Junior Birkie
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Skate 1.5K, 3K Race / Team Relay Race
Main Street, Hayward, WI
Individual Races
The Junior Birkie is a competitive ski event for young Birkebeiner warriors. Racers start behind the Hayward Intermediate and Primary school and finish to roaring crowds at the American Birkebeiner Finish Line on Main Street in Hayward, WI! Skiers under the age of 10 compete in a 1.5km race, while skiers between the ages of 10 and 13 race a 3km course. See you on the start line!
Team Sprint Relays
Young skiers compete in a relay race to earn legendary team status in the Junior Birkie Team Sprint Relays. Teams of 2 skiers will start and finish in downtown Hayward, WI, on the American Birkebeiner Finish Line. The race begins immediately after the individual races at 3:00 pm. #Birkie2026
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 1.5 km, U12 and U14 will ski 3 km.
| Year of Birth | Category |
|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | U8 |
| 2015-2016 | U10 |
| 2013-2014 | U12 |
| 2011-2012 | U14 |
Individual Race Schedule
| Time | Category | Individual Mass Start Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | U10 Boys | 1.5 km |
| 1:10 pm | U8 Boys | 1.5 km |
| 1:20 pm | U10 Girls | 1.5 km |
| 1:30 pm | U8 Girls | 1.5 km |
| 1:40 pm | U12 Boys | 3 km |
| 1:55 pm | U12 Girls | 3 km |
| 2:05 pm | U14 Boys | 3 km |
| 2:15 pm | U14 Girls | 3 km |
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
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 pm | Grades 1 -3 | 4 x 300m |
| 3:05 pm | Grades 4 – 5 | 4 x 500m |
| 3:15 pm | Grades 6 – 8 | 4 x 500m |
| 3:30 pm | Grades 9 – 12 | 4 x 800m |
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!
Presenting Sponsors of the Junior Birkie
Gold Circle Elite
Gold Level Sponsors of the Major Birkie Events Year-Round
