birkebiener
bweber
Over the last few months I've been working toward the Canadian birkebiener,
held here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Feb. 13. For those who don't
know, it's ski race done carrying a 5-kg pack. To my knowledge, there are
three birkie's in the world: one (the original) in Norway, one in
Wisconsin, and ours. I'd like to hear from anyone out there who's skied a
U.S. or Norwegian birkie, or especially from anyone who's skied the
Canadian one as well as one (or both) of the other two. I'd be interested
to compare in terms of terrain, race organization, number of skiers,
general atmosphere. I'd also be interested in hearing why skiers
love/hate/fear the birkie.
No matter how fit you are, it's a race that takes everything you've got,
and when you're done you feel like a real hero. The course out here is
generally rolling, with few tight corners, through a couple wilderness
areas of aspen bush and small pothole lakes. Despite the hundreds of skiers
that come out, the race has a nice, laid-back feel to it - the elite skiers
scoot on ahead, the weekend warriors come next and then the families and
the folks who just want to ski it and don't care how long it takes them
bring up the rear. Everybody finds lots of room. This will be my third, and
I look forward to them all year (except maybe on the day after the race).
Talk birkie to me!
bob
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Greg Fangel
bweber wrote:
I'd be interested
to compare in terms of terrain, race organization, number of skiers,
general atmosphere. I'd also be interested in hearing why skiers
love/hate/fear the birkie.
> bob
I've skied the Norwegian Birkie once and the American Birkie six times. The
Norwegian Birkie is 58 km and goes over two mountain tops. The first 15 km is
uphill to the top of the first mountain, then down a bit then back up a little
to the next mountain top. For 20 km, the skiing is above the tree line. The
last 15 km is all downhill into Lillehammer and finishes at the Lillehammer ski
stadium where the Winter Olympics were in 1994. I found waxing to be
challenging. You start in a valley and then go to the mountain top, which goes
from warmer to colder. I did have good luck, though with Swix XF30. The
atmosphere was stern and serious. Those Norwegians take their skiing
seriously. There are 9000 skiers in this race and they start them in 1000
skier intervals.
The American Birkebeiner is challenging. It is 51 km this year and there are
lots of hills. The course profile map looks like a rip saw blade. I think you
grow to either hate this Birkie or love it. I love it. The people are fun, it
is well orgainized and the atmosphere is electrifying. There were about 7000
skiers last year at this Birkie.
Greg Fangel
David Dermott
> . I'd like to hear from anyone out there who's skied a
> U.S. or Norwegian birkie, or especially from anyone who's skied the
> Canadian one as well as one (or both) of the other two.
In 1995 I skied the Norwegian Birkebeiner course. They had a
recreational version of the race called Birkebeiner Proeven (test). I
just signed up the day before, there were only about 500 people and it
wasn't a mass start. As others have mentioned, about 20 km is above tree
line ("vidda" = treeless plateau). That day there was fog and blowing
snow and visibility was low. Although there are long climbs- the first
section climbs about 400 m in 11 km- I didn't find it very difficult.
The trial is wide, 4 to 6 lanes. The race officially ends at the Olympic
ski stadium, but then you get a fun ski down into downtown Lillehammer,
about 4km with a 400m drop.
It took me 7 hr to ski the 58 km. The racers finish in less than
3 hr.
Completion of the proeven qualifies in the World loppet
series.
The next year I skied out from Lillehammer to the highest point
on the trail on a clear sunny day. It is beautiful then.
I've skied a bit on the Blackfoot trails in Alberta, where the
Canadian Birkie is held. There are some steep but very short hills.
Someday I'd like to try the Canadian Birkie if I am Alberta at the time.
I have done ZERO skiing since coming back from Alberta a month ago. This
has been the worst ski season in Nova Scotia ever!
PS -I have bought a ticket to Norway Mar 3 - March 24, so I'll
probably ski part of the Birkebeiner trail again, and maybe watch the
race on TV.
PPS The coat of arms of Lillehammer has a drawing of the original
year 1205 Birkebeiner soldier on it.
Full story on Birkebeiner on :
http://fox.nstn.ca/~nstn1181/ski/birk95.html
--
David Dermott , Wolfville Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
email: nstn...@fox.nstn.ca
WWW pages: http://fox.nstn.ca/~nstn1181/
Tim Dudley
the classic 50km race on Saturday, in which the participants carry
a 5-kg pack, presumably emulating the Norwegian Birkebeiner. I gather
that Norway is a sponsor of this year's loppet, with some fairly heavy
involvement from the Norwegian Embassy.
bweber wrote:
>
> Greetings to all:
> Over the last few months I've been working toward the Canadian birkebiener,
> held here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Feb. 13. For those who don't
> know, it's ski race done carrying a 5-kg pack. To my knowledge, there are
> three birkie's in the world: one (the original) in Norway, one in
> Wisconsin, and ours. I'd like to hear from anyone out there who's skied a
> U.S. or Norwegian birkie, or especially from anyone who's skied the
> Canadian one as well as one (or both) of the other two. I'd be interested
> to compare in terms of terrain, race organization, number of skiers,
> general atmosphere. I'd also be interested in hearing why skiers
> love/hate/fear the birkie.
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