Murdock is not a new face to the Birkie. He has dedicated countless hours as chief of the seven food stations along the 51K American Birkebeiner and 23K Kortelopet race course and has worked closely with Rex Schulz, race operations director, in the weeks leading up to the ski marathon.

In addition to his first-hand knowledge of the Birkie from a course support standpoint, Murdock brings a wealth of experience in heavy equipment operation and maintenance to his new position. Murdock retired from the military in 1999 with 34 years of service as a mechanic, motor pool sergeant and Battalion supply sergeant. While serving in the Wisconsin National Guard, he also worked at Telemark Resort as outside maintenance and building supervisor. During his tenure at Telemark Resort he rebuilt a snow cat and installed two chair lifts.

In 1995 Murdock started a family mowing and snowplowing business, J-R Mowing, and for the past several years has mowed the Birkie trail.

"The trail supervisor plays a crucial role for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation," said Cherie Morgan, executive director. "We count on that person to remove trees and brush in the summer and fall months, and we count on that person to prepare and groom the trail once the snow falls. The trail supervisor puts in hundreds of hours in the months and days leading up to the February race and must have to expertise to optimally groom the trail for 7,000 skiers on race day.

"Kurt Proctor, our past trail supervisor, did an excellent job maintaining and preparing the trail during recent low-snow years, and we know that Bob will continue with his own expertise."

Murdock is currently removing trees, stumps and brush from the Birkie trail and will groom the course with a new Piston Bulley snow groomer that allows trail grooming on as little as three inches of snow.