This last week Wednesday through Sunday was the 47th Slumberland American Birkebeiner classic championship cross-country ski race in Hayward, WI. This year, the popular race was modified in some ways to better adapt to the current pandemic conditions. The traditional route was shortened to a hilly 43-kilometer looped course which started and finished at the Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI. Carmen Schroeder of Sturgeon Bay says the race was spread out over 5 days to help divide up the skiers from Wednesday through Sunday. Schroeder says the skiers were very well spaced apart…..
It did snow a few of those days, but Schroeder says luckily it didn’t snow while she skied, and it was a very enjoyable race……
This year the race was also offered virtually for those who wished to participate in a safer remote location. Bob Kuehn of the Town of Egg Harbor tell us about his remote experience in Ironwood…
In Sunday’s “Elite Classic Technique” race, 1st place for the men went to Ian Torchia from Rochester, MN, while the women’s 1st place went to Rosie Frankowski from Anchorage, Alakska. Everyone involved is hoping that next year’s “Birke” will be able to return to normal.
