Birkie’s Inga & Warriors
Newlyweds Jackie & Dan rodeling in Toblach, Italy on Lumi's Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga Trip
Dear Birkie skiers, Costume season doesn't have to end after Halloween…
Last winter, Lumi guests Jackie, Dan and Jim skied the American Birkebeiner 53 km Classic course as mother Inga and Warriors. You may have met them at the Lumi booth, where they joined us to share stories about their Lumi trips to ski Worldloppet events in Europe…
This February, you could reenact this historical journey by ski in full period costume! The 2024 Inga and Warriors application is now open. Apply by Friday, December 1.
Lumi Experiences will have a booth at the Birkie expo this winter on February 22 & 23 - I hope to see many of you there!
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the American Birkebeiner: the 53 km cross-country ski race from Cable to Hayward inspired by the famous Norwegian Birkebeiner, which started in 1932 to commemorate the legendary story that most Birkie skiers know well.
Knud Larsen Bergslien’s original 1869 oil painting of “The Birkebeiner” is on display at the Holmenkollen Ski Museum in Oslo
Every winter three skiers dress up as the original Birkebeiner warriors and mother Inga. They ski the full Birkie course on wooden skis and in birch bark leggings, which the warriors wore when they skied through deep snow over the mountains from Rena to Lillehammer, Norway in 1206.
Last winter, Lumi guests Jackie, Dan and Jim DeRoma skied baby Prince Haakon to safety in Hayward! They also joined us at the Lumi Expo booth to share stories about their trips to ski Worldloppet events in Europe with Lumi Experiences.
Norwegian Birkebeiner skiers between Rena & Lillehammer
Cross-country skiing is a lifelong family pastime for the DeRoma family. In addition to volunteering with his wife Dianne to support the Birkie year-round, Jim has skied 25 Birkies and 11 Worldloppet races. His son Dan has already skied 17 Birkies and Dan’s wife Jackie has skied three.
Jim DeRoma cruising through the Leutasch Valley on the Seefeld & Engadin Trip
Jackie and Dan have also skied three Worldloppet events in Europe with Lumi Experiences: the Engadin in Switzerland and the Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga in Austria and Italy last winter for their honeymoon. Everyone had a blast celebrating these Sposini (newlyweds in Italian)! The photos say it all…
Newlyweds Jackie & Dan skiing the Passo Lavazé trails on Lumi's Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga trip last winter
Birkie skiers know to keep an eye out for Inga, the Warriors, and Prince Haakon as they finish on Main Street in Hayward. Last winter, Jackie and Dan finished with their baby Clara as Prince Haakon Haakonssen.
This February it could be you and your family or friends! The 2024 Inga and Warriors application is now open. Apply by Friday, December 1.
Hope to see you at the Birkie,
Garrott Kuzzy
Lumi guests Bill and Meg celebrate skiing the Norwegian Birkebeiner