Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 18

" When he had consolidated
his power at home
and brought lasting peace,
he turned his attentions
abroad and expanded
Norway's influence greatly, "
says Lise Lunge-Larsen,
author of " The Race of the
Birkebeiners. " " During his
reign, Iceland and Greenland
came under Norwegian
rule and he strengthened
Norway's ties with the rest
of Europe. "
The Legend Lives On
In January 1932, another
group of expert skiers
gathered atop Raufjellet,
a mountain west of Rena,
and formally organized
the first Birkebeinerrennet
to commemorate the
triumphant tale.
BELIEVING
BIRKIE
The saga outlining the
Birkebeiners' legendary
trek was ordered by
Haakon Haakonsson's
son Magnus in 1260, and
written by Icelander Sturla
Tordsson. " In its broad
outlines the legend is
absolutely true, " says Lise
Lunge-Larsen. " It may be
exaggerated a little as so
often happens when a
story is told by the winners,
but the basic events
happened. "
" It's the drama of the
story that appealed to ski
organizers, " says Kjærnsli,
who at 90 years old has
skied the race 46 times.
One-hundred-forty-seven
men completed the 1932
race. Eighty-one years
later, 17,000 men and
women will ski in the path
of the Birchleggers, each
carrying an 8-pound pack,
representing the weight of a
small child.
" [This legend] has
resonated so strongly with
Norwegians because it
exemplifies everything they
hold dear, " says LungeLarsen.
" The underdogs win
against all odds by using
courage, daring, strength
and determination. And any
victory that comes as a result
of superior cross-country
skiing skills is bound to be
popular in Norway. "
BIKE.
The Birkebeinerrittet, Norway's
largest mountain bike event,
has the same start and finish
as the ski race but runs 92
kilometers. Like their skiing
counterparts, Birkie bikers are
required to wear an 8-pound
pack. Aug. 30, 2014
Mountain bikers are allowed
to ride the American Birkie one
day a year during the Fat Bike
Birkie. March 8, 2014
RUN.
The Birkebeinerløpet's
participants run 21 kilometers
using part of the ski tracks from
the 1994 winter Olympics in
Lillehammer. June 14, 2014
Runners take to the American
Birkie trail in September for a
variety of road races, including
a marathon, half marathon,
relay and 5k fun-run.
Check out these resources for a closer look at the Birkebeiners.
Birkebeiner:
A Story of
Motherhood and
War, by Jeff Foltz
The Race of the
Birkebeiners, by Lise
Lunge-Larsen
Birkie Fever: A 10Year
History of the
American Birkie,
by Tom Kelly
Beyond Birkie Fever,
by Walter Rhein
18 VIKING FEBRUARY 2014 sonsofnorway.com
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF (TOP) BIRKEBEINERRITTET

http://www.sonsofnorway.com

Viking Magazine - February 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - February 2014

Contents
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - Cover1
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - Cover2
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - Contents
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 4
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 5
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 6
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 7
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 8
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 9
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 10
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 11
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 12
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 13
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 14
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 15
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 16
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 17
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 18
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 19
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 20
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 21
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 22
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 23
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 24
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 25
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 26
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 27
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 28
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 29
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 30
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 31
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 32
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 33
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 34
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 35
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 36
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Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 38
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Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 40
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 41
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 42
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 43
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 44
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 45
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 46
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - Cover3
Viking Magazine - February 2014 - Cover4
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