Birkebeinerrennet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birkebeinerrennet (lit. The Birkebeiner run/race) is a long-distance cross-country ski race (ski marathon) held annually in Norway. It is Norway's race in the Worldloppet Ski Federation. It is one of three races held under the Birkebeiner moniker, the other two being Birkebeinerrittet (bicycling) and Birkebeinerløpet (cross-country running).
[edit] Race
The race starts at Rena and ends at Lillehammer, a distance of 54 km. The number of participants is limited to 12,000 and is usually fully subscribed.
[edit] History
The run has been held since 1932, and commemorates a trip made by the Birkebeiner loyalists to save the heir to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206. All participants carry a backpack weighing at least 3.5 kg, symbolizing the weight of the then one-year old heir.
In 2007, the race was canceled due to extremely high winds (90 km/h or 55 mph). However, at the time of cancellation, the event had been underway for nearly an hour, with roughly a quarter of the 13,000 competitors already on course. Despite the efforts of officials to send everyone back to the start, 55 hard-nosed Norwegians eventually reached the finish in Lillehammer, and upon being interviewed, blasted the decision to cancel the event [1].
| Worldloppet cross-country skiing races |
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| Europe: Birkebeinerrennet | Dolomitenlauf | Engadin Skimarathon | Finlandia-hiihto | Jizerská padesátka | König Ludwig Lauf | Marcialonga | Tartu Maraton | La Transjurassienne | Vasaloppet America: American Birkebeiner | Keskinada Loppet | Asia: Sapporo International Ski Marathon | Australia: Kangaroo Hoppet |
