Wisconsin hosts largest cross country ski event in North America

An expression of joy comes over Arlington Heights resident Greg Saunders each year he reaches Main Street in the northern Wisconsin town of Hayward.

Saunders is one of the thousands of cross country skiers who compete in the annual American Birkebeiner -- regarded as the largest cross country skiing event in North America.

Saunders, one of a number of Chicago suburban skiers who competed in the 35th annual event in late February, tackles the standard Birkie course, which measures 51 kilometers and covers the towns of Cable and Hayward. He covered the terrain in 4:16.53.9 this year.

"The first time I trained for it and tried to get ready, it was still very difficult," said Saunders, who completed his 10th Birkie and skis the event with members of his family, including father-in-law, Richard Doersch (who competed in his 29th Birkie this year and finished 27th in the men's 65-69 age division).

"The first time, it was the most exhausting thing I've ever done. You continue to train for it and you are still mighty happy to be done when you get to Main Street. After you recovered a little bit, you are ready to go for next year."

Birkie executive director Ned Zuelsdorff said this year's event attracted just under 7,000 skiers from nearly every state in the U.S. and 21 foreign countries, making it the third-largest Birkie ever.

Zuelsdorff said roughly 195,000 skiers have completed the Birkie since it started 35 years ago. There are a total of five Birkie races, including a special Barnebirkie for kids ages 3 to 13. More than 1,300 kids competed in that race this year, Zuelsdorff said.

This test of endurance on a course that is regarded as not only one of the most pristine, but toughest tracks in the world, keeps bringing skiers back in droves. Zuelsdorff said more than 800 skiers have competed in 20 or more Birkies, while more than 70 have completed in 30 or more races.

"People view this as an annual test of themselves," said Zuelsdorff, who also noted the event has 2,000 volunteers in a town of around 2,500 people. "We've got skiers as young as 3 and as old as 80. It's a festival atmosphere with a lot of camaraderie. People get together and have a good time. It's a big reunion. A lot of people meet up with friends they only see once a year. It's when the world comes to Hayward."

Streamwood resident Tom Dvoratchek, who skis traditional style with classic skis, completed his sixth Birkie classic race this year Classic uses striding as opposed to the main Birkie freestyle race that employs a skating motion. The classic race runs on a slightly longer 53-kilometer track.

Dvoratchek and his wife, Joy, an Arlington Heights teacher, meet up with a large group of local skiers every year.

"We have probably 30 people get together from northern Illinois," said Dvoratchek, who took fourth in the men's 35 to 39 age division of the classic.

"One of the individuals has another home here. Saturday night is absolutely fun to spend time with people who enjoy getting out and skiing on trails," he said. "We have a group e-mail during the year where we share where the snow is good. It's neat to put faces to people. Everybody is chasing snow and it's neat to see them for a couple of days and share stories of disappointments and successes."

Joy Dvoratchek even runs into some of her students during the competition.

"She'll see a student or two that are skiing in the race," Dvoratchek said. "Sometimes we'll see them walking into the expo."

St. Charles East High School junior Jeff Haugen, 16, competed in his third Kortelopet freestyle, a smaller race that covers 23 kilometers.

"It's something my dad (James) has been doing for a long time," said Haugen. "He's done it for 35 years and he's carried the tradition on to me and he still does it to me. It's nice that he's done it that many years and he's still willing to do it with me."

According to Haugen, the atmosphere in the Hayward area during the event cannot be beat.

"It's just the overall feeling of having 20,000 people descending on this little town," Haugen said. "And then there's the experience on race day getting up and heading out there. It's a beautiful course. They close down Main Street and put snow over it. People are there along the way pounding on drums and keeping you motivated."

Sometimes it's tougher being a spectator or a volunteer, noted Naperville resident Larry Zurawski, who competed in his fifth Birkie. "They're out there adding support and giving us food and drinks. We really appreciate it."

Zurawski is into other endurance sports like biking and running. The Birkie fits in perfectly for him.

"I've always liked winter," Zurawski said. "Skiing, you can really work on it. You can work on technique and become more efficient. I'm an engineer and I live to solve big problems. I like to challenge myself and improve myself and build confidence."

And come February each year, it's not too hard to figure out where skiing aficionados are headed.

"We've gotten into a routine each year," Dvoratchek said. "To think there are so many people who have done it 25 years. Kids grow up, people go through job changes and wedding anniversaries. But that fourth Saturday every February you know where everybody will be."

Having the time of their lives at the Birkie.