Archives 2024
Price Hikes: Sisu Ski Fest, Seeley Hills Classic
November 12, 2024Two price hikes coming this week:
Jan 11 Sisu Ski Fest - The big Midwest opener is filling fast! Register by Friday night, Nov 15th, to avoid the fee jump.
Jan 11 Seeley Hills Classic - Kick and glide from the Korte start. Register by Thursday night, Nov 14th, to avoid the fee jump.
Team Birkie Launches Sponsorship Initiative
November 12, 2024Team Birkie, with five Olympians and multiple Birkie victories, showcases the region's commitment to an active, outdoor lifestyle. Businesses can now partner with Team Birkie to connect with a health-conscious, upwardly-mobile population and support athletes inspiring the next generation in the upper Midwest.
Tour de Finn: 2024-2025 Updates
November 12, 2024The Tour de Finn is gearing up for its second season and has announced its lineup for the 2024-2025 season. Building off of last season, they're implementing a selection of rule changes to make their schedule more accommodating and to better account for race cancelations (which we saw plenty of this past winter), plus they've added two more offerings: the Dirtbag Series, and the Skiwerx Series.
U of M's ESPI Releases Report on Survey of Midwest Nordic Coaches
November 11, 2024The 2023-24 winter season in the Upper Midwest faced significant challenges due to warm temperatures and low snowfall. The Univ of Minnesota's Equitable Sport and Physical Activity Innovations (ESPI) Lab has published their survey of over 100 Midwest Nordic ski coaches. The survey revealed widespread disruptions to training, increased costs, and logistical challenges. Despite these difficulties, coaches remained resilient and adapted, though many expressed concerns about climate change's future impact. The report also contains number of suggestions.
MNHSNSCA: Preseason High School Rankings
November 11, 2024The Minnesota High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association (MNHSNSCA) has published their preseason rankings for the Minnesota High School Nordic ski season. Returning champs Linnea Ousdigian and Logan Drevlow get the number one spot, with Washburn girls and Brainerd boys the early favorites.
Birkie: Inaugural Shred de She Fat Bike Event Announced
November 11, 2024The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is hosting Shred de She, a new women's fat biking event Jan 3-5th in Cable. Modeled after the successful Ski de She series, the event aims to encourage female riders of all levels to explore winter fat biking, develop skills, and connect with a community of enthusiasts. The event will feature skill-building clinics, guided trail rides, and wellness workshops.
Loppet Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director Meghan Cosgrove
November 8, 2024The Loppet Foundation has named Meghan Cosgrove as its new Executive Director. Cosgrove, with a track record of making the outdoors more inclusive, looks to build on the organization's success and continue its mission of growing the cross-country skiing community through experiences that foster diversity and equity.
NNF Launches Officials' Grant to Boost TD Pool
November 7, 2024The National Nordic Foundation (NNF) has launched an Officials' Grant Program to support volunteers who officiate cross-country skiing competitions. The initiative aims to create a sustainable fundraising model and address the long-standing need for more FIS Technical Delegates (TD). The grant program seeks to reduce financial barriers for new officials, with a focus on recruiting recently retired athletes and others motivated to stay involved in the sport.
Midwest Racing Season Preview
November 7, 2024After a warm start to fall, a chill has entered the air which can only mean one thing—winter is coming. Despite a subdued 2023/2024 season on the racing front, each new season brings a renewed sense of excitement to see the first flakes fly, and we're looking to bottle some of that excitement as we preview the Midwest racing scene for the 2024/2025 season.
Price Hike: Fat Bike Birkie
November 5, 2024Set for March 8th, the Fat Bike Birkie provides the one-day unique experience of racing Fat Bikes on the famous American Birkebeiner trail. The event offers a wide range of categories and distance -- something for everyone. The next price hike is midnight Thursday, Nov 7th, so get your registration in by Thursday night!
Ariens to Host First U.S. Biathlon Masters Nationals
November 4, 2024Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion, WI, will host the inaugural U.S. Biathlon Masters Nationals and NorAm Masters Championships on February 14-16th. The event offers midwest cross-country skiing and biathlon enthusiasts, including masters athletes from the region, a chance to compete at a world-class venue. Medals will be awarded in five age categories, plus an "Open" division for athletes under 30.
Price Hikes: Sisu Ski Fest, Birkie Week Events
October 29, 2024Two notable price hikes coming Friday, so sign up by Thursday night to save:
- Jan 11 Sisu Ski Fest
- Feb 19-22 Birkie Week Events
Sisu Ski Fest: Races Over Half Full, Price Hike Coming Friday
October 28, 2024Registration is now open for the 16th annual SISU Ski Fest. The ski races will take place Saturday, Jan 11th in Ironwood, MI. Sign up before Friday, Nov 1st and save on this quality early season race on natural snow in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
CXC Rollerski Championships Coverage
October 27, 2024The CXC Rollerski Championships were held over the weekend on the asphalt trails at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. Team Birkie and World Cup athletes Alayna Sonnesyn and Zak Ketterson showcased top form on the weekend, with Ketterson taking the 10K skate and classic sprint titles and Sonnesyn also winning the 10K skate and coming in second in the sprint final. Full results linked in, along with classic sprint photos from Bryce Kryzer.
Coaching Positions
October 15, 2024High school Nordic ski season starts in less than a month and there are still some coaching positions open. Also posted, Coach Development Coordinator with the Loppet Foundation.
Price Hike: Birkie Tour, Night Race
October 15, 2024The Birkie Tour and Night Race weekend is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th. Save some on fees by registering by Thursday night.
MNHSNSCA Fall Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2024The annual Minnesota High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association meeting was last weekend in Mora. Some highlights from the published meeting minutes: discussion on proposed changes to State Meet qualification, proposal update on season dates; update on State Meet venues; update on head gear rules.
USCSA: Collegiate Nordic Teams Guide
October 8, 2024USCSA is promoting a new guide to help skiers get the most detailed information on collegiate skiing opportunities around the US. Produced by a student/athlete, the guide contents team descriptions from actual athletes and coaches, from all the divisions.
Biathlon: Sixteen Athletes Named to Final Pre-Season Camp in Vuokatti
October 7, 2024U.S. Biathlon has announced the roster for the European pre-season camp to take place in Vuokatti, Finland, which includes a bevy of Midwest skiers. The final on-snow camp will later determine the trimester one IBU World Cup and IBU Cup rosters.
Team Birkie Announces 2024-2025 Development Team
October 3, 2024Team Birkie's Regional Development Team adds six Minnesota athletes: Adrik Kraftson, Benon Brattebo, Colin Freed, Greta Hansen, Maggie Wagner, and Morgan Richter. All are NCAA skiers with strong local backgrounds, supporting Midwest talent development.
US Ski Team: 2024-2025 Cross-Country Team Announced
September 12, 2024The U.S. Ski & Snowboard named 27 athletes to the 2024-25 Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. A big roster with a number of Midwest skiers selected: Jessie Diggins, A Team along with Kevin Bolger and Zak Ketterson, B Team. Plus coaches and support staff: Eli Brown, Chris Hecker and Paul Choudoir, World Cup Service; Kristen Bourne, D Team Coach.
Birkie Trail Run Film Festival
September 5, 2024New this year, the Birkie is offering a Friday evening film festival at Mount Telemark Village. As part of the Trail Run weekend, Sep 27-28th, the event is open to all and your ticket includes Mt. Telemark Hike, complimentary beverage, fun and games, campfires and s'mores.
Out There: Citizen Race Service
September 5, 2024Out There ski shop is offering race service for a number of local ski races this winter, including the Seeley Hills Classic, City of Lakes events, SISU Ski Fest and more. Sign up to get more details on the packages they'll be offering this winter.
NNF: Application for Trail to Gold Fellowship Open
August 27, 2024The National Nordic Foundation (NNF) is excited to announce that the application period for Trail to Gold Coaching Grants is now open. The Trail to Gold Coaching Grant program provides American women coaches and technicians the opportunity to gain international-level experience through an immersive internship with the US Ski Team. Application deadline is Sept 9th.
Utah Will Host 2034 Winter Olympics
July 24, 2024Salt Lake City, Utah has been selected to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, a decision made during the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Paris, France. The historic decision marks the fifth time the Winter Olympic Games have been held in the USA and 32 years since Utah last hosted the world.
Shoreline Sprints Coverage
July 17, 2024Out There's big two-day rollerski festival, the Shoreline Sprints, were held last weekend in Rice Lake. In the 15K classic race on Friday, Mariel Pulles and Zak Ketterson took the victories. Saturday's freestyle sprint titles went to Zak Ketterson in a tight finish over Julian Smith and Mariel Pulles again for the women. Check out a full recap, results, photos and video clips!
Out There: Shoreline Rollerski Races This Weekend
July 7, 2024The Shoresline Sprints rollerski features two days of racing, including a classic distance race on Friday and then skate sprints on Saturday. Pro, senior and junior athletes from the US, Canada and Estonia are expected to compete. Races are this Friday and Saturday, July 12th and 13th -- spectators encouraged to come out and cheer!
CXC: Rollerski Cup Series
June 29, 2024CXC Rollerski Cup is on again this summer, starting July 10th in Cable. Additional stops include Blue Mounds, Duluth and back in Cable.
Birkie's Ben Popp Elected as Worldloppet President
June 16, 2024At the recent General Meeting for the Worldloppet, held this year in Sapporo, Japan, the American Birkebeiner's Executive Director Ben Popp was elected as the new Worldloppet International Skifederation President. The Birkie was the place of birth of the Worldloppet concept back in 1978.
Midwest MTB Report
May 31, 2024May has come and gone, and despite a lot of rain throughout the Midwest the mountain bike scene has been going strong. June brings with it warmer temps and even longer days, so to give us some inspiration of what to do with those extra minutes Jay Richards has for us another installment of his Midwest MTB report.
Team Birkie Regional Team Announced
May 26, 2024Emma Stertz, Dolcie Tanguay, Connor Roberts, and David Ronnevik join Team Birkie's Regional Team for post-collegiate ski racing development. The experienced athletes, including former biathletes and a state high school standout, aim to benefit the Midwest ski community. Aidan Ripp joins the Continental Team after a stellar USCSA career.
Midwest MTB Report
May 23, 2024Bouncing back after a tough break with a wrist injury a month back, Jay Richards returns this week with a new Midwest MTB Report. Covering the start of the series season in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, this week's report includes highlights from race #1 in the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series and race #2 in the Wisconsin Off-Road Series, plus news and notes related to the trails at Telemark, racing at Split Rock, and World Cup at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
World Cup Returns to the US - Lake Placid 2026
May 16, 2024At the US and Snowboard Spring Congress earlier this week it was unveiled that Lake Placid will host the World Cup Finals in March 2026. Nordic Insights reports on the tentative agreement.
Team Birkie: Junior Development Education
May 10, 2024Team Birkie offers Champions Corner to educate junior athletes through monthly Zoom sessions with ambassadors David Norris and Jessica Yeaton. The elite skiers share insights on training, nutrition, technique and race tactics. Designed to empower athletes of all levels, the interactive series also offers valuable life skills. Recordings are available.
Twin Cities Natives Bolster Team Birkie Marathon Squad
May 6, 2024Team Birkie's Marathon Team gets a big boost with the addition of three former standout Loppet Nordic Racing junior skiers - Abigail Drach, Nicole Eliasson (Schneider), and Vivian Johnson (Hett). The Twin Cities natives bring impressive credentials from junior/collegiate national teams and NCAA All-American honors and will be led by Team Birkie High Performance Manager, Chad Salmela. Note: Team Birkie still has registration open for the College Summer Program.
Ariens Nordic Center to Host Inaugural Biathlon Masters Nationals in 2025
May 6, 2024The Ariens Nordic Center in Wisconsin will host the inaugural U.S. Biathlon Masters Nationals and North American Masters Championships on Feb 14-16, 2025. In collaboration with Biathlon Canada, this first-ever event is expected to bring one of the largest gatherings of masters biathletes from across North America for sprint, mass start, and individual competitions across five age groups.
Snake River Canoe Race Results
May 4, 2024With an early ice out this year, water sports have been off to a quick start which was no more evident than at this year's Snake River Canoe Race. Well over 200 participants took part in the 43rd running of the event, its largest turnout post-Covid. The top times in the Pro Boat division went to the teams of Dana Henry/David Nelson (male), Patricia Bohaty/Jessica Kozarek (female), and Kira Stolen/Jeremiah Menk (mixed); while the fastest finishers in the Open Racing division were the teams of Blake Ferree/Jake Hway (male), Kari Henry/Krista Matison (female), and Chris Broderson/Emily Broderson (mixed). A full breakdown of the results, including additional division winners, is linked in below.
2023-24 Season Highlights
May 1, 2024Catch highlights plus full results and photos from the 2023-2024 collegiate racing season.
2023-24 Season Highlights
May 1, 2024Catch highlights plus full results and photos from the 2023-2024 high school racing season.
Birkie Registration Now Open
May 1, 2024Registration for the Slumberland American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet, Prince Haakon, Birkie Tour, and Open Track events opened on May 1st. Secure your wave placement and get in on early pricing by registering now!