The American Birkebeiner (or Birkie) is the largest, and one of the longest cross country ski races in North America. The two premier events are the 54 km (34 mi) classic and the 50 km (31 mi) freestyle race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin. The 2012 race was held on February 25. The Birkie is a member race of the Worldloppet Ski Federation, a federation which includes the world's most famous cross country ski marathons such as Sweden's Vasaloppet and Norway's Birkebeinerrennet. Each year approximately 10,000 skiers participate in the Birkie, 26 km Kortloppet, and 12 km Prince Haakanon events.
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“We have yet to deal successfully with American transraciality in real terms, as we have failed to redefine race in light of the modern, twenty-first century progress of human kind.”
—Virginia Hamilton (b. 1936)