August 29, 2009 – The Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC) is pleased to announce the inaugural webcast of the 2009 American Birkebeiner 52km skate race. This will be the first ever full digital coverage of the largest cross country ski event in the North America. The webcast will be available to participants, spectators and Nordic fans at no charge.

“Webcast” is a media file distributed over the internet using streaming video technology. CXC is the official video and DVD producer of the 2009 American Birkebeiner. A DVD version of the event is available at www.birkievideo.com. The 2009 American Birkebeiner on-demand webcast is available at skitrax.com and here. SkiTrax is pleased to work with CXC to present this special webcast.

CXC’s 2009 American Birkebeiner Webcast

“This is just a beginning of the creation of a model for digital event webcasting in Nordic skiing in the U.S. The experience from the 2009 American Birkebeiner was a test of the quality and level of interest, which was engaging and interactive. Over 600 DVDs sold since March with great consumer feedback, with 4500 web promotional video displays and 105 hours of promotional video plays,” commented Yuriy Gusev, CXC Executive and Athletic Director.

“I am really excited about the opportunity for viewers of the webcast to see the beauty of the American Birkebeiner Ski trail and the spectacle of the elite skiers racing in the biggest ski race in North America. In the past six months I have been told by a number of former Olympic skiers that this the best marathon race video they have seen”, said Dennis Kruse, President of the American Birkiebeiner Ski Foundation

The 2009 American Birkebeiner video project was made possible with the support of Tidd Tech Ltd, Salomon, Fischer, Swix and Toko.

About Central Cross Country Ski Association
Central Cross Country Association (“CXC”) is recognized by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (“USSA”) as the Regional Organization governing cross country skiing in the 10 state Central Region of the United States. CXC provides an organization which enables athletes, coaches and officials to achieve excellence in cross country skiing through: EDUCATION, COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, and COMPETITION. CXC oversees youth programs; supports the Junior Olympic Qualifying system, Central Collegiate Ski Association, and Senior/Master skiing; provides athletes’, coaches’ and officials’ education; coordinates competitions; manages a full spectrum adaptive program for all individuals with physical disabilities; trains Olympic caliber athletes; and is the Midwest pipeline to the U.S. Ski Team and the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team. CXC is a 501c3 non profit corporation and gratefully accepts tax deductible donations for program enhancement.
For more information visit www.cxcskiing.org

About American Birkebeiner
The American Birkebeiner (or Birkie) is the largest, and one of the longest cross country skiraces in North America. The 51 km (32 mi) race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin is a member race of the Worldloppet Ski Federation, a federation which includes the world’s most famous cross country ski marathons such as Sweden’sVasaloppet and Norway’sBirkebeinerrennet. Each year approximately 9,000 skiers participate in the Birkie and related races.For more information visit www.birkie.com