Silent Sports Shorts: December 2007 Greg Marr, a true friend of the Birkie Changes planned for 2008 Birkie 24 Hours of Telemark will be back Lapham Peak gears up for man-made snow Minneapolis bike projects bearing fruit Ripon College to offer cycling as intercollegiate sport Lake Geneva Marathon welcomes Chicago runners Minn. DNR making recreation plans for Sakatah Lake State Park

Greg Marr, a true friend of the Birkie

It seems apropos that the sign above honoring Greg Marr, this magazine's founder, was posted on the Birkie Trail November 6, the morning after the first snowfall of the 2007-08 season.

Martha Fullmer remembers early November as the time her late husband started prepping his cross-country skis which "signaled the most wonderful, exciting and joyful time of year for Greg." (See her letter and plea for sponsorship of young Kortelopet skiers on the Correspondence pages.)

It was while skiing near his home on December 19, 2003, that Marr suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 52.

Although Marr's love for the American Birkebeiner developed late in life, he completed the 52K ski race several times, starting in the late 1980s. He never finished under 4 hours, his goal, and had to drop out several times. Nevertheless, he celebrated his position in the middle of the pack and that of those around him. Posthumously, the Birkie organization presented a Greg Marr Middle of the Pack Award to a worthy skier in 2004.

Phil Van Valkenberg – former associate editor of Silent Sports and a decades-long skier of the Birkie – specifically suggested the magazine sponsor the 19K kilometer marker on the Birlie Trail in Marr's honor. "The races he didn't finish, I believe he got at least that far," Van Valkenberg said of his friend.

Marr's enthusiasm for the Birkie was palpable. He made sure his magazine included extensive previews and sometimes critical reviews of each year's Birkie – and the coverage of the February event would often bleed into April editions. It's still unusual to not find at least one Birkie reference per issue, even during the blazing hot summer months when skiing is well out of mind.

Marr always reported the Birkie finishing times of "Team Silent Sports," members of which included himself, regular columnists, subscribers and "people we anoint ... whether they like it or not."

Team members included, but were not limited to, writers Van Valkenberg, Mark Parman, Mich Mode, Bob Richards and advertising manager Jim Wendt, all of whom remain with the magazine to this day. In 1999, Team Silent Sports incorporated Team Jamoke, including Bruce Steinberg, who joined the regular cast of characters on these pages more recently.

Keeping the tradition going, Marr's successor, Joel Patenaude, has skied one Korte and one Birkie and is signed up to stride the full distance again in 2008.

Given the magazine's historic and ongoing interest in the American Birkebeiner, Silent Sports publisher Scott Turner agreed to sponsor a kilometer marker on the Birkie Trail in Greg's honor.

For more information about the Birkie Trail Friends Program, go to www.birkie.com.

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Changes planned for 2008 Birkie

Organizers of the American Birke-beiner cross-country ski races, scheduled for February 21-23, 2008, have a lot to do before the 35th running of the event.

Ned Zuelsdorff, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), said skate and classic skiers can expect better race day conditions thanks to a new Pisten Bully groomer, which will help maintain the trails in the best possible condition that nature will allow.

"We just completed a successful fundraising campaign raising over $200,000, we purchased a new Pisten Bully grooming machine, and we completed another section of the new Birkie Classic Trail which will be used for the 35th anniversary race," Zuelsdorff said.

In addition to the new groomer and classic trail, a major change for Birkie 2008 is the introduction of separate, smaller, five-minute alternating skating and classic wave starts for the Birkie and the Korte.

After starting on separate trails, skate and classic skiers will merge at the 15K mark and continue together to finish the race on Main Street in Hayward. This year skaters will ski a 51K course while classic skiers using the longer Birkie Classic Trail will end up skiing 53K.

"The new Classic Trail will benefit all skiers with better tracks for classic skiers and an additional skate lane for skaters on the Birkie Trail," Zuelsdorff said. "Those changes, coupled with alternating 5-minute wave starts, should guarantee a better event for everybody."

Zuelsdorff said another highlight of the 35th anniversary is the Welcome Ceremony to commemorate the vision of race founder Tony Wise.

"Tony Wise launched an extraordinary event that has inspired thousands of everyday folks to live fit, healthy lives," Zuelsdorff said.

Skiers are encouraged skiers to commemorate to wear traditional clothing as they ski up Mt. Valhalla during Friday's ceremony. "We'll award prizes for attire, and we'll unveil an historic musical DVD to observe the evolution of the race and the spirit of Birkie skiers," Zuelsdorff said.

Birkie 2008 will also feature the re-enactment of the historic rescue of Prince Haakon, the baby who became one of the most popular kings in Norwegian history as well as the inspiration for the American Birkebeiner ski marathon.

Three skiers will take on the roles of warriors Torstein and Skervald and mother Inga. The finalists, to be announced in early December, will dress in historic attire, ski on wooden skis, and serve as "ambassadors on the trail" encouraging both skiers and volunteers. The warriors will carry a baby doll along the course until Main Street where they'll pick up a real infant "Prince" before they and Inga ski the last two blocks to the finish line.

"Birkie 2008 will be a fantastic tribute to Tony Wise, a recognition of the Birkie's historic roots, and a celebration of all the skiers, sponsors, volunteers and businesses who have driven the event for 35 years," Zuelsdorff said. "We encourage new skiers, long-time skiers from the U.S. and abroad, and spectators to join us for a really great week."

More than 7,000 skiers are expected to register for the 35th anniversary American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet. Another 2,000 are expected for shorter races and events. To learn more about North America's largest and most prestigious cross-country ski race, go to www.birkie.com, e-mail birkie@birkie.com or call 715/634-5025.

