The lack of snow didn’t discourage Elyites from participating in the 2024 American Birkebeiner, which took place at Mt. Telemark Village near Cable, WI last weekend.
Due to the historic lack of snowfall and warm temperatures this year, skiers competed on a makeshift 10-kilometer track out of artificial snow, which proved fast and slick.
In the Birkie Skate, Carl Skustad placed 349th, Julia Schwinghamer placed 758th, Molly Gardener placed 812th, Grace Klein placed 1,431st, and Christine Kolinski placed 1,575th respectfully out of 1,578 participants.
In the Korte Skate Elite race, Aksel Skustad placed 36th, Oliver Hohenstein placed 38th, and Phoebe Helms placed 246th.
In the Kortelopet Skate, Jeff Nelson placed 453rd, and Cindy Gardner placed 829th.
In the Birkie Classic race, Carli Goddard placed 196th, and Megan Thiele placed 678th.
In the Birkie Skate Elite, Erin Bianco placed 10th, and Amy Bianco placed 34th.
In the Classic Elite, Sunshine Gardner placed 21st, Tyler Fish placed 105th, Nick Gardner placed 50th, James Schwinghamer placed 80th, and Ann Farley placed 104th.