The Birchleggings Bell Dedicated and Rings for the First Time!

The Birchleggings Club Bell Dedicated and Rings for the First Time

 

Final Installation

On Friday September 25,2020 the Birchleggings Club Bell was officially dedicated into service. Final steps of the installation happened early in the afternoon.The bell is located about 500 meters west of the Birkebeiner starting line where the classic and the skating trails split.The plaque and bell were installed by Dick Enz, Steve Carmazon, and Jim Tenorio. It was fitting that the bell was made operational by Dick and Steve as Dick brought the idea of the bell to the Birchleggings Club Board of Directors, and Steve selected the quote from Tony Wise that appears on the plaque.

Dedication Celebration 

Later that afternoon in a joyful dedication ceremony, John Kotar, one of the original Birkebeiner Founders and the co-creator of the Birchleggings Club gave the bell its first official ring. Approximately 25 Birchleggers, hikers, bikers, neighbors along the trail and friends of Biechleggers attended the bell-dedication ceremony. Board member Paul Thompson officiated.

Genesis of the Bell

Dick Enz opened the proceedings by giving the background of the bell. Dick’s idea for a Birkie bell was inspired by the memorial bell at the Northwood Ski Trails near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The bell in Rhinelander is a memorial to the late Wayne Fish, a 33-year Birchlegger, who was a model and inspiration for young Nordic skiers in the area. The Birchleggings Club expanded the purpose of the Birchleggings Club Bell to include and honor those persons, past and present, who made, and continue to make the race and the trail world-class attractions.

Making the Bell a Reality

Jim Tenorio, project coordinator, recapped the planning and fabrication and installation of the bell. The entire process from proposal to completion took over a year and a half. The initial idea for a bell was brought to the Birchleggings Club Board in January of 2019. It was accepted as a working project immediately and enthusiastically. A bell was donated near the end of the summer 2019. Design and planning for the post happened during the fall and winter of 2019-20. The post was fabricated during the spring of 2010. It was transported from Menomonie and Eau Claire up to Cable on May 21, 2020 and installation of the bell post took place on August 4 and August 7, 2020.

So Many Persons to Thank

Jim recognized the many people who made the bell possible. Heading up the list was Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Executive Director. From the instant the Birchleggings Club asked about the possibility of a bell on the trail to the final bell- dedication event, Ben was behind the project 100%. He enthusiastically supported the concept, the design, the location of the bell, and provided the Birkie Trail Maintenance Crew to us for the heavy earth-moving tasks. Kurt Proctor and his trail crew cleared trees, graded the site, excavated the hole, and did the final grading and landscaping.

A subcommittee of the Birchleggings Club Board spearheaded the project. Dick Enz, Willie Gorham, Gale Otterholt, and Jim Tenorio met and finalized the many details.

Seventeen donors provided the majority of the funds for fabrication and installation of the bell. They are recognized on the plaque that is attached to the bell post. The balance of the costs were paid by the Birchleggings Club.

Birchleggings Club Bell Donors

Richard A. Bates
Brian Birschbach
Dick & Mary Enz
Edward R. Eroe
Willie & Marilyn Gorham

Barb Gorman

Ralph Hansen Hendrix

Cheryl Hiltibran
Connie Meek

Gale R. Otterholt
Dr. Pamela M. Peterson
Toni Popp
Jim Rauchle
Tom & Judy Rowley
Einar Sandom
Jim & Deb Tenorio
Paul Eklund Thompson
Paul Tenorio donated the bell

The actual installation was done by Birchleggings Club members. Crews on four different work days helped

• Unload the bell when it arrived at the trail 
• Pour the concrete footing to support the bell post 
• Raise the post and pour the concrete to hold it in place 
• Install the plaque and pull rope

• Birchleggings Club Volunteer Workers

  Jim Anderson
  Steve Carmazon

  Joan Cervenka
  Dick Enz
  Pete Huot
  Harry Maranowicz

  Connie Meek

  Gale Otterholt

  Jan Otterholt

  Tom Rowley

  Allison Slavick

  Scott Smith

  Jim Tenorio

  
  

  Gold-Level recognition goes to Connie Meek and Jim Anderson for participating in all three main work sessions. Platinum-Level members are Connie Meek and Tom Rowley for attending multiple work days and providing extra days of assistance and materials beyond the three scheduled work sessions.

Rung Into Service 

The highlight of the dedication was the first official ringing of the bell. Before the first ring, John Kotar remembered some of the original Birkie Founders who have passed away and reminded the crowd how the bell will ring on into the future to honor those who were and will continue to be a wonderful influence on the Birkie and the Birkie Trail. Even though everyone was safely masked to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic, big smiles were evident when John sounded the bell officially for the first time. Following the ceremony, the hills rang alive as each of the attendees took a turn at the bell rope.

The Birchleggings Bell will bring many, many years of enjoyment to trail users and be a lasting reminder of the Birkie’s rich history and lasting legacy.

 

Birchleggings Club Bell Facts

Bell:

Donated by Paul Tenorio
Made by C.S. Bell Company, Hillsboro, Ohio Date of bell: Most likely produced after 1894.

#4 Size
Width of bell: 20” diameter
Width of yoke: 27”
Height with yoke: 16”
Weight of bell with yoke: 86 lbs.

Bell Post:

Fabricated by Justin Geisking of Arclight Welding, Menomonie, WI Painted by Eclipse Powder Coating, Eau Claire, WI
Total length of post: 12 feet
Height above ground: 8 feet

Length of arm: 4 feet
Total post weight with bell: 300 pounds
800 pounds of concrete used to set the post

Bronze Plaque:

Obtained through Apple Awards, Hayward WI Weight of plaque: 26 pound

Location: 

The bell is located about 500 meters west of the Birkebeiner starting line where the classic and the skating trails split.

 

Become a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Official

Hello fellow Birchleggers. This is Bob Aldrich. I’d like to invite you to think about becoming an Official for U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Why?? Well, look....you have proven that you know how to negotiate a challenging ski course. You know what to expect when you begin a race, whether it is a local citizen race, or something as complex as the Birkie. This is open to men and women, and as more women participate in Cross Country (and win gold medals at the Olympics), it would be good to have more women Officials.

I started many years ago volunteering for U.S. events, attended some seminars, and began studying the rule book. I became an Official in 1992, and have attended many races in many capacities. The more one experiences different conditions, and formats, the more jobs you will be given. Setting V board, marking courses, monitoring course safety, setting fencing, moving other equipment, are a few types of jobs that must be done. As an Official, you would start by working a number of races, with other Officials, and under supervision of the Technical Delegate (TD). “Working”, involves all the setup and takedown of the stadium area, start/finish zones, helping to haul equipment, helping run a particular area of the race such as the start line, or finish line, perhaps being a course controller, and generally, helping to insure a race meets the standards for a sanctioned event.

A sanctioned event is one that meets U.S. and sometimes International standards and rules, so that points may be awarded to those athletes who are registered with U.S. Ski and Snowboard. If an athlete wants to pursue points toward making the U.S. Ski Team, they must ski in sanctioned races.

If you like working outside in the winter, with dedicated people and being around those that “make races happen”, consider the path into becoming an Official.

Here is a link to U.S. Ski and Snowboard Cross Country Officials page.

https://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/officials-development/nordic-officials-judges

If you’d like more information, and to know who to contact in your area, please email me at: badpa@earthlink.net, or Scott Wilson at: wilson@cresthillresort.com Scott is the Central Division “go-to” guy.

I wish you a healthy, successful season...just ahead!! THINK SNOW!!

Bob

The Dedication Ceremony of the Birchleggings Club Bell is Scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2020 at 3:00pm!

Download Copy of the Press Release Here

The Birchleggings Club supports the Northwest Regional Planning Commission’s and American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s application for a Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge Grant for the Rebirth of Telemark!

 

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

Birchleggings Bell is Installed!

The Birchleggings Bell was installed on August 7, 2020 where the Classic Trail and Skate Trail split after the Start Area. See the Birchleggings Club Facebook Photo Album for pictures of the volunteers that put this incredible addition to the Birkie Trail in place! Special thanks to Jim Tenorio who took the idea suggested by Dick Enz who was inspired by the memorial bell at the Northwood Ski Trails near Rhinelander, Wisconsin and then carried it through to approval, funding, and implementation.

This bell is another way that the members of the Birchleggings Club are helping to make the American Birkebeiner a memorable experience for everyone!

Birchleggings Bell Transported to Cable from Eau Claire!

On May 21, 2020 the Birchleggings Bell was transported to Cable from its fabrication site in Eau Claire.

A safely-masked crew consisting of Jim Anderson, Allison Slavick, Connie Meek, Tom Rowley, Harry Maranowicz, Jim Tenorio, and photographer Scott Smith unloaded the 300-pound post and bell.

The bell post and recognition plaque will be installed this summer along the Birkie trail.

2020 Tony Wise Spirit Award Winners and photographs from the Birchleggings Club 2020 Awards Breakfast and More...

Congratulations to Steve Poulin and Dave Balsiger, our 2020 Tony Wise Spirit Award Winners!

You can view other photographs on the Birchleggings Club Facebook Page at this link: Birchleggings Club Photographs 2020. You do not have to be a Facebook member to view the photographs.

2020 Birchlegger Membership Drive Winners Announced!

2020 Birchlegger Membership Drive Winners - Congratulations!

2021 Birkie Registration - Dean Bachmeier

2020 Race Day Parking Permit - Dale Cardwell

2020 Race Day Parking Permit - Charles Wetzel




T-shirt, Ski Hat, Ballcap, Painters Cap, or Neck Wrap -

Jim Ridder
Mark Gherty
William Kupisch
Andy Kangas
Dellin Bakkum
Paul Wiedeman
Gary Slavik
David G. Anderson
Greg Franzen
Robert Jeanne
Eric Eben
Joseph Suchy
Jeff Cummisford
Howard Bichler
Barbara Menge

Birchlegger Racing Skiwear from Borah Teamwear - Act before January 23, 2020!

Through Borah Teamwear, custom designed Birchlegger racing suits and jackets can be ordered now from Borah Team Store using the link below. These are ordered and shipped directly from Borah Teamwear.

 

The Store closes Thursday Jan 23 midnight  -  Act Now   The store will only be open until midnight (CST) on Thursday Jan 23, 2020. All orders received are then batched for printing and should arrive before the Birkebeiner.

 

Teamstore link:     https://birchleggings2020.itemorder.com/

 (A portion of the cost is returned to the Birchleggings Club.)

Questions:  dbalsiger@aol.com    608-835-8410

Birchleggings Club Breakfast - Sunday, February 23, 2020

We cordially invite you to join us at the Birchleggers Club Breakfast on Sunday, Feb 23, 2020. The event will be held from 09:00 -11:00 AM at the Steakhouse and Lodge, off of Highway 27 in Hayward. New 20, 30, and 40 year Birkie skiers will be recognized and presented with their Birchleggers awards. New 20 year Birchleggers will receive a free breakfast, compliments of the Birchleggings Club!

This year's recipient of the Tony Wise Award will be honored. Guests are welcome. No reservations are required. Breakfast tickets are sold at the door and the cost is $12. Come hang out with fellow skiers. Skiers are encouraged to wear their Birchleggers bibs one more time before they are tossed in the closet with those from previous years.

The address, telephone number, GPS Coordinates, and website of The Steakhouse & Lodge are:

15860 T Bone Lane

Hayward, Wisconsin 54843

715-934-4411

GPS: 46.002553, -91.486228

Website: https://www.steakhouseandlodge.com/

Our purpose:  To support the American Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski Race and promote healthy life styles by encouraging participation in outdoor physical activities.

What we do: The Birchleggings Club Inc. supports the American Birkebeiner in various ways. We recognize and present awards to the 20, 30 and 40 year skiers at our annual Birchleggers Sunday breakfast. The Tony Wise Award, which is given in recognition of significant contribution to the growth and success of the Birkebeiner, is presented annually by the Birchleggings Club.

Birchleggings Hut: The Birchleggings Club is the sponsor of the Mosquito Brook hut.  Stop by the Mosquito Brook Hut to be warmed by the fire and view the vintage ski pictures, Birkie posters, and old skis.  

The Birchleggings Club ® Membership: Birchleggers Member Dues -  Now is the time to pay your annual Birchleggers dues. Dues are $25. Dues-paying members are eligible for gear discounts at several ski retailers and are also eligible to run as or vote for the Birchleggers Board of Directors.  For convenience (and some savings), dues can be paid for multiple years:   See more info at our birchleggings.com website: Dues schedule:

1 year - $25    2 years -$45     3 years - $65   4 years - $85    5 years - $100     10 years - $180

Good luck in this year's 2020 Birkie!

The Birchleggings Club