March 1, 2012 at 7:56 a.m.
Local skiers take on the American Birkebeiner
Local skiers take on the American Birkebeiner
The Rhinelander contingent featured a mix of accomplished skiers, first time racers and families that took up the challenge of the United States' most famous cross country skiing event.
Bryan Cook finished 19th overall and sixth in his age division, completing the 50-kilometer freestyle race from Cable to Hayward in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 54 seconds.
Bryan's older brother Chris finished 158th overall, 15 minutes behind. The 2012 Birkie was a different experience for the former Olympian.
"Being my first year retired from cross country skiing the Birkie was bittersweet," Chris Cook said. "In my whole career I have never gone to a race unprepared or not expected to have a chance at the podium. Obviously being retired and having two training sessions on skis this was as unprepared for a race as you can get. However, I grew up at the Birkie, and being around that event as a kid made me want to be a cross country ski racer and ski down Main Street (in Hayward) with a chance to win. Without the Birkie who knows, maybe I never pursue cross country ski racing."
It was a family affair for the Cooks. Their sister Tanya finished 27th in her age group in a time of 3:26:28. And their parents, Robert and Karen both competed. Karen finished sixth in class at 3:10:44. Robert was 65th in class at 3:08:59.
"We all had a great weekend," Karen Cook said. "It is a tradition in our family. So everyone participates. We all have a great time."
It was also a family event for the Walls. RHS junior Hillary Wall received a scholarship to compete in the Kortelopet, a shorter 23-kilometer race that uses part of the Birkie trail before looping back to Telemark resort in Cable. Wall, 17, is one year away from being eligible to compete in the full Birkie, but fared well in the shorter race.
She was the 19th fastest female in the Kortelopet classic race, finishing in 1 hour, 40 minutes.
She was accompanied in the race by her parents, Dave and Deb.
"She was fortunate to get one of the high school Nordic skier scholarships," Dave Wall said. "She chose to do the classic Kortelopet event. Deb and I and her decided to race the Kortelopet. It was overall just a phenomenal weekend. We all enjoyed the race. The hills on the Kortelopet and Birkie trails, you can't duplicate them anywhere else."
The elder Walls fared well. Dave finished fifth in his age group in the Kortelopet skate, checking in with a time of 1:21:06. Deb was 25th in her division at 2:01:11. Dave Wall said the family is planning on racing the full Birkie next year.
Hillary Wall was not the only RHS skier who was in the field of the Kortelopet. Lou Bassette finished 33rd in class, 139th overall in the skate race (1:21:53).
Bassette, like Hillary Wall, got into the Kortelopet on a high school scholarship.
"Any high school team athlete can apply with a coach recommendation," Karen Cook, Nordic ski coach at RHS, explained. "People donate to the program so high schoolers who have never done a Kortie can apply. It is a one-time scholarship... (I) talked to Lou about his race. He has the Birkie fever and can't wait for next year."
While Wall and Bassette were getting their first taste of racing the event, Mitch Mode was skiing his 35th and wore a red bib, signifying him as one of the most experienced racers in the field. Mode finished fifth in his age group and 196th overall in the 54-kilometer Birkie Classic, checking in at 3:29:35.
Thousands of skiers race the Birkie and Kortelopet and only the top three in each age group make the podium. For most, it is about finishing the race and beating predetermined goals.
"Overall I was very happy with my performance," noted Becca Pierre, a 2009 RHS grad who finished the 50K Birkie skate in 3:47:18. "I met my goal time and shaved off 15 minutes from my previous time. It was great to just be back in the Birkie atmosphere again after missing last year's event."
Karen Cook said, "I had a great race. Always try for a 3-hour Birkie, but conditions were slower this year so I was happy with my time."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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