For cross-country skiers of the Hayward-Cable area, February is the sweetest month of the ski season. We are in the fullness of our skiing, having skied ourselves into shape over the past couple of months. And even as we are enjoying the snow,  warmer temperatures promising the approach of spring. Life doesn’t get much better. Perhaps best of all, this is the month that brings the skiing world to our towns for the American Birkebeiner. We get to enjoy the sport and our local trail with people from all over the world who share our enthusiasm for powering ourselves over the snow. Hopefully the snow gods will bless us again with conditions for a full length Birkie. We welcome our fellow skiers and wish them fast skis and a wonderful experience at this year's event.

The Birkie turns 32 years old this year. What has kept the event at the forefront of Nordic skiing in America all those years? What brings more people to the Birkie than the next 3 most popular races around the U.S. combined? I reflected on this as I enjoyed the new snow one afternoon this week. There are probably as many reasons as skiers, but I think a few reasons are shared by all of us.

Certainly the Birkie trail itself is a big part of the event's allure. It throws down a difficult challenge to skiers of every ability. The hills offer hard climbs and rapid descents for almost 34 miles. Only two paved roads cross the trail, making it a unique wilderness experience. Cross country skiers are a hardy lot, and they take up the challenge of the event knowing there will come a time during the race when the toughness of the topography and the distance demand the skier dig deep to muster the will to keep going. This is true whether the skier is a top 10 finisher trying to hang on during the sprint across Lake Hayward or an 8 hour skier trying to reach the finish line before dark. The difficulty of the trail gives us each an opportunity to prove something to ourselves about our courage and strength of will.  The beauty of the trail gives us an environment of natural beauty in which to exercise those strengths. It's a combination not often found in our modern world.

The pageantry of the Birkie is an attraction in its own right. Over the years some truly remarkable sights have been created at the Birkie. I remember a 30-foot long Viking ship of crystal clear ice, sculpted in amazing life-like detail. Skydivers have leaped out of planes and swooped to earth trailing streamers and smoke over the eager thousands of racers below as they waited for the gun to go off. In the early days of the race, back in the late 70s, thousands of skiers clambered like lycra-clad ants up and over the 385 foot Mt. Telemark as the race began with the course’s biggest challenge. The display of vivid color as the brightly clad river of skiers flows through the bare trees is a thrill to be part of and a spectacle to watch. It’s exhilarating to mingle with the crowd packed on both sides of the snowed in Main Street in downtown Hayward and watch thousands of skiers sprinting, or in some cases struggling to reach the finish line after skiing for hours. Witness the future of the sport at the Barne Birkie, or Children’s Birkie, where 1500 or more children from ages 2 to 13 eagerly race down the Main Street toward a finish line surrounded by tents with hot chocolate and cookies for all of them.

The camaraderie of the event is a strong attraction for all of us. After 32 years of gathering to indulge in this rite of winter, there are a lot of friends to meet and enjoy once more. A small handful of skiers have skied every race. Lots of us have skied 20 or more, so the Birkie is a homecoming, a gathering of the Birkie alumni, when we gather with old friends who share a passion for skiing, for challenging ourselves once more on the hills and over the lake.

The Birkie volunteers are an important part of the event’s sustaining energy. The cheers of support and the refreshment handups along the trail give each skier a surge every 10 kilometers. Feeling cared for by an army of volunteers gives a lasting feeling of warmth and welcome to locals and visitors alike. 

There are many reasons the Birkie is so well loved. Plan to be there this year, on February 26th, on the starting line or the sidelines and you'll understand what Birkie Fever is all about.