Marathons – FasterSkier.com

“Like Riding a Bicycle”: American Birkebeiner’s Popp to Push Worldloppet Forward

Luke DykowskiJuly 17, 2024

“If you’re not pedaling, you’re going to fall over.” Last month, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation sprang into registrants’ inboxes with a summer announcement: Ben Popp, Wisconsin native and ABSF Executive Director since 2013, had been elected President of the Worldloppet International Ski Federation. Replacing Finland’s Juho Viljamaa, Popp will serve a four year term, effective immediately. He already has the regalia to prove it. The Federation’s gavel, a relic of the Tony Wise...

News

The 2024 Tour of Anchorage is Sunday

FasterSkierFebruary 26, 2024

One of North America’s only, and Alaska’s favorite, point-to-point ski race is this Sunday, March 3, 2024! More than 1200 skiers and 100 bikers to participate on excellent trail conditions. Alaska’s Nordic ski community celebrates ski racing and generations of standout local athletes at the annual Tour of Anchorage, the spring skiing festival, and one of North America’s most popular ski races on Sunday, March 3rd. The Fat Bike Tour of Anchorage welcomes back the...

Feature News

Victories by Diggins and Schumacher Highlight American Birkebeiner

John TeafordFebruary 25, 2024

It hasn’t always been the same race, but it has always been the American Birkebeiner. Courses have changed, directions have changed, ski techniques have changed, conditions have changed, field sizes have changed, reputations have changed. Thin snow conditions across the American Midwest even necessitated that his year’s race was not even contested on the Telemark trail between Cable and Hayward, but over five laps of a ten kilometer loop painstakingly preserved just for this event....

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A Tale of Two Birkies

Lumi ExperiencesFebruary 22, 2024

Most Birkie skiers are familiar with the legendary story of the original Norwegian Birkebeiners and how that inspired the famous cross country ski race in Norway, from Rena to Lillehammer; which in turn inspired the American Birkebeiner from Cable to Hayward. But what is the Norwegian Birkebeiner like today? I skied my first American and Norwegian Birkies last year and took away many impressions. “Wait, what?!” you ask. “Garrott, you lived in Hayward for 5...

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What’s the Worldloppet? Why a Worldloppet?

Lumi ExperiencesFebruary 1, 2024

Lumi Experiences guest Ron Sawdey from Salt Lake City, Utah took time to reflect on his 2023 trip to the Marcialonga & König Ludwig Lauf Worldloppet events in Italy, Germany and Austria. Ron’s reflections share some insider insights for both the uninitiated and Worldloppet Masters alike. Read on to learn more about the trip. – – – – – – – – – – For the uninitiated, you may have heard the words, “World Loppet”,...

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Runar Skaug Mathisen and Emilie Fleten Win Marcialonga

FasterSkierJanuary 28, 2024

Marcialonga—the seventh Ski Classics stage, and first Grand Classics event, Season XV—took place today in Trentino, Italy. The traditional Italian race—starting in Moena and finished in Cavalese—saw Runar Skaug Mathisen (Lager 157 Ski Team) and Emilie Fleten (Team Ramudden) mastering their respective races and winning the 51st edition of Marcialonga. MEN’S RACE In the men’s race, which started at 8:00 CET, the action started early with Team Ragde Charge, Team Eksjöhus, Team Ramudden, and Lager...

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Wrap Up Your Season, Save and Win at the Sovereign 2 SilverStar Ski Marathon

Sovereign 2 SilverStarJanuary 16, 2024

Location: (Beautiful!) British Columbia; SilverStar Mountain Resort and Sovereign Lake Nordic Club Technique/Format: April 6, Classic technique; April 7, Skate technique; Wave starts Distances: 21k & 40k To register or learn more: www.sovereign2silverstar.com Win! Finishing is Winning! The joy of finishing is top prize at Sovereign 2 SilverStar (S2S). We also have Age Awards for every 5 years. Club Championships: More to win in 2024! Last year Yellowknife won the $2,000 prize. This year, due to the popularity and close race, we have...

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Second Annual Sovereign to SilverStar Ski Marathon: Success

Sovereign 2 SilverStarApril 6, 2023

The second annual Sovereign to SilverStar Ski Marathon has successfully completed with 70% more registrations than in its inaugural year. With over 600 participants, and 800 entries over the two days of event the S2S has already grown into Canada’s 3rd largest loppet and the biggest in BC. This partnership event between Sovereign Lake Nordic Club and SilverStar Mountain Resort managed to raise $11,500 for Kidsport Vernon this year. Kidsport is a local charity that...

News

Wolter and Rudd Win 50th Annual Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour

FasterSkierFebruary 9, 2023

By: Jody Zarkos You could not have scripted a more perfect day for the 50th annual Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and the snow was plentiful as 967 skiers made their way down the Harriman Trail on Saturday. Making the quickest trip from start to finish was 24-year-old Peter Wolter of Hailey, who became the 14th men’s hometown champion in race history in a winning time of...

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A Look at Saturday’s 50th Annual Boulder Mountain Tour

FasterSkierFebruary 2, 2023

By: Jody Zarkos Hometown racers Peter Wolter and Mary Rose will both be wearing bib number 1 on Saturday, February 4 in the 50th annual Boulder Mountain Tour sponsored by Zions Bank. Fresh off his first World Cup ski races at Les Rousses, France, Peter has put together a strong season with 14 top 10 finishes in Super Tour races during the 2023 season with a victory in a 30km classic in Cable, Wisconsin, on...

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Emil Persson and Magni Smedås At Marcialonga

FasterSkierJanuary 29, 2023

Press Release Marcialonga, the seventh Ski Classics stage and first Grand Classics event Season XIV took place today in Italy. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, won the 70-kilometer-long race in grand style. The race that started in Moena and finished in Cavalese saw Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, mastering their respective races and winning the 50th edition of Marcialonga, the seventh event of...

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A Quest Toward Greatness: The 2023 Tour de Meissner

FasterSkierJanuary 29, 2023

By: Cynthia Engel The 2023 Tour de Meissner offered up an exceptional ski day for all skier ambitions. A classic-only ski tour that took place January 22, 2023 at Meissner Nordic Community Ski Area outside of Bend, Oregon, the Tour de Meissner delivered on everything that distinguishes an event from being good to being the one you mark on your calendar to make happen every year. Yes. A classic tour. The Tour de...

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Pacific Northwest Loppet Series

Sovereign 2 SilverStarJanuary 22, 2023

Editor’s note: FasterSkier is fortunate to have the partnership support of The Sovereign 2 SilverStar Ski Marathon. The Sovereign 2 SilverStar Ski Marathon is proud to announce the forming of the Pacific Northwest Loppet Series combining 4 events into one amazing event series. The events are located in Washington State and British Columbia and are structured in a manner that any age can win the series. The various event organizers are intending to join forces to...

Multimedia Photo Gallery

Gallery — Astrid Øyre Slind and Emil Persson Winners of Engadin La Diagonela

FasterSkierJanuary 22, 2023

Season XIV’s sixth Ski Classics event, 48-kilometer Engadin La Diagonela in Switzerland, saw Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, and Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, winning the race in superior style. The race that started in Pontresina and finished in Zuoz saw Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, dominating their respective races and winning Engadin La Diagonela 2023, the sixth event of Ski Classics Season XIV. ...