I cannot wait to shave off this beard.  If any of you have stopped in our Saint Paul location on west 7th, you’ve seen it.  And, at the end of this month, I finally get to shave off my Birkie Beard.

Last year, my girlfriend, Ingrid, and I signed up to take part in North America’s largest cross-country ski race: The American Birkebeiner.  The Birkie – as it’s more commonly referred to as – is a 50km (33 mile), one-day, ski race across the rugged terrain of northern Wisconsin.  Skiers from all over the world converge on Hayward, Wisconsin every year to take part in this great annual competition.  

But the Birkie isn’t your grandpa’s cross country ski race.  Ingrid’s dad, who has been skiing the Birkie every year for more than 25 years, finishes the race in two hours, and the winner traditionally finishes in about an hour and a half – which means they are skiing at an average speed of 22 mph!  Me, I just want to finish.  

As for the beard, it is a pseudo requirement to ski the race.  Like the thousands of others who are growing their Birkie Beard this winter, we began at our first ski of the year.  And, man, I am excited to shave mine off.

Nathan