FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Birkie Skiers and Spectators Share Their Perspective on Discover Wisconsin TV
HAYWARD, Wis. -- Discover Wisconsin, a television program showcasing great get-aways throughout the state, will feature the American Birkebeiner and its sister race, the Kortelopet, on January 7 and 8 on 18 major stations in the Midwest.
The annual event, this year held from February 23-25, 2006, attracts 9,000 skiers from around the world and 15,000 spectators to cheer them on.
The production is very well done and does a great job of highlighting the Birkie Trail, skiers, bikers, runners, hikers, volunteers, the surrounding community and our major sponsors,” said Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. “It shows what an impact this trail has on the region and state and what a delight it is for recreational and competitive athletes throughout the world.”
Viewers will hear from skiers of all ages and abilities who describe, in their own words, how the annual ski race has altered their lifestyles.
The segment shows the morning of the big race with competitors lined up in waves or groups based on competitive status. The first to hit the trail when the cannon sounds is the wave of elite men and women who are competing in the esteemed International Ski Federation (FIS) Marathon Cup series.
Next come 10 waves of participants leaving in groups of hundreds.
You line up in those gates and that alone is an awe-inspiring sight when you have that many skiers all ready for the gun,” said Don Sissons, a wave one skier, “and when the gate comes up you go for it and it’s a case of putting your head down and staying with the pack because it’s pretty fast and furious action. It’s really an enjoyable experience.”
An expected 9,000 skiers will descend upon the communities of Cable and Hayward, two small towns with a total population of 4,000, for Birkie 2006 races and events from Feb. 23-25.
Hundreds of volunteers from both communities as well as outlying regions will be on hand to stuff racer bib packets, slice oranges for race day food stations, and register eager skiers in the days leading up to the race.
Hundreds of business and community volunteers will staff hotels, restaurants and retail stores to assist skiers and their families.
Hundreds of volunteers will be on hand race day to hand out 10,000 oranges, 5,000 gallons of water and 5,000 gallons of Powerade sport drink.
And thousands of spectators -- 15,000 or more -- will line the trails and the Main Street finish line ringing cowbells and cheering skiers on.
To learn more about the Birkie, log onto www.birkie.com or tune into Discover Wisconsin on January 7 and 8 on one of the following stations:
NETWORK STATIONS Milwaukee - WITI TV 6 (FOX); Sundays, 10:00 a.m. Madison - WKOW TV 27 (ABC), Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Eau Claire WQOW TV 18 (ABC) Sundays, 5:00 p.m. La Crosse - WXOW TV 19 (ABC), Sundays, 5:00 p.m. Wausau - WAOW TV 9 (ABC), Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Superior/Duluth WDIO TV 10 (ABC), Sundays, 5:30 p.m. Green Bay WGBA TV 26 (NBC), Saturdays, 6:00 p.m. Rockford WIFR TV 23 (CBS), Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Cedar Rapids KFXA 28 (FOX), Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Dubuque KFXB TV 40 (FOX), Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Eagle River WYOW TV 34 (ABC) , Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Hibbing, MN WIRT TV 13 (ABC), Sundays, 5:30 p.m. Marinette/Menomonee W31BK (NBC), Saturdays, 6:00 p.m. Sturgeon Bay W22BW TV 22 (NBC), Saturdays, 6:00 p.m.
REGIONAL CABLE Minneapolis Fox Sports North, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Outdoor Block Chicago Fox Sports Chicago, Sundays, 11:30 a.m. Wisconsin(Statewide) Fox Sports North, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Outdoor Block Rochester/Austin Fox Sports North, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Outdoor Block
OTHER CABLE Deerfield WDEE TV 4, Daily, 7:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Sheboygan WSCS TV 8, Thursdays Fridays, 8:30 p.m., 10:30 a.m. Cottage Grove, WI Channel 12, Saturdays , 6:00 p.m. New London Cable 6, Sundays, 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. West Allis City Channel 25, Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m., 7:00 p.m. JATV 12 Janesville, Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Mauston PEG Station Channel 6, Tues. & Thurs., 10:00 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Baraboo W43BR, Mondays, Saturdays, 5:30 p.m., 11:00 a.m. To register for the 2006 Subaru American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet sponsored by the State Bank of Drummond and Cable Chamber of Commerce, Johnson Bank Prince Haakon 12K, Salomon Elite Sprints, Hayward Chamber of Commerce Citizen Sprints, Century Tel Junior Birkie, Cheqtel 5K/10K, Ski for the Cure! program, or the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, call 715-634-5025, e-mail [email protected], or log on to www.birkie.com.
Birkie 2006 is sponsored by Subaru, State Bank of Drummond, Cable Chamber of Commerce, Johnson Bank, Murphy McGinnis Media and other businesses throughout the region and country.