Birkie’s 50th anniversary, history, philosophy, and more…
A must-read article by Ben Theyerl for those who plan to experience the Birkie for the first time, have participated many times, or anyone with a profound interest in Nordic skiing throughout the United States. Why? Here are just few quotes enticing you to devour the entire piece…
“Wise was a local boy who had just returned from serving as a tank commander overseas during World War II. During his service in Europe, he’d found himself in the Bavarian Alps, where he’d been introduced to a way of moving across the Earth…”
“Wise carved a number into one side of birch tree. Walt Kliszcz—a local railroad man who held the deed—carved a number into the other side. They met in the middle: $750.00. Wise renamed the hill Mt. Telemark, then built a ski hill, a lodge, a race, and a dream.”
“In 1973, when Wise set out to start a cross-country ski race, he simply adopted a Norwegian legend from 1206—the Birkebeiners—who saved the country by ushering the baby Prince Haakon to safety on skis. In its first year, the American Birkebeiner had 35 participants. In 2023, the “Birkie” was up to 13,000.”
“Does what we’re doing build on that history in a way that’s good for what we define as the “Birkie” community,…”
“The Lodge was an outstretched behemoth that was demolished in 2021. All that now remains are towering old brutalist walls, deemed “Tele-henge” by the skiers down the hill at the new Birkie start line area.”
“Over at the Birkie start-line, the pavement of a new 5-kilometer rollerski loop—the first of its kind in the Midwest—is “just now starting to cure…”
“The final piece of the project is up at the top of Mt. Telemark where an observation tower is being built out of recycled lift towers from Wise’s original alpine ski operation.”
“Ojibwe Tribal Historian, and it just so happens that the only guy to do all fifty Birkie races, Ernie St. Germaine”
“Celebrate in the Right Way” at the 50th Birkie
Read more at Fasterskier.com
Tradition and Transformation: The Birkie Plans its 50th Anniversary