1979 Race Highlights

Birkebeiner 55K

Arnt Haarstad, Norway 2:47:27
Judy Rabinowitz, USA 3:10:05

Kortelopet 27.5K

Kevin Brochman, USA 1:30:38
Wendy Brown, USA 1:44:20

Entrants

4,459

Race Summary

The World Loppet League was formally chartered in June of 1978 and accounted for an increase in the number of European skiers participating in the 1979 event. The Birkebeiner also became part of the Great American Ski Chase series in the US.

At the request of Tony Wise who attended the first World Loppet race held in Austria earlier that winter, famed ice sculptor Engelbert Hattenberg debuted his first of many extraordinary creations at the American Birkebeiner.

With the significant increase in participant numbers, the Birkebeiner trail proved to be too narrow and many backed-up lines developed at the major hills. Shortly after the completion of the race, Tony began plans to widen the course.

For the last time, skiers started the race climbing up and over Mt Telemark. Women’s classes and awards were made equal to men’s.