| Canadian Birkebeiner | |
|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | sporting event |
| Date(s) | Second Saturday in February |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village - Cooking Lake–Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Inaugurated | 1985 |
| Activity | Cross-country skiing |
| People | Volunteering,Nonprofit organization |
| Member | Nordiq Canada |
The Canadian Birkebeiner is the largest classic style cross-country ski event in Western Canada. Founded in 1985, it is one of three Birkebeiner Loppets held worldwide, the others being the Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet and the American Birkebeiner. The event is organized annually on the second Saturday of February by approximately 500 volunteers of the Canadian Birkebeiner Society. About 1000 skiers take part in the one-day event, which includes races from 2 km to 55 km. The three main races are the 55 km with 5.5 kg backpack, the 55 km light and the 31 km from Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, via Elk Island National Park and finishing at Washkahegan Staging Area in Cooking Lake–Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta. The Canadian Birkebeiner is organized in the UNESCO-designated Beaver Hills Biosphere. [1]