About the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation

Originally established in 1985 to maintain and promote the American Birkebeiner ski race, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), fondly known as Birkie, has expanded to include active events beyond cross-country skiing. Today, the ABSF hosts outdoor events from Birkie Week to Epic Bike Fest, maintains state-of-the-art biking, skiing, and multiuse trails, and supports projects that promote healthy lifestyles.

The ABSF is a membership organization open. Join today! The Foundation is led by a Board of Directors as well as a year-round staff.

The late Tony Wise who looked to his Norwegian heritage and patterned the ski marathon after the Birkebeiner Rennet, which had been held in Norway since 1932, founded the American Birkebeiner in 1973. Both events honor and re-create a historic Norwegian event when in 1206, two warrior soldiers, called “Birkebeiners” because of the birch-bark leggings they wore, skied infant Prince Haakon to safety during the Norwegian civil war. Prince Haakon subsequently became King of Norway, and the Birkebeiner soldiers became a Norwegian symbol of courage, perseverance and character in the face of adversity.

Over the years many thousands of people, both elite and “Citizen Skiers,” have enjoyed the thrill of personal triumph crossing the finish line of the Birkie and earning their prestigious award medallions.

In 1978 Wise formed the Worldloppet League, which now unites the American Birkebeiner with 19 of the world’s most prestigious ski marathons. In the trying days of the Cold War, Wise envisioned the exhilaration of marathon skiing as a conduit to international understanding. Today, skiers from many nations come to America to ski the Birkie.

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation was formed in 1985 when Tony Wise lost control of the event in the bankruptcy of his Telemark Resort property and other interests. Since then the ABSF has endeavored to preserve his legacy in the Cable/Hayward area.

The ABSF office is located in downtown Hayward, WI. The Board of Directors is elected to staggered, three- year-terms by Foundation membership at the Annual Meeting held each August.

We invite you to join skiers, the ski industry, and dedicated people in the Cable/Hayward area and the nation in perpetuating these uplifting ski events and the most life affirming sport on snow.

Foundation Committees

Capital Campaign / ABSF Development Committee

• Chair: Bill Brown
• Members: Kathie Schaus, Mike Cleary, Karen Manske, Paul Eckerline, John Schneider, Jan Guenther, Scott Chapin
• Staff: Ben Popp
• Consultant: John Munger

Finance Committee

• Chair: Kris Bjerkness
• Members: Jan Guenther, Tom Duffy, Sue Scheer, Andy Ubel, Paul Eckerline
• Staff: Mike Brown
• Minutes: May 2017

HR Committee

• Members: Paul Eckerline, Bill Brown
• Staff: Mike Brown

Birkie One

• Chair: Chris Morley
• Members: Andy Ubel, Sue Scheer, Madelyn Rekemeyer, Ernie St. Germaine, Thom Malnourie, Bob Kovar
• Staff: Jeff Tumbleson

Documentation

• Chair: Andy Ubel
• Members: Karen Manske, Kathie Schaus, Paul Eckerline, Bill Brown
• Minutes: February 2017, October 2018

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 membership-based organization that is governed by non-profit foundation bylaws.

A.B.S.F. Bylaws

A.B.S.F. Procedures Manual

Board of Directors:

Meetings are held the 3rd Monday of each month at the Birkie office (10527 Main St, Hayward WI), at 3:00PM (normally, no meetings are held February, June or November).  See next section for special information regarding the Annual Meeting.

Finance Committee:

Meets the same day as the Board of Directors meeting at 1:00PM, at the Birkie office (10527 Main St, Hayward WI).

2024 – Board Meeting Minutes

2023 – Board Meeting Minutes

2022 – Board Meeting Minutes

2021 – Board Meeting Minutes

2020 – Board Meeting Minutes

2019 – Board Meeting Minutes

2018 – Board Meeting Minutes

2017 – Board Meeting Minutes

2016 – Board Meeting Minutes

2015 – Board Meeting Minutes

2014 – Board Meeting Minutes

2013 – Board Meeting Minutes

2012 – Board Meeting Minutes

2011 – Board Meeting Minutes

2010 – Board Meeting Minutes

Click Here for ABSF Annual Meeting Information »