American Birkebeiner
| American Birkebeiner | |
|---|---|
The finish line on Main Street in Hayward, Wisconsin, February 27, 2010 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Cross-country skiing race |
| Date(s) | February |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Cable, Wisconsin to Hayward, Wisconsin |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1973 |
| Website | https://www.birkie.com/ |
The American Birkebeiner, or Birkie, is the largest cross-country skiing race in North America. It debuted in 1973 and is a founding member of the Worldloppet federation of cross-country ski marathons. The Birkie's two premier events are the 50 km (31 mi) skate and the 55 km (34 mi) classic races between the towns of Cable and Hayward in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Each year more than 10,000 skiers participate in the Birkie, including the full-distances races, a 29 km (18 mi) Kortelopet race, and a 15 km (9.3 mi) Prince Haakon race.