Welcome to the Birchcast - the Official Podcast of the American Birkebiener Ski Foundation and the Birkie Ski. Run. Bike. Live lifestyle. For the pasts 50 years, the American Birkiebiener has been an instrumental part of growing the sport of cross county skiing in North America and the world. As the birthplace of the Worldloppet race series concept, and not to mention home to the current Worldloppet president, our executive director Ben Popp, the Birkie is proud to have played not only an integral role in the development of cross country skiing, but just as importantly, continuing to help facilitate active lifestyles in everyday citizens who make the Birkie and many of our events pivotal dates in their calendar year. For decades, the Birch Scroll, an annual or at times semi-annual publication was the primary source of communication between the ABSF and the Birkie participants. Prior to the internet, the Birch Scroll magazine was not only how Birkie participants and fans got the latest updates from Birkie HQ, but it was also how people registered! This podcast is the next era of Birkie publications. In keeping with our Birkie Green initiatives, we made the BirchScroll 100% digital this year, cutting back on print material and carbon outputs from shipping. This inaugural Birchcast is more or less the audio version of our 2024/25 BirchScroll. Instead of just reading from an author, you have the opportunity to hear the author’s voice. Hear their connection to this historic race. While we all collectively share many traditions around this February week of ski events, thousands have their own perspective on their individual race and how Birkie events have shaped their lives. Over the coming episodes, we’ll use this platform to share these stories and keep you up-to-date with the latest from Birkieland and Mt. Telemark Village, helping you live a year-round active lifestyle through skiing, running, biking, events, education, and community. Take this podcast with you on your next bike ride or trail run, maybe on your first training days on skis or even on your drive to Cable for your next visit to Mt. Telemark Village. Listen to these voices while you’re out on the trail. Hopefully, they’ll serve as motivation for your next adventure. There are thousands of Birkie stories out there in the world, and we cannot wait to share them with you.