This winter wonderland event annually draws some of the world's best professionals as well as the most zealous amateurs and everyone in between. This year's race is no exception with Olympic-caliber athletes and recreational skiers registering in droves.

They'll be catered to by race officials and organizers and the 2,000 volunteers who make the race possible. They'll be cheered on by 20,000 spectators. They'll be winners no matter if they are among the elite who finish the 51K race in as little as two hours or if they are among the final skiers to cross the finish line at the nine hour mark.

Their reward? A medal, a pat on the back, and the satisfaction of knowing they accomplished one tough mission -- skiing North America's largest and most prestigious cross country ski race.

The American Birkebeiner, launched in 1973 by Tony Wise, was patterned on an event from the Norwegian civil war of 1206. Two Viking soldiers, nicknamed birkebeiners for the birch-bark leggings they wore, skied 55 kilometers to rescue the infant prince of Norway, Hakon Hakonsson, who was later crowned king.

Since 1973 more than 100,000 skiers from all walks of life have completed their own Birkebeiner in Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin. That Mother Nature put the kabosh on last year's event has not deterred skiers in the least.

"We have plenty of snow on the trail this year, and we're on track for 6,500 skiers on race day," said Cherie Morgan, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. "When all is said and done, we anticipate nearly 9,000 skiers from 19 countries and 45 United States participating in Birkie events and festivities."

The numbers shake out to 6,500 skiers in the Birkie and Kortelopet, 1,500 skiers ages 3-13 in the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, 400 skiers in the Chequamegon Telephone Cooperative 10K Family Fun Race, 200 skiers ages 10-15 in the Junior Birkie, 40 skiers in the Salomon Elite Sprints, and 100 skiers in the Hayward Chamber of Commerce Citizen Sprints.

Top that with logistical race day numbers including 11 food and medical stops, 10,000 oranges, 5,000 bananas, 4,000 cups of hot chocolate, 600 gallons of soup, 5,000 gallons of water, 98,000 cups, 1,500 gallons of sport drink, 16,000 cookies, 15,000 bread rolls, 165 portable toilets, 4,000 medals, 7,100 pins, and 18,000 ski stickers and you can understand why these small rural communities are in high gear with race day preparations.

No one is complaining, however. Volunteers are coming out of the woodwork to help at the Birkie office or on race day. Area residents are opening their homes to elite skiers from around the world. Area businesses are gearing up to handle the influx of skiers and spectators. Amy Walter, executive director of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce, says that Birkie festivities are a positive highlight of the winter.

"The Birkie is something the entire business community focuses on because everybody is affected no matter what type of business," she said. "Everybody, whether lodging, food or retail, has to prepare and make sure they have staffing available. We all work together and look forward to it."

The 2001 Johnson Bank American Birkebeiner, which is part of a Worldloppet series of 14 international ski marathons, part of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Marathon Cup series and part of the American Ski Marathon series, is the largest cross country ski race in North America. It starts at the Cable Union Airport, continues on some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain of any location in the Worldloppet series, and finishes in downtown Hayward.

The 2001 Kortelopet, the half-marathon ski race which will be skied on a new course this year, also starts at the Cable Union Airport, splits from the Birkie at nine kilometers, continues on scenic and hilly Bayfield County and Telemark trails, and finishes as a race of its own at Telemark Resort in Cable.

The two races are the grand finale to three days of shorter races, sprints, family events and equipment demonstrations. For more information or to register for the 51K Birkebeiner, 23K Kortelopet, Hayward Chamber of Commerce Citizen Sprints, Junior Birkie, Chequamegon Telephone 10K, or the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, call 715-634-5025, e-mail [email protected], or log on to www.birkie.com.

Birkie 2001 is sponsored by Johnson Bank, Subaru, Murphy McGinnis Media and other businesses throughout the region and country.