Cross-country ski fans, including several UW-Madison students, united at the legendary Birkebeiner race over the weekend. The American Birkebeiner drew more than 8,000 contestants and 20,000 spectators filling the woods and streets of Cable and Hayward in northern Wisconsin.
\It was a blast, really cool,"" said UW-Madison graduate student Anders Loken, a foreign exchange student from Norway.
Loken traveled to the race with 15 other UW-Madison students and alumni. Hundreds of students from schools nationwide also participated in the event.
84-year-old Sven Wiik, who helped blaze trails for the race some 30 years ago, opened this year's race. The Birkebeiner name and legacy comes from birch-bark leggings worn by heroes who skied a Norwegian prince to safety in 1206. The event is modeled after a similarly named event in Norway and is part of a world cross-country ski circuit.
The three-day ""Birkie"" has several events. It includes the 51-kilometer American Birkebeiner, the 23-kilometer Kortelopet, the 12-km Prince Haakon, a 10-km Junior Birkie, and some sprint events. The tracks lay between Cable and Hayward, with Hayward's Main Street being the final lap and finish line of the Birkebeiner.
Italy was in force taking first, second and third place in the men's division of the 51-km event. Marco Cattaneo, Pier Luigi Costantin and Ivan Margaroli were followed by the top placing American, Leif Zimmermann of Montana, in fourth. In the female division victory once again belonged to Italy's Lara Peyrot.
Peyrot said she had some problems at the beginning of the race but that she warmed up quickly. This is her third consecutive win at the American Birkebeiner and she was very pleased.
Italian Cristina Paluselli and Idaho's Brooke Baughman finished in second and third, respectively, in the female division.
Champ Cattaneo said conditions were the best he has seen in five years. He usually skis behind three-time Birkie-champ teammate Zanetel but when Zanetel did not return this year Cattaneo put himself on the winner's stand.
The 23-km Kortelopet was won by Ben Fick from Marine on St. Croix, Minn. Maria Stuber of Marquette, Mich. crossed the finish line first in the female division.
Loken, who participated in the 12-km Prince Haakon event, said there was a cheering crowd to greet him at the finish, tailgating with barbecues and beer. ""I stopped twice for a beer,"" he smiled.
Spectators snowmobiled out to share goodies and cheers with the participants.
""People were nice, very, very nice,"" said Lokan. ""We met the Italian team and invited them over for drinks. It was a good time.\
