September 27, 2005 — During the past three years the American
Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) has awarded $44,000 to regional
organizations promoting the early development of healthy lifestyles thru
cross-country skiing.

ABSF Skier Development Committee chairman Scott Chapin said more than 20
organizations have received funding through the Foundation.

Among recipients of grant dollars:

. City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation, Minneapolis, Minn.: $2,500 to
support their Bryn Mawr Skis Program to introduce a diverse group of inner
city children to cross country skiing

. CXC Skiing, Inc. (Central Cross Country Skiing), 10 state Central
Region of the United States: $3,000 to support their Birkie Summer Camp

. Spooner Middle School, Spooner, Wis.: $1,000 for the purchase of
equipment

. Drummond Area Nordic Ski Team, Drummond, Wis.: $1,500 for equipment

. 4-H CANSKI, Washburn, Wis.: $1,700 for the purchase of equipment

. Hayward High School Nordic Ski Team, Hayward, Wis.: $3,000 for
purchase of uniforms, coaches training, rollerskis

. Spooner High School Nordic Ski Team, Spooner, Wis.: $500 for purchase
of equipment

. Wisconsin High School Nordic Ski League, Madison, Wis.: $1,000 to
help defer costs associated with running the State Nordic Ski Meet

. North Superior Ski and Run Club, Ely, Minn.: $1,000 for the purchase
of uniforms

. Birchwood Public Schools, Birchwood, Wis.: $1,000 for equipment

. Rhinelander Nordic Ski Team, Rhinelander, Wis.: $1,500 for equipment

. Wilmar Nordic Ski Club, Wilmar, Minn.: $750 for equipment

. Lakeland Nordic Ski Team, Minocqua, Wis.: $1,000 for equipment

. LCO Boys and Girls Club, Hayward, Wis.: $2,000 for equipment

. B.A.S.T.A. (Bloomer Area Ski Trail Association), Bloomer, Wis.:
$1,500 for equipment

. Runestone Nordic Youth Ski Program: Alexandria, Minn.: $1,500 for
equipment

. Ely High School Nordic Ski Team, Ely, Minn.: $550 for equipment

To apply for a grant through the ABSF Skier Development Committee, log on to
http://www.birkie.com/information/foundation.html to download a grant
application. The committee reviews applications year-round, every other
month.

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation sponsors North America’s largest and
most prestigious cross-country ski marathon. Spanning 51 kilometers from
Cable to Hayward, the Birkie is part of the esteemed Worldloppet series of
14 international races, part of the International Ski Federation (FIS)
Marathon Cup series of eight races, and part of the American Ski Marathon
series of 11 races.

Birkie 2006 festivities begin on Thursday, February 23 and continue through
Saturday, February 25. In addition to the 51 kilometer Subaru American
Birkebeiner and 23 kilometer State Bank of Drummond and Cable Area Chamber
of Commerce Kortelopet ski races, Birkie 2006 features shorter races, events
and festivities for more than 9,000 skiers and 15,000 spectators. Birkie
festivities take place at Telemark Resort in Cable and on Main Street in
Hayward.

For more information or to register for the Subaru American Birkebeiner,
State Bank of Drummond and Cable Area Chamber of Commerce Kortelopet,
Johnson Bank Prince Haakon 12K, Salomon Elite Sprints, Hayward Chamber of
Commerce Citizen Sprints, Century Tel Junior Birkie, Cheqtel Communications
10K, or the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, call 715-634-5025, e-mail
birkie@birkie.com, or log on to www.birkie.com.