Birkebeinerrennet next Saturday, March 16, 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 is just around the corner, and many of us eagerly wait for the warmth and the long days of the summer. But March and April are still great months 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. The most remarkable thing about the spring season is that we still have four Pro Tour events left in Ski Classics Season XV, and the next one is Birkebeinerrennet this Saturday, March 16.

Also Read – Birkebeinerrennet: The fourth Grand Classics event Season XV

The 54-kilometer course starts in Rena and ends in Lillehammer, the 1994 Olympic town. It includes long climbs up the mountains and breathtaking scenery.

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 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 March 16. The event marks the twelfth Ski Classics stage and another Grand Classics event, Season XV.

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

SKI CLASSICS PRO TOUR SEASON XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com

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