Birkebeinerrennet 2023 could become one of the best
The 83rd edition of the traditional Birkebeinerrennet 2023, also called Birken, promises to be among the best ever. The course is blessed with a lot of snow as there is hardly any part offering less than 1 meter. This winter has been exceptionaly snowy in and around Lillehammer, Rena and Sjusoen.
The number of participants is raising again after several covid-affected editions. For the coming race weekend, it seems like we will pass the 10.000 participants mark again. Specially the foreign skiers are coming back to Norway and Birken can’t wait to welcome them again. More than 1200 skiers are non-Norwegians. Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic and USA are again the strongest nations when it comes to participants numbers.
Beside the main race on Saturday 18th, the Birkebeinerrennet 54km CT, there are also other events with different formats, distances and styles: SkøyteBirken 54km FT, StafettBirken 4×6,5km, TurBirken 54km, HalvBirken 28km, UngdomsBirke 15km and BarneBirken.
The elite of cross-country skiers is ready to fight for the big title as Birken is part of the Ski Classics and there it belongs to the four grand slam races, the last one in this years calender. Favorites from Sweden and Norway are looking forward to struggle over the mountain as warriors did for about 850 years ago, though in a more peaceful way.
Cold and snowy weather for Birkebeinerrennet 2023
The weather forecasts indicate cold and little snowy weather on friday and possibly early Saturday. Hardly any wind even on the top of the course. The Birken crew is already planning the grooming in order to give the best conditions and tracks possible both Friday (skate and classic) and Saturday (classic only).
