The Birkie has become a very important part of our winter since 2004. For 10 years Randy skied the 55km event carrying a 5.5 kg pack. That represented the weight of Prince Haakon. Several skiers would strap on a stuffed animal to represent the baby. Randy had a bear with a Viking helmet. Sadly the …
A number of years ago, possibly 2010 or earlier when the Edmonton Journal was a sponsor, John Lucas was the lead photographer who was assigned to photograph the Birkie. He did so well that one of his photos became the front page the day following the event. The photo was of a Viking on skis …
Trailgroomers having fun in the sun and SNOW today in Birkieland! There are about 25 Trail Blazers who work in small groups to cut back shrubs, move debris and make trail improvements with Alberta Parks staff.
Canadian Birkebeiner Society represented at the River’s Edge Ultra. TRAIL junkies checked out our Birkie display. Go trail runners!!
Eight Birkie volunteers ran our busy aid station at the Tour de l’Alberta bike race! Way to help out!!! They gave out tourtière, sandwiches, crepes and fruit at the Miquelon Lake rest stop. Thanks for being the best year-round volunteers rain, snow or shine!
Keeping the ski legs primed out at Cooking Lake Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area!! Our Birkie skiers are taking advantage of the summer months to prepare for the 2020 Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival. #CdnBirkie
Moving Day!!!!!! The Birkie moved to a new office today. We are so excited!!! Thank you to our volunteers who hauled furniture and storage boxes to our new address. We so greatly appreciate your assistance. Our new address is Canadian Birkebeiner Society, 7240 – 82 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 0G1. Let us know at 780-430-7153 …
Written by Frank Haley who presented this speech at the Vikings Feast on February 9, 2019 The first Edmonton Birkebeiner ski race was set for the second Saturday in February of 1985, to start from Devon, and finish at Fort Edmonton. The course followed the river, downhill. It sounded easy. We had our wooden skis …
by Jayleen Wilke My most memorable/touching Birkie story doesn’t necessarily come from the race itself but from an encounter at the Vikings Feast after the big race. After 6 years of doing the Birkie Lite, in 2017, I thought it was finally time to go to the feast and see what it’s all about. And of …
by Jim Black, veteran and scarred skier Once upon a time ….in the early days of the Birkie – perhaps 1994 … in the era when skiers were provided a black plastic bag and number tag for their clothes to be transported from the UCHV to Waskahegan … I arose up early on Birkie morning, as …