Barnelopet – Sunday February 12th, 2023
Barneløpet is Norwegian for “kid’s race” and this year KNSC is proud to assist with this Portage Health Auxiliary event hosted especially for the community’s youngest skiers.
The Barneløpet (pronounced BAR-nuh-lop-it) first began in 1987 and was modeled after the “Barnebirke,” a children’s cross-county ski race held each year as a part of the world-famous American “Birkebeiner” held in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Our Barneløpet has been held annually for 14 years on the second Sunday in February to encourage kids and families to get out and enjoy our winter snow season.
Kids will participate for free, thanks to sponsorship from the Portage Health Auxiliary
As always, the Barneløpet is organized jointly by KNSC and the Sons of Norway’s Ulseth Lodge, and is made possible by the City of Hancock.
Kids! Join us for a fun day of skiing at Hancock’s Maasto Hiihto trails. When you complete the course, you’ll be awarded a medallion. Maybe due to COVID-19 we may not be able to serve Hot Coco and Healthy Snacks this year. Parents, feel free to bring some with you! Additionally, please follow current COVID-19 recommendations by social distancing and wearing masks! Thank You!
Parents: Registration is open for kids ages 3 through 17 years old. Please download and print the registration form at the bottom of this page. Complete and sign a separate registration form for EACH participating skier . Bring the completed form to the Chalet Parking Lot from 1:00 to 1:30. There you will be directed to your next location. Due to COVID-19 the chalet may be be closed, if so, portolets will be available on site. Skis are available for those children without skis but reservations must be made no later than Feb. 11th by calling Wayne Stordahl at 482-0292.
The Barneløpet features groomed and marked courses of 1, 2, 4, and 6 km to accommodate children of differing ages and abilities. Parents can ski with their children if they wish, to make it a family outing!
Start Times are staggered according to race distance. There are no age requirements to register for a specific race; parents, please know before you register what distance your child will have fun skiing. Start times are subject to change according to weather conditions.
The first group of racers will start at 2:00, with subsequent groups spaced several minutes apart after that.
Up first: racers traversing the 6 Kilometer course. These skiers will take St. Urho’s (trail #1), Quincy Trail (#2), The Pine Loop (#2), down Tomasi Rd to the River Trail (#3), they will continue 200 yards down stream to cross Swedetown Creek on the Pedestrian Bridge, climb back the hill to turn left to complete the Pine Loop (#2), continue back on Quincy Trail (#2), return to St Urho’s Trail (#1) and turn left to ski the south side of St. Urho’s and finish at the Chalet. Next are the 4 K skiers, who will take ski St. Urho’s and part of the Quincy Trail, circling back before crossing the snowmobile trail (behind the Old Apostolic Church). The 2 K skiers will circumnavigate St. Urho’s; the 1 K route takes the St. Urho cut-across trail.
Noncompetitive – Ski for time or take your time!
Download a registration form here: 2023 Barne registration form
Download an event flyer here: 2023 Barne Flier