Barkie Birkie | American Birkebeiner

Join this Northwoods tradition and combine human skiing and canine power for a truly fun winter experience!

Barkie Birkie is one of Birkie Week’s most beloved events. Skiers and their dogs form a skijoring team to compete either a 5km, 3km, or 1km course that finishes to cheering crowds on Main Street in Hayward, WI. Skijoring, derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring meaning “ski driving,” has been in practice for hundreds of years. #Birkie2025

Registration

Registration for the 2025 Barkie Birkie is Now Open!

	September 1, 2024 – February 18, 2025
5K Skijor	$50
3K Skijor	$50
1K Fun Skijor	$50

Registration is online only and closes at 11:59 pm CDT on 02/18/25.

Register Now

Choose from 3 different events! 5K, 3K, or 1K!

The 5K is for fast, experienced teams that can finish a 5K race in 25 minutes or less.

The 3K is for teams that can complete a 3K race in 25 minutes or less.

The 1K is for teams new to the sport or just looking for a fun experience. Teams have 25 minutes or less to complete 1K. No awards will be given for the 1K, but all participants will receive a finisher medal.

Protect Your Registration!

Get reimbursed up to 100% on your registration if you can’t compete for a number of reasons. FanShield offers Registration Cancellation Insurance so you can insure your non-refundable registration fee in the case injury, illness, or other unexpected events occur.*

Please see policy for complete list of covered perils here. Limitations and exclusions apply.

Learn More About FanShield Registration Protection!

Bib Pick Up

Bib pick-up will be from 8:00 am to 9:15 am in the Celebration Zone tent.

Participants will receive their cloth race bib. Race bibs worn by skijorer must be visible at all times to ensure proper race results!

Race Schedule

All Barkie Birkie races will start between Main Street & 2nd Street and finish on Main Street under the famous American Birkebeiner finish line!

Event	Location	Time
Warm Up	Main Street & Golf Course	8:00 to 8:45 am
Bib Pick Up	Celebration Tent	8:00 to 9:15 am
5 km Start	Main & 2nd Streets	9:00 am
3 km Start	Main & 2nd Streets	9:45 am
1 km Funskijor Start	Main & 2nd Streets	10:15 am
Awards	Celebration Plaza	Following 1K Funskijor race

Directions & Parking

Race Start – The Intersection of Main Street & 2nd Street, Downtown Hayward

Race Finish – American Birkebeiner Finish Line on Main Street!

Limited parking is found in downtown Hayward. Please help ease the traffic congestion by utilizing the designated spectator parking on Hwy B (noted in orange on the map below). Buses will run continuously from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm from the Spectator Lot to the Registration Bus Stop, and from the Registration Bus Stop and the Celebration Zone Bus Stop to the Spectator Lot. Parking restrictions are in place on most of the downtown area streets.

Please note: Dogs are NOT allowed on shuttle buses.

Course Map

Requirements & General Rules

Dog Requirements

All dogs must be sufficiently fit to be able to complete the course without risk of injury.
Dogs must be healthy and have up-to-date vaccinations.

Equipment Requirements

Entry is limited to one person + 1 dog.
Dogs must be treated humanely at all times.
Dogs must be controlled and kept from other teams.
Loose dogs are not permitted at any time.
Aggressive dogs are prohibited from the event.
Waste is the dog owner’s responsibility and before or after the race it must be picked up immediately. Volunteers will be present to help remove waste during the races.
Runners may enter a second (or third) dog in different distances, but are only eligible for 1 podium award.

General Rules

Skate or classic skis are allowed
Metal ski edges are not permitted
Skijor belt is required and must be padded.
Towline must use internal bungee.
The distance between the skijorer and the dog should be between 7 feet and 10 feet.
A pulling style dog harness is required with padding around the neck area.
Each dog must wear a snug fitting dog collar.
Under no circumstances can the towline be attached to the dog’s collar or any harness not specifically designed for pulling.

Warm-up

Warm up is Main Street and the golf course before the 1st race, in the direction of race travel. Access to the golf course is behind the Hayward Intermediate School on 5th Street, only two blocks from the bib pick up tent in the Celebration Zone.

Start Format

Skijorers must provide their own handler if there is any concern about maintaining adequate control in the start area. Handlers may not stay in the start/finish area while the team is on course.
The dog may start “lined out” ahead of the start line.
The participant’s race bib must be visible to race officials.

On Course

All skijor teams must run on the left side of all directional signs.

Passing

A passing participant must execute a pass only when conditions are safe.
The participant must shout “Trail”, “On your left”, etc. before attempting to pass.
The participant being passed should slow and move to the side of the trail, if possible.
The participant being passed should stop poling and hold their poles behind, low, and away from the passing team.
Skijorers must exhibit care, good judgment, and fairness whenever passing occurs.

Finishing

Participants must exit the finish area as soon as possible.
No finish line food or beverages will be available.
Dogs are NOT allowed inside of the Celebration Tent after the Barkie Birkie Skijor races