2009 Race Highlights

Birkebeiner 50K Skate

Matthew Liebsch, USA 2:11:47
Rebecca Dussault, USA 2:26:39

Birkebeiner 54K Classic

Gus Kaeding, USA 3:00:27
Martina Stursova, Czech Republic 3:26:16

Kortelopet 23K Skate

Spencer Lacy, USA 1:03:20
Jessie Diggins, USA 1:10:30

Kortelopet 23K Classic

Bob Gerten, USA 1:15:03
Anne Hart, USA 1:31:55

Entrants

7,193 (Birkebeiner Skate 3,584; Birkebeiner Classic 1,365; Kortelopet Skate 1,246; Kortelopet Classic 998)

Race Summary

Comfortable race morning temperatures and good trail conditions helped create a nostalgic start as Sheila Wise, wife of Birkie and Telemark founder, Tony Wise, honored the skiers and sent them off. It was the second largest field of skiers in race history.

Birkebeiner Skate winners, Matthew Liebsch and Rebecca Dussault, proudly represented the USA. In the Classic race, Gus Kaeding (USA) edged out World Champion and Olympic record holder, Bjorn Daehlie of Norway, by just under one second.

The last leg of the separate classic trail was completed in the fall of 2008. The trail now gave classic skiers their own course until just after the half-way point at Hwy OO.