Nordic skiing: Detroit Lakes well represented at the 49th American Birkebeiner

HAYWARD, WI – Thousands of cross-country skiers from around the world take their talents to Hayward and Cable, Wisconsin, for the largest and longest annual cross-country skiing event in North America, the American Birkebeiner. Some of the Detroit Lakes athletes took part in the 49th edition of the amazing 50 km race, which took place on February 25.

Dylan and Berit Ramstad Skoyles, Charlie Ramstad, Jim Ziegler, Ellen Teiken, Dan Josephson, Glenn Gifford and Knute Thorsgard represented Detroit Lakes at the Birkie Classic.

The race started at the American Birkebeiner Trail trailhead in Cable, Wisconsin. Skiers braved the elements, skied through the trees of the Birkie Trail, glided across Hayward Lake, crossed the American Birkebeiner International Bridge and ended in Hayward, Wisconsin on Main Street.

Dylan was skiing in his seventh Birkie. With a time of 3:37:21 he took 177th place out of 1,659 competitors. Berit competed in her eighth Birkie. Her time was 4:25:11, which gave her the 591st best time. This was Charlie’s twelfth Birkie. He finished the race with a time of 5:17:50 and took 1011th place.

Josephson finished 329th with a time of 3:53:55. Ziegler finished the race with a time of 6:14:24 and placed 1,355th in his sixth Birkie. In the third Birkie, Teiken achieved a time of 7:12:24, which gave her 1555th place.

Gifford finished the race in 6:50:53, and Thorsgard finished the 50K race in 7:00:05.

Kira Wolf, Zach Foltz, Nikki Caulfield and Dotz Johnson competed in the Kortelopet Classic on February 24. The 29-kilometer race started at Kortelopet Stadium at OO Trailhead and finished in downtown Hayward.

Wolf participated in her first skiing competition. With a time of 1:50:50, she took 68th place out of 1,058 competitors. She was fifth in her age group and 22nd among women. Foltz skied her fourth Korte, placing 155th in 2:09:42. Caulfield finished the race in 4:51:48 and placed 1,036th. Johnson finished 964th with a time of 4:12:18.