Send us a text Scott Cooper's commitment to the Birkie is hard to match. From naming his son Birk to employing a Birkie clause in his will, Scott's 40 Birkies are just one part of the story. He has made the Birkie a central part of his life and his family and friends share in the experience in many ways. ____________________________________________…

Send us a text John Kotar is a Birkie Founder, creator of the Birchleggings Club, and former member of the ABSF Board of Directors. He completed the Birkie 39 times, as well as the Canadian and Norwegian Birkebeiners, many World Loppet races, and innumerable local and regional races. His story is a unique one and his perspective is at once personal…

Send us a text Travis Hinck graduated from Park Center High School in 2001. He has skied every Birkie since then and now has 23 Birkies under his belt. This makes him one of the youngest class of Birchleggers. In those years his life has evolved like so many in his age group. He now has a young family and his approach to skiing the Birkie has evolv…

Send us a text Michael Schaefer is a Sports Medicine physician who grew up in Northern Wisconsin but has spent his entire adult life skiing in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He has managed to train for and ski the Birkie 26 times and even spent some years in the elite wave. His dad skied 33 Birkies and both his parents were expert skiers who encouraged …

Send us a text Terry Berry skied 41 Birkies and lived his life like so many Birchleggers - skiing, training, and creating a legacy for others to appreciate and to follow. Terry's wife, Diane shares stories from their time together and how she and Terry, along with family and friends, created memories they'll never forget. __________________________…

Send us a text Kim Rudd is a parent, a coach, an adventure travel leader, and an elite wave Birchlegger! In every role she aims to inspire and empower others to enjoy the outdoors and all the challenges and the beauty one can find there. Kim has found the balance necessary to ski fast while being grateful for the ability to be in the woods flying a…

Send us a text In 2004 after preparing to ski his best Birkie ever, Thom Gerst had one of the most memorable Birkies he could have imagined. Just not the way he thought... Listen to Thom tell his story of the one-ski Birkie as first published in the Birch Scroll that year. Thom then tells us what he has been up to since then and how he keeps active…

Send us a text In this episode we speak with Kitty Earl-Tornianen who has been an elite wave skier for many years even as she has reached Birchlegger status. Kitty shares her year-round commitment to staying fit and continuing to compete at the highest level. Spoiler alert: it takes hard work and dedication to doing the hard things. As she says, "I…

Send us a text Jeff Ingram is a year-round silent sports athlete who counts biking as his number one sport. However, once he took up skiing the Birkie as a way to stay in shape over the winter, he was hooked on the experience. Jeff shares some of his favorite memories about those early Birkies and how he has "done everything wrong" over the years. …

Send us a text In this episode I interview my good friend Gary Gerst, who got me started on my Birkie journey. Gary shares stories of his first Birkie, a helpful Norwegian, and wool knicker envy. In 2025 he is skiing his 45th Birkie from wave 35. Gary has a great perspective on what it takes to finish the Birkie and how his priorities have changed …

Send us a text Our first episode features Paul Thompson, the President of the Birchleggings club. Paul is a great example of a Birkie skier who has turned his passion for the outdoors into a platform to improve the world. Paul uses his voice to draw attention to preserving the health of winter so that generations of skiers can continue to enjoy our…