Trail to Prince Haakon Program
2026-27 Registration Open Now!
Since 2021, New Moon Ski & Bike Shop and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation have partnered to create programs to increase opportunities for people to get outside and get active. The Trail to Prince Haakon program aims to help people find the joy of winter and be healthy year round. We are happy to again be working together to provide this great opportunity.
This program focuses on “eventing” vs racing and is geared towards first-time Birkie event skiers, those returning to the sport, or recreational skiers looking to find a group to keep training, learning, and improving. The program is broken into two groups: The Beginner Group and the Training Group which share the same program schedule.
Participants will learn basic classic cross-country ski technique, advice, a training plan, and attend weekly in-person sessions. The program will culminate with participants skiing either the Prince Haakon Open Track or the Prince Haakon. Participants in the Beginner Group must be first time Prince Haakon registrants.
Beginner Group Fee: $250 for first-time Prince Haakon skiers. Includes the following:
- Entry to Prince Haakon Event (Friday race or Wednesday Open Track)
- All Access Birkie Trail Pass (Greater Birkie trail, Tormondsen Family Snowmaking Loops at Mt. Telemark Village)
All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Limited to 25 participants.
This program is for skiers who have participated in our Trail to Prince Haakon program previously or are skiers looking to find a group to keep training, learning, and improving. Skate and classic techniques are both welcome and the program is open to anyone interested. Coaches will provide a training focus each week, but there will be no individual technique instruction. The Training Group will focus on fun and accountability- it will be a great group to hang out with on skis. Come for the skiing, stay for the community- and maybe even have a potluck after your training!
Training Group Fee: $150. Includes All Access Trail Pass. Does NOT include Prince Haakon race entry.
Details: Program will meet for 6 Tuesday sessions at 5:30-7:00 pm either at the Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center under the lights of the OO loops or the trails at Mt. Telemark Village. The group will also meet on select weekends for longer skis on the Birkie Trail and the Prince Haakon course.
- Tuesday, December 8th (Season Kickoff @ Mt. Telemark Village)
- Sunday, December 13th (Group Ski & Guest Coach)
- Tuesday, December 15th (Lesson & Group Coach)
- Tuesday, January 5th (Lesson & Group Coach)
- Sunday, January 10th (Group Ski)
- Tuesday, January 12th (Lesson and Guest Coach)
- Saturday, January 23rd New Moon Grand Fondo – K’s For Kids (Group ski event at Mt Telemark Village)
- Saturday, January 30th (Training ski on part of the Prince Haakon course)
- Sunday, February 7th (Ski the full Prince Haakon course)
- Tuesday, February 16th (Fun ski, race information, and final preparations for Birkie week)
- Wednesday, February 24th (Prince Haakon Open Track Event)
- Friday, February 26th (Prince Haakon Race)
For further information contact:
- Kristy Maki at the Birkie office 715-634-5025.
- Erin Blow 715-892-5299
