail Run Story series, we’re excited to share Brian’s journey. Hailing from Colorado, he brings a unique perspective to his Birkie experience. Read on for his story: “I am so excited to come out to Wisconsin. I have heard that the Birkie Nordic Ski race is iconic with a rich history. […]
Cable/Seeley Voted the Best Gravel Biking destination by The Nxrth!
“The home to a ton of amazing off road events all year long and hundreds of miles of gravel and singletrack, the Cable area is only going to continue to grow as an adventure cycling destination. With the development around Mt. Telemark Village and the Birkie’s continued investment in the trails and events, expect this […]
RUNNING STORIES: Hayward local plans to return for the Birkie Trail Run
It’s time to hear from our first Local Birkie Trail Run Story! Matt resides in our very own Hayward WI. He shares his running journey below! “I first ran the Birkie Trail Run my first year of living in Hayward. I was invited to join the New Moon Men’s Relay Team. It was the week […]
RUNNING STORIES: Virginia Runner plans to come back to the Northwoods for the Birkie Trail Run 1/2 Marathon
Joining us from Virginia, Jean and her family will share time in Hayward, WI. Without knowing, I reached out to Jean and Hali, and turns out they are mother and daughter! What a fun connection. Below is her story: “In 2020, we were living in Duluth, my hubby was working out of town, and our […]
Icebug Birkie Trail Run selected to host USAFT Marathon Trail Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2024 HAYWARD, WI – The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is proud to announce its selection as the host venue for the United States of America Track and Field (USATF) MUT (Mountain Ultra Trail) Marathon Trail Championship as part of the Icebug Birkie Trail Run event on Saturday, September 28th, 2024. The […]
RUNNING STORIES: Nebraska Runner comes to the Northwoods for the Birkie Trail Run 5K
In the upcoming months, we’re delighted to share a series of captivating runner stories with you. Our first spotlight falls on Hali and her family, who hail from the heart of Nebraska. Their story is one of resilience, determination, and the joy of running. “I’ve always lived a pretty active lifestyle whether it was swimming, […]
Lifesaving Drone Technology Debuted at this year’s American Birkebeiner Event
PRESS RELEASE Lifesaving Drone Technology Debuted at this year’s American Birkebeiner Event HAYWARD, WI (March 6, 2024) – As the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation wraps a successful 50th Anniversary Season this weekend with the Fat Bike Birkie, the ABSF medical team in Hayward, Wisconsin celebrated something never before tried in sports: after two cardiac incidents at […]
American Birkebeiner Celebrates 50 Years by Hosting its Annual Week of Ski Events on Ten Kilometers of Machine-made Snow
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HAYWARD, WI (February 25, 2024) – Despite the warmest Wisconsin winter on record and less than 16” of natural fallen snow in Sawyer County, Birkie Week 2024 events were enjoyed by nearly 12,000 participants representing all 50 states and 26 countries. This week was made possible by the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s capabilities […]
