It has been just about two weeks since the great cross country ski gathering in the Northwoods of Wisconsin! All who participated inthe Birkebeiner, whether racing, cheering from the sidelines, or supporting friends and family on course, know that it was a unique and unforgettable year.
Leading up to the Birkie, I (like many other ski fanatics), made my way to Theodore Wirth Park to watch the World Cup races unfold on my home ski trails. Initially, deciding to go watch the World Cup was a little bittersweet for me as I had big goals to qualify for these races myself. I decided that I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to cheer for my friends and teammates and be part of this historic event. The Midwest ski community came out in full force for this World Cup weekend, and it was truly the most amazingthing I have ever seen.
Coming off the high of the World Cup weekend, I was feeling inspired and excited for the Birkie weekend. On Saturday morning I woke up andwas feeling good. After some oatmeal and coffee with my mom, who was also racing, I grabbed my skis- a great pair of Salomon Rainbow base skis with anSL21 Factory grind- and headed to the Birkie trails!
This year’s Birkie course was five laps around the 10-kilometersnow ribbon, meandering through the stadium, powerline, and the surroundingtrails. Given the heightened competition and the altered course, I approachedthe start line with a mixture of excitement and nerves, standing shoulder toshoulder with Jessie Diggins.
The race started out hot for the first 5 kilometers, but as the chase pack formed, our pace evened out a bit. We had a pretty big group of about 10 women, but as the kilometers ticked by, the pack began to shrink. I knew that my body was feeling good, so I took turns leading the group and tried to push the pace. On the final climb everyone began to make moves as we were fighting for the 3rd place spot. Alayna had a strong sprint up the last hill and landed in 3rd while I sprinted with Caitlin Patterson into a 4th place finish. This was my best ever Birkie result, and I could not be more excited!
After some serious couch time, some chicken pesto pasta, and a good night’s sleep, I was back out on the trails for Sunday’s Classic Birkie. Many of the elite men and women, including myself, decided not to put any kickwax or klister on our skis for the classic race. Because of the flatter nature of the course and the fast conditions I thought that double poling the entire30-kilometers would be the faster option. Caitlin Patterson and I skied themajority of the race together and had another sprint finish down the final stretch of the course. I ended up winning the race and earning my first ever Birkebeiner podium!
For me, this was an unforgettable weekend. The American Birkebeiner Foundation created an incredible course with zero help from mother nature, all while maintaining the fun Birkie vibe at the venue. The spectators lining the course made every racer feel like a super star. I got to stay with my parents at our family cabin and see so many new and old friends. Being able to pull together two great races was truly a cherry on top!