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24 Hours of Telemark will be back

Rising like an icy phoenix from the slush of last winter, the 24 Hours of Telemark is set to spread its wings for the eighth time on the weekend of January 5-6 and celebrate endurance skiing with a capital "E."

While it was only one of many events cancelled due to adverse weather last year, many would-be 24T participants showed up anyway. What else would you expect from skiers who'd prepared to go around the clock on teams or solo?

With coveted 24-hour solo and classic records on the line and pre-event trash talk incinerating the website, skiers were wound to a fever pitch. Despite the cancellation of the 2007 event, a party was held Telemark Resort at which all the prize swag was given out. That drew attendance, for sure.

"I felt like we were in Whoville and Grinchy Mother Nature tried to steal the T-24 from us," said 24-T stalwart Kay Lum. "But Like the Whos, we had a good time in spite of it ... socializing, drinking beer, acquiring swag, commiserating and dreaming of next year."

In addition to all that, many skiers used the daylight hours to travel the hour and a half to the ABR Trails in Ironwood, Michigan, and get some actual skiing in.

For info on this winter's event, go to www.the24hoursoftelemark.com, call 608/ 212-6912 or e-mail hrspehar@sbcglobal.net.

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Lapham Peak gears up for man-made snow

At the Lapham Peak Unit of the Wisconsin's Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest, they're just waiting for the ground and air to cool to start blowing snow for a 1.2 kilometer ski loop.

Major improvements – like a new pump, million-gallon chilling pond and more snow guns – will make this a reality. Friends of Lapham Peak recently won the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Golden Seal Award for best ski trail grooming, so they'll know what to do with it when they get it made.

Located just a mile south of I-94 in western Waukesha County, Lapham Peak has one of the best trail systems in southern Wisconsin with loops for beginners and experts.

The larger goal is to make enough snow to cover the entire 4K lighted loop. This will require installing water pipes and electricity along the trail. You can donate to the cause at www.laphampeakfriends.org.

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Minneapolis bike projects bearing fruit

The city of Minneapolis conducted citywide bicycle and pedestrian counts in October with the help of over 70 volunteers, AmeriCorps members and city staff.

The bike/ped traffic counts revealed a 51 percent increase in cyclists at nine downtown locations and a growing percentage of city residents biking to work regularly compared to 2003.

Minneapolis secured $7 million in funding to continue to improve the city's biking and walking environment through the federal Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot program (NTP).

The projects funded include the following:

• Making 17 streets more bicycle friendly.

• Minneapolis Bicycle & Pedestrian Ambassador Program, an education campaign for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

• Four new infrastructure projects, including a Hiawatha Trail connection to downtown and the completion of the University of Minnesota Trail.

• More bicycle parking facilities.

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Ripon College to offer cycling as intercollegiate sport

Wisconsin's Ripon College will offer cycling as a team sport for men and women beginning with competition in mountain biking next fall.

The Red Hawk cycling team will compete at the Division 2 level as a member of the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference against colleges and universities from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.

Ripon is the first college in Wisconsin to offer cycling as an officially sanctioned part of its athletic program.

Ric Damm, a competitive amateur cyclist for more than 10 years, will coach Ripon's team. Since 1997, Damm has regularly has competed in the Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) and as a Category 4 road cyclist in Wisconsin Cycling Association (WCA) events and at the Category 3 level in WCA cyclocross races.

Damm is also Ripon College's director of publications and institutional image.

The National Collegiate Cycling Association (NCCA), founded in 1985, is a standing committee of USA Cycling. NCCA administers, develops, promotes and governs collegiate cycling in 10 conferences across the country. Each conference qualifies teams to attend annual national championships.

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Lake Geneva Marathon welcomes Chicago runners

The Lake Geneva Marathon, scheduled for May 10, 2008, will waive marathon entry fees for runners who were signed up for the 2007 Chicago Marathon but were unable to finish because the race was stopped due to extreme heat.

Runners registered for the Chicago Marathon can register online for the Lake Geneva Marathon at www.lakegenevasports.comand enter the online referral code available via e-mail at lgsports@lake genevasports.com or they may register in person the weekend of May 10 at Celebration on Wells Restaurant or the Best Western Suites in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Chicago runners registering for the Lake Geneva Marathon will need to present proof of registration for the Chicago Marathon and a photo ID at packet pickup. For more information about the race or packet pickup, go to www.lakegenevasports.com.

The Lake Geneva Marathon and associated races is in its 22nd year. The series consists of a USA Track and Field certified marathon, a 22-mile European-style cross-country marathon on the Lake Geneva path, a half marathon, 10K, 5K, a marathon walk and an adventure race.

In 1993, the Lake Geneva Marathon was chosen by Runner's World as the best small race in the country. The course is a challenging and picturesque route around Geneva Lake and on an ancient Indian trail.

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Minn. DNR making recreation plans for Sakatah Lake State Park

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in the process of updating its management plan for Sakatah Lake State Park, located in Waterville, 14 miles west of Faribault.

The new plan is intended to address the challenges of natural resource and recreation management in the park for the next 20 years. DNR staff is seeking input on what activities visitors would like to see continue, what could be changed, and suggestions for additional recreational amenities.

A Citizen's Advisory Committee meets regularly to provide input for the revision of the park management plan. After the draft management plan is developed based on recommendations gathered from the committee, DNR staff and the public, an open house will be held to review the plan and discuss any proposed changes. It is anticipated this open house will be held at the park in February 2008.

People interested in participating should contact the park at 507/362-4438 or park planner Colin Kelly at 651/259-5606 or colin.kelly@dnr.state.mn.us.