1973 Race Highlights

Birkebeiner 45K

Eric Ersson, Sweden 2:48:16
Jacque Lindskoog, USA 4:33:35 (unofficial women’s winner)

Youth and Women’s Race 22K

Duncan McLean, USA 1:08:33
Carol Duffy, USA 1:56:21

Entrants

54

Race Summary

As blueberry soup bubbled in the Wannigan Pancake House at Lumberjack Bowl, the first Birkebeiner (called the Telemark Birkebeiner) began with 35 skiers in bitter cold temperatures. Another 19 women and juniors skied the Youth and Women’s Race.

Patterned after the Norwegian Birkebeiner, the Telemark Birkebeiner’s course spanned approximately 45-50 kilometers on mostly groomed town roads and railroad beds. It was a rather obscure event at the time, but became the largest cross country ski event in North America.

The course tracks were set by local downhill skiers being pulled behind snowmobiles and was marked with red and blue crepe paper.

Jacque Lindskooq registered for the men’s event and finished as the unofficial winner. A few years later, Tony recognized Jacque as the official winner of the first Birkebeiner.