"By giving the Kortelopet a new identity in its race course we feel more skiers will accept the challenge of the half marathon distance Kortelopet," said executive director Cherie Morgan. "The changes we are making in the Kortelopet will offer skiers the opportunity to ski their own race. They will experience the majestic start of the largest cross country ski race in North America before venturing onto their own course to race against each other to a spectacular finish line."

The 2001 Kortelopet and Birkebeiner will begin at the Cable Union Airport . At Timber Trail Road (9 kilometer mark) the Kortelopet will enter a new Bayfield County Trail that leads into the Telemark Resort trail system. Once on the Telemark trail system skiers will follow segments of the Birkebeiner Loop, the Bauer Trail and the World Cup Trail. The race will finish 23K from the start at the Telemark Resort in Cable.

The new course will not only improve the race for the Kortelopet skiers but also for the Birkebeiner skiers. Birkie skiers will now ski a less congested trail from 9K to the finish located on Main Street in Hayward.

"The benefits of this new course are numerous," said Morgan. "The overall experience for Birkie and Kortelopet skiers will be greatly improved. The new Kortelopet course is considered to be easier while still offering participants the challenge that attracts skiers from around the world. We also believe that the new course provides spectators with excellent opportunities to see the start, finish and possibly even portions of the race. Skiers and spectators will enjoy the services offered by Telemark Resort and the Foundation will provide free busing to and from the start and finish lines," she said.

The idea for this new race course was brought to the Foundation by citizens of the Cable Community who saw an opportunity to create a more user friendly race course for Kortelopet skiers. "The Foundation greatly appreciates all of the work members of the Cable Community have put into developing this course proposal. Their participation helps us reach our goal of providing a better experience for skiers and spectators of the American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet," said Morgan.

For more information or to register for the American Birkebeiner or Kortelopet call 715/634-5025, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.birkie.com.

Map of proposed new course.