American Birkebeiner

A story from Christer Finne (FIN), Worldloppet Master #4353

The dream of a full Birkie is still alive in me. But will the corona situation allow me to participate? Birkie is kind of special to me as I bought my first Worldloppet passport in Hayward, Wisconsin/USA and started collecting stamps at Birkie 2007. That was my first race abroad and the start of a worldwide journey on skis. The start was not uneventful as lack of snow caused a shortened race. But I got my stamp in the passport, although no timing as I started in Wave 1 and timing was Elite wave only. I was thoroughly mesmerized by the Birkie fever and enthusiasm by both racers and bystanders. I also have relatives in the US that were cheering me on through the race.

Ten years went by with my participation in Worldloppet races in Europe and China where I obtained my Worldloppet Master title. I also had inspired some skiing friends to take part in the Worldloppet events during the years so I went for another passport to keep them company towards their Master title. The circle kind of started all over. I arranged for another trip to North America with my friends. This time my friends and I wanted to join both Gatineau in Canada and Birkie in the USA. It is a long trip to North America from Finland so that is why we decided for both races.

Nothing can stop us from joining once we have registered

Once we have registered for the race almost nothing can stop us from fulfilling the adventure, not even freezing temperatures like in Tartu 2011 and König 2012. We have experienced many troubles during the years but the ski adventure 2017 was one of a kind. When we were ready to depart from Vaasa, Finland there was no plane! It had been damaged by a fork pallet loader at the previous flight. All alternative flights would have caused us to miss the flight from Chicago to Ottawa and the Gatineauloppet. But, as I said previously, almost nothing can stop us. Our solution was to hire a private plane to catch the flight from Stockholm to Chicago. Yes, it was expensive, but the only option. The private plane was in Sweden at the moment for departure but managed to take us from Vaasa, Finland to Stockholm’s Arlanda airport with 15 minutes to spare before take off for Chicago.

The rest of the trip to Gatineau went as planned. We had a wonderful time, lots of snow and friendly Canadians. The hilly Gatineau trail was tough for us who live in Ostrobothnia where everything is flat. But beautiful sights awarded us after climbing the hills. I took part of both classic on Saturday and free style on Sunday.

Birkie 2017

The following week we went back to Chicago to pick up my daughter and her fiancée. The seven of us continued by car to meet my relatives in Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In the UP there was a lot of snow. We were concerned by the reports of lack of snow in Wisconsin on the Birkie trail. To our disappointment the race was cancelled. My skiing mates went to Minneapolis and their flight back home. My daughter and I and a few of our relatives on the other hand stayed and took part of the Beer and Whiskey ski event that was arranged instead of the race. It was a fun replacement that we are thankful for. However, the dream of skiing a full Birkie is still alive in me! But will the organizers let me register as I seem to bring bad luck for the race?

Birkie 2022?

After returning home I asked my granddaughter if she would join me at my next attempt. She turns 18 years 5 days prior to Birkie 2022. I have understood that at age 18 she is allowed to participate. Her mother, my oldest daughter, is also interested in skiing with us. So, if this comes to be, this time we could not just be 2 generations but 3 in the same race. We have not booked any flights or registered to race because of the corona situation. But it seems like the US is opening up for travel and my promise to my granddaughter can possibly take place. But, an unknown, unpredictable remains, will there be enough snow at Birkie 2022? That is the only thing that has stopped us from skiing so far.

Solf, Finland. November 2021

Christer Finne Worldloppet Master #4353