The Board of Directors for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) is searching for two cross country skiers to dress as Birkebeiner warriors and a woman skier to represent Inga, the mother of baby Prince Haakon to ski the 54 kilometer journey from Cable to Hayward on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 re-enacting a historic event more than 800 years ago.
The three skiers will dress in authentic gear, ski on wooden skis, and depict the 800-year-old rescue of Prince Haakon (Hō-ken), the baby who became one of the most popular kings in Norwegian history. Inga will ski either the 54-kilometer Classic Birkie or 23-kilometer Kortelopet before meeting up with the Birkie warriors and baby Prince Haakon at the finish line on Main Street in Hayward.
The Birkebeiner warriors became a Norwegian symbol of courage, perseverance and character in the face of adversity; and the historic rescue inspired the creation of three ski marathons - the Birkebeinerrennet in Lillehammer, Norway, launched in 1932 and skied on the same route as the famous rescue; the American Birkebeiner, launched in 1973 when the late Tony Wise looked to his Norwegian roots to create a high-profile event for Telemark, his ski lodge in Cable, Wisconsin; and the Canadian Birkebeiner, launched in 1985 in Alberta, Canada.
Inga and the Birkie 2011 warriors will serve as “ambassadors on the trail” encouraging both skiers and volunteers. The warriors will carry a baby doll along the course until Main Street where they’ll pick up a real infant “Prince” before skiing the last two blocks with Inga to the finish line.
“The reenactment has become a great tradition that our skiers, volunteers, and spectators look forward to every year,” said Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the ABSF. “We feel it is important to highlight the historic roots of the race with Inga, Baby Prince Haakon and the two Birkebeiner warriors. We are challenging skiers to find a friend, and tell us in 300 words or less why they would be the best Birkie 2011 warriors, Torstein (TOR-stine) and Skervald (SHER-vol).”
Entries must show ability, passion and tradition and demonstrate that the pair is capable of skiing the 54-kilometer challenging course on wooden skis while wearing the warrior costumes, carrying weapons of the era, and transporting baby Prince Haakon.
“The Inga entries can be part of or separate from the warrior entries,” Zuelsdorff said. “Again, we are looking for a 300-word essay that shows passion, ability and tradition and demonstrates why the entrant should be selected as the cherished mother of the baby Prince.”
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation will supply the Birkebeiner and Inga outfits and Birkebeiner weapons. Selected skiers must supply their own wooden skis.
To enter the competition, email a 300-word essay to media@birkie.com (one essay per warrior pair and one for each Inga). The deadline is November 15, and men and women are encouraged to apply.
“Be concise and persuasive,” Zuelsdorff said. “The warriors and Inga winners from 2009 and 2010 will review the essays and select the winners who will ski as the 2011 Birkebeiner warriors as well as the winning Inga. All three winners will be announced on December 10, 2010.”
Thom Gerst, Coon Rapids, Minn., and brother Gary, Maple Grove, Minn., replicated the rescue in 2008; Jeff Cummisford, Waukesha, Wisc., and best friend Richard Pierce, Verona, Wisc., portrayed the warriors in 2009 and brothers David Nelson Medicine Lake, Minn. and Grant Nelson, Duluth, Minn., served as the 2010 warriors. The contest was started in 2003 and all of the former winners remarked that skiing as one of the Birkebeiner warriors made that Birkie their most memorable.
Gail Moede Rogall, Madison, Wisc., and son Bjorn represented Inga and Prince Haakon in the 2008 rescue. In 2009 Lyndsey Lewis, Fort Collins, Colo., and son Piercen assumed the roles of Inga and Prince Haakon. Josie Nelson, Medicine Lake, Minn., and son Karl served as the 2010 Inga and Prince Haakon. All three women commented that participating in the re-enactment was a very positive experience and one that their families will never forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment