February 22, 2009 (Hayward, Wis.) – The 36th Annual American Birkie was held on Saturday with Gus T Kaeding (Marquette, MI USA) taking the men’s 53km classic over special guest, Norway’s Nordic rock star Bjorn Daehlie, in second with Geir Strandbakke (Biri, NULL Nor) in 3rd. Martina Stursova (Policka, NULL Cze) won the women’s race. Matthew E Liebsch (Maple Grove, MN USA) and Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, CO USA) won the men’s and women’s 50km skate race respectively.

Full results here.

Results (brief)

Classic

Men

1. Gus T Kaeding (Marquette, MI USA) 3:00:27.5 
2. Bjorn Daehlie (Nor) +0:01
3. Geir Strandