Birkebeinerrennet next Saturday, March 18, is, along with Vasaloppet in Sweden, the most prestigious and legendary race as it is the biggest ski race in Norway, which is the mecca of cross-country skiing and has a long history and an intriguing tale upon which it has been founded.
Spring has arrived, and many of us eagerly wait for the warmth and the long days of the summer. But March is still a great month for skiing. There is still much snow, at least in most parts of Northern Europe, the daylight is slowly conquering the winter darkness, and the sun even shines on most days. And the most remarkable thing about the spring season is that we still have three Pro Tour events left in Ski Classics Season XIV, and the next one is Birkebeinerrennet this Saturday, March 18.
The 54-kilometer course takes off from Rena and goes to Lillehammer, the 1994 Olympic town. There are long climbs up to the mountains and breathtaking scenery for everyone to enjoy.
As we are getting ready for Birken, it makes sense to look at the event’s history. Like Vasaloppet, the saga of Birkebeiners and their brave rescue mission is worth exploring. Let’s go back in time to the year 1205:
All the Birken races are founded upon the legendary escape that the Birkebeiners, Skjervald Skrukka, and Torstein Skjevla, managed around New Year 1205/1206, rescuing the little prince Haakon Haakonssen from the Baglers. During this civil war, the faction rivaling the Birkebeiners, the Baglers, sought the young heir to the Norwegian throne.
Following the death of the Norwegian King Haakon Sverresson, the two rival factions, the Baglers and the Birkebeiners, fought to gain control of the country.
To keep Haakon Sverressons son – Haakon Haakonsson – from being killed by the Baglers and by that securing the throne, a small group of Birkebeiners brought prince Haakon and his mother, Inga, north.
Just after New Year’s Eve 1206, the two best skiers – Torstein Skevla and Skjervald Skrukka, carrying the child, chose the route across the mountains separating Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen. It was a strenuous journey, but the young prince was brought to safety in Trondheim. The prince grew to become the King who united Norway after 1000 years of civil war and led the country into its golden age during the Middle Ages.
The Baglers gave the name Birkebeinere and originally intended to be offensive – referring to their leggings of birch bark, indicating that they were poor and incapable. They proved the Baglers wrong, and today the name carries a sense of pride, strength, and endurance – something thousands of people participating in the historical race every year keep striving for.
In the fall of 1930, author and forester Haakon Lie published an article launching the idea of a ski race in honor of the 1206 rescue of the 18-month-old prince Haakon Haakonsson. Two years later – on January 10, 1932, 6 men – Fredrik Grundtvig, Agnar Renolen, Peder Olsen, Lars Høgvold, Halvor Kampen, and Olaf Larsen, met on the mountain Raufjellet, and formally decided to arrange the very first Birkebeinerrennet. In 1932 147 men completed the then 59 km long trail – first among them was Trygve Beisvåg, finishing on a respectable 4:51:40.
Next up is Birkebeinerrennet on Saturday, March 18. The race marks the twelfth Ski Classics event and the fourth Grand Classics Season XIV.
The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)
- Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
- Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
- Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km
- Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
- Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
- Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km
- Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
- Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
- Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
- Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
- Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
- Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
- Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km
More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site and live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentaries.
When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round.
Register HERE as a Member.
