Birken ski festival
Birken ski festival 2021
Birken are working and planning, that the Birken ski festival 2021 can take place in a safe way. If the race will take place on several days, with wave starts, with a limited starter’s field etc. we don’t know yet exactly. But Birken will announce the final situation long enough before the race day. Birkebeinerrennet 2021 is open for registration
Possible scenarios
• Several race days
• Limited starting field
• Virtual Race format (QR-codes) on real track (tested in 2020 for Birkebeinerrittet and Birkebeinerløpet)
1. What will happen to my registration if Birkebeinerrennet 2021 have to cancel due to Covid-19?
Your entry will be transferred to Birkebeinerrennet 2022
2. What will happen to my registrartion if Birkebeinerrennet 2021 will be organized, but I am not allowed to travel to Norway due to Covid-19?
Your entry will be transferred to Birkebeinerrennet 2022
Travel advice Covid-19 from the Norwegian Health Authority
What about the other races in Birken ski festival 2021?
- All races will be held in one weekend March 19th-21st
- UngdomsBirken ski will be held March 21st
- StafettBirken will not be organized in 2021
- Ingalåmi will be organized by Lillehammer Skiklub
- Due to the covid-19 situation, TurBirken 54, 28 and SkøyteBirken might not be organized in 2021. The decision will be made in January/February 2021.
Choose race
Birken - the ultimate XC-skiing experience
Experience the joy of skiing in the wild nature of the norwegian mountains. Incredible course in the mountain lanscape that seems created for XC skiing. Finish at the olympic stadium in Lillehammer.
An unforgetable experience.
Competitors from all over the world join our races and create an amazing athmosphere.
We offer classic 54 K, skate 54 K, Classic 27 K and skate 27 K. Look at our programme and sign up.
Lillehammer and Rena are easy to reach from Oslo Airport, approx. 2 hours by train.
In 1932 the very first Birkebeinerrenn took place, with 155 male participants. Much has changed since then, but one important thing remains, although with lesser weight - all participants in our race must carry a backpack of 3,5 kg throughout the race.
The tradition of all participants carrying a backpack was established to symbolise the original Birkebeinere that saved the infant Norwegian king from the rivaling fraction, the Baglers.
The name Birkebeinere was given by the Baglers, and originally intended to be offensive - referring to their leggings of birch bark, indicating that they were poor and incapable. They proved the Baglers wrong, and today the name carries a sence of pride, strength and endurance - something thousands of people, participating in the historical race every year, keep striving for.
Experience the joy of nature and skiing
