Snow-Making Machines Save 50th American Birkebeiner, But With Changes

CABLE, Wis. – Officials with the 50th Annual American Birkebeiner announced Monday evening that the races will go on next week in one form or another.

The Birkie won’t be taking its traditional path from Cable to Hayward and will instead take place on a 10 kilometer loop in Cable. Races that go beyond 10 kilometers will do loops.

Organizers said after the 2017 cancellation of the Birkie, it was the community that stepped up to help install a snow-making operation at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable. And it’s that system that’s keeping this year’s celebrations alive.

“As you can see it all coming to life right now, this is really what the investment … is all about. We want to create infrastructure that allows years like this, we can still have an American Birkebeiner experience,” said Ben Popp, executive director of the Birkie.

Crews have been hauling stock-piled snow throughout the modified race trail.

Race organizers are expecting as many as 15,000 skiers for the race’s 50th anniversary, so the event is expected to be congested.

The Birkie will be posting all types of information in the coming days on its website to help make this year’s event run as smoothly as possible for everybody.  The week-long festivities begin Feb. 20.

Click here to watch the full announcement about this year’s race.