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At the 40th , skiers of all backgrounds took to the trails east of Edmonton, embracing one of Canada’s most storied cross-country ski events. Among them was the Ski Like a Girl Podcast team, who attended the festival not only to ski but also to share stories, research, and insights into the sport’s history and culture.

”We were thrilled to celebrate this year’s landmark Canadian Birkebeiner Festival. Forty years as a volunteer-driven community festival is a remarkable achievement. We met skiers and families active in winter recreation and sport as well as our podcast listeners and many of our own Faculty of KSR graduates who work in the community.” says professor PearlAnn Reichwein.

Over the course of the weekend, they engaged with participants of all levels—from competitive racers tackling the 55 km with or without pack, to loppet skiers enjoying the 31 km Birkie Tour, to first-time skiers and children joining the Barnebirkie family event. Through conversations, the Ski Like a Girl team explored what draws people to the Birkebeiner and, more broadly, to cross-country skiing. Newcomers, like Lucia Leoni, a visiting PhD student in history from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, described the challenge of starting a new sport, while experienced skiers, like long-time Birkie attendee, Phil Dunn, reflected on the sense of tradition and community that keeps him coming back. “This event started in 1985,” says Dunn, “and I’ve been skiing in it every year since.”

The Ski Like a Girl team took on the challenge of the Birkebeiner, with six skiers completing the 31 km tour and two tackling the 13 km loppet.

“We learn by doing. Skiing across the frozen Beaver Hills moraine is a significant journey. It’s wild and beautiful,” says Reichwein.

Paulina Retamales, a KSR MA history graduate and current operations coordinator at Strathcona Wilderness Centre—known for its Nordic ski trails—shared her experience: “I loved skiing my first Birkie marathon and was amazed by the elevation gain and loss.”

“It was fun to ski a long distance,” adds Andrea Spevak, a graduate student internship advisor from the U of A who joined the group.

KSR graduate student Lyndsay Conrad also took part, inviting her husband, Steve, to ski the 13 km course with her. “We enjoyed the afternoon sunshine and festive atmosphere. It was a great event,” she says.

Photo 2: Paulina Retamales, PearlAnn Reichwein, and Andrea Spevak (L-R) skiing the 31 km marathon.

From Norwegian legend to Canadian tradition

The event was inspired by the Norwegian and American Birkebeiner races, which pay tribute to a dramatic moment in Norwegian history. In the winter of 1206, two Birkebeiner warriors skied through treacherous mountains carrying the infant prince, Haakon Haakonsson, the last heir to the Norwegian throne. Their daring journey ensured his survival, and he would later become king, uniting Norway after years of civil war. Today, the Birkebeiner race honours their courage and endurance, keeping the spirit of their legendary ski trek alive. Reichwein studied the , concluding that “it has made a unique contribution not only to winter recreation and sport but also to communities invested in developing regional collaboration, conservation, and heritage tourism.”

Over the decades, the Canadian festival has grown into a major winter event, playing a role in shaping Alberta’s heritage sport tourism and expanding access to cross-country ski trails in the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area—now part of the UNESCO . 

The weekend offered not only an opportunity to celebrate a historic milestone for the event but also a reminder that cross-country skiing can be taken up at any stage in life.

For those who missed them at the Birkie, tune in to upcoming podcast episodes, where they’ll be sharing festival highlights, reflections on their research, and stories from skiers who took on the challenge—whether for the first time or the fortieth. The 40th anniversary may be over, but the Birkebeiner spirit—and its power to inspire—lives on!

Photo 3:  Lucia Leoni, Paulina Retamales, PearlAnn Reichwein, and Lyndsay Conrad.