Junior Birkie

Register Now for the 2026 Jr. Birkie!

Race registration is online only and closes at 6:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

There is no race day registration.

See below for age groups and distances for each event.

Birkie Junior Gear Bag, $60

• Produced exclusively for the Birkie by SWIX
• Participants purchasing the Jr. Gear bag will receive the bag at Bib pick-up in February
• If unable to pick up a pre-purchased Junior Birkie Gear Bag at the Jr. Birkie, they may be picked up at the Birkie Office, or shipped after the event for an additional fee.  Pick up or request shipping deadline is MARCH 31, 2026.
• The ideal bag for your youth’s sports and ski gear, both wet and dry; or everyday school adventures
• Dimensions: 12″ wide x 9″ deep x 15″ high
• Reinforced #8 zippers
• Tarpaulin panel on the bottom section for waterproofing and greater durability
• Bottom wet-sealed compartment for Nordic Boot storage
• Sports Shield zipped compartment for glasses or visor, with brushed lining to prevent lens scratches and quick, easy access
• Large top-load zippered compartment for warm-up clothing, extra hats, and gloves
• Main pack body is made from tough 600D PVC backed polyester
• Padded EVA foam back offers cushioning and breathability over pressure points, and padded shoulder straps
• 2 – side mesh pockets for water bottles
• This bag may not be used at gear bag drop on race day (Birkie, Korte or Prince Haakon)

Limited parking is found in downtown Hayward. Please help ease the traffic congestion by utilizing the designated spectator parking on Hwy B (noted in orange on the map below). Buses will run continuously from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm from the Spectator Lot to the Registration Bus Stop, and from the Registration Bus Stop and the Celebration Zone Bus Stop to the Spectator Lot. Parking restrictions are in place on most of the downtown area streets.

9:30 to 1:30pm – Intermediate School

2:30pm (Relays) – Main Street

Participants will receive their bib and Jr. Birkie hat. Jr. Gear bags that were purchased during registration will also be available for pick-up during the scheduled bib pick-up hours.

To avoid congestion, we recommend just one representative per family pick up bib(s).

Thank you!

Races will start at Hayward Intermediate School and finish at the iconic American Birkebeiner Finish Line in Downtown Hayward!

Individual Race

The Junior Birkie will start behind the Hayward Primary and Intermediate Schools. Both 1.5k & 3k courses will travel through the golf course and head down Main Street. The 1.5K course will ski down Main Street, turn at the base of the bridge (no bridge crossing), and head to the Finish Line. The 3K course will continue down main street, travel over the American Birkebeiner International Bridge, turn around, cross the bridge again and ski back up Main Street. The Junior Birkie finishes at the American Birkebeiner Finish Line on Main Street.

Team Relay Sprint Races

Team Relay Sprint Races will all take place on Main Street. The start and finish are at the American Birkebeiner Finish Line. The Team Sprint Race course will not utilize the American Birkebeiner International Bridge.

Individual Age Groups

For the individual races, skiers are assigned an age group based on their year of birth (see table below). All races are freestyle technique – competitors may use skate or classic technique, however, there may not be classic tracks set on the courses. U8 and U10 age groups will ski 1.5K, U12 and U14 will ski 3K.

Individual Race Schedule

The Junior Birkie Individual Race is part of the SWIX CXC Youth Cup for U12 and U14 age categories. Licensed skiers are seeded and earn points in the CXC Youth Cup overall standings. For information about the CXC Youth Cup visit: http://cxcskiing.org/pages/events/cxc-youth-cup.html

Wax Policy

As part of the CXC Youth Cup, no fluorocarbon waxes are allowed; athletes may only use fluoro-free glide and kick wax.

Details

• ALL teams will consist of 2 skiers.
• Each skier will ski 2 non-consecutive legs of the relay, 4 laps total.
• Teams may be mixed gender, male, or female.  First place awards will be given for each category.
• A team must consist of 2 skiers in the same age group.  Age groups for the relay are based on grade as follows:
  • Grades 1 – 3 will ski on a 300 meter course.
  • Grades 4 – 5 will ski on a 500 meter course.
  • Grades 6 – 8 will ski on a 500 meter course.
  • Grades 9 – 12 will ski on an 800 meter course.
• We strongly encourage teams to be made of athletes in the same grade range, however, if not possible, the team will ski in the oldest grade range.
• A participant without a team may still register and can be matched with another skier.  Select ‘Create a New Team’ and then ‘I need a partner’ during the registration process.
• Races are not timed, first across the line for each category are the winners.

Schedule

Post Race

Refreshments will be available in the Celebration Zone after the race!

Awards

All individual finishers will receive a Junior Birkie medal. The top three boys and girls for each age-group will have an award ceremony immediately following at the Podium, just beyond the finish line in the Celebration Zone. The first place relay team for each grade range will also receive an award!

View Junior Birkie Results »