September 16, 2006 (Duluth, Minn.) – The American Birkebeiner® is the largest and most prestigious cross-country ski marathon in North America. This February some of competitors crossing the finish line at the Birkebeiner will earn two college credits as participants in an innovative physical education course offered by the Lake Superior College (LSC) Virtual Campus.

LSC is offering “X-Country Ski Marathon” (PE-1655-55), an online course intended to prepare participants to compete in the world famous “Birkie.” The class will provide race training and nutritional information in addition to history, race etiquette and basic Nordic skiing skills. The students will prepare for the event over 12 weeks, beginning December 2006, then ski the Birkie (51 kilometers) or the associated Kortelopet (23 kilometers) on Saturday, February 24, to complete the course requirements. Students may substitute another race of similar length if they wish.

Each year nearly 8,000 skiers of all ages and abilities participate in the American Birkebeiner. The race was established in 1973 and has grown into a premier event, attracting the world’s elite skiers as well as thousands of recreational enthusiasts. Held on trails near Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin, the American Birkebeiner, more than any other event, is responsible for the growth and popularity of the sport of cross-country skiing as we know it today.

LSC will also sponsor an activity tent during the Feb. 22-24 race weekend.

“The American Birkebeiner is one of the most famous and long-running sporting events in the upper Midwest, attracting participants from all over the globe, as well as more than 15,000 spectators annually,” Barry Dahl, LSC Vice President for technology and the Virtual Campus explains. “They are also a great partner. The Birkie staff provides ongoing assistance with the development and promotion of our course, helping to make it an excellent educational experience.”

LSC faculty member Joshua Tesch, a former Kortelopet champion, will teach the class. He encourages both beginners and veterans to sign up for the course.

Katie Frerker, an Idaho resident who completed the course last year, finished first in her class in the Kortelopet last year. She says, “By taking the online Birkie class, I was able to beat my personal goal. It really paid off for me as a first-time racer.”

The two-credit course, which is widely accepted for transfer, is available to any student wishing to earn college credit for skiing the race. In addition to standard tuition and fees, an additional $50 fee will be charged for this course. Enrolling in the LSC course provides each student with a guaranteed entry into either the Birkie or the Kortelopet.

Over the past two years, Lake Superior College has offered similar courses in cooperation with Grandma’s Marathon and the NorthShore Inline Marathon. The League for Innovation in the Community College recently recognized LSC’s online physical education courses, naming them an “Innovation of the Year” for 2006.

More information about the American Birkebeiner and related events is available online at www.birkie.com.

With more than 135 courses offered via the Internet and over 1,800 online students, Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus is a leader in providing online for-credit college classes in Minnesota.

For more information, contact Christine Torma, (218) 733-2030, virtual@lsc.edu or visit www.lsc.edu/online/.