American Birkebeiner

The Worldloppet office just crossed the finish line in Hayward, Wisconsin and let us tell you, it is an awesome feeling to ski the last 200 meters over the Birkie International Bridge and on Hayward main road up to the finish! Thousands of fans were cheering at today’s Korteloppet & even more are expected for the main race tomorrow, the American Birkebeiner, 5th FIS Worldloppet Cup stage.

The greatest show on snow in North America

Tomorrow’s main race is only the peak of the Birkie week. Until now the town of Hayward have seen skiers sprinting, having fun at the giant ski relay, dog lovers and their dogs racing together, children competing & having fun & of course thousands of marathon skiing friends at today’s Korteloppet. After the cancellation last year, you really can feel how ecxited the crowd is, about finally having Birkie fever again! In all competitions around 13,500 skiers are part of the 44th edition of the American Birkebeiner & togehter with aproximately 30.000 spectators they are making the American Worldloppet race one of the biggest in the world. 

Here are some numbers of the 44th American Birkebeiner:

• 13,500 skiers (all event participants)
• 2500 volunteers
• 25,000 to 30,000 spectators
• 2 helicopters
• 90 National Ski Patrol Skiers
• 20 Tents (of all sizes)
• 2000 oranges
• 5000 bananas
• 5000 cups of hot chocolate
• 600 gallons of soup
• 5000 gallons of water
• 1500 gallons of sport drink
• 98,000 cups
• 42,000 cookies
• 200 portable toilets
• 50+ miles of snow covered forest trails
• 30-foot wide course
• 8000 medals
• 26,000 skis & poles

FIS Worldloppet Cup stage 5 with big names

But the great event is awaiting us tomorrow, the main race in skating technique over 50 km. This race is representing the 5th stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup. After competing in Austria, Germany, France & Estonia the world’s marathon skiing elite travelled to the North woods here in Wisconsin, for the next fight on the tracks. 

Of course we are going to watch Gerard Agnelle & Aurelie Dabudyk tomorrow as big favourites. The two French skiers & members of the Haute Savoie Nordic Team are leading the FIS Worldloppet Cup after 4 stages and are going to stand in the first row at tomorrow’s start, wearing the red bibs. But there are also other names to watch out for: Anders Gloersen, the Norwegian Worldchampion again tries his luck to get a victory in a Worldloppet Cup race. Also US Olympic skier Kris Freeman, the winner of the last Birkie, David Norris (USA) & Soleg Petter Skinstad who just won the Gatineauloppet are big favourites for tomorrow’s title. 

In the ladie’s competition Dabudyk gets strong company from Sweden: Maria Gräfnings, SAS Pro Team. She just won the 4th stage of the Cup, the Tartu Maraton. Caitlyn Gregg & Erica Flowers are the big hope for an American victory. 

Start is going to be tomorrow 8:15 local team (15:15 CET)! So stay tuned and see you tomorrow!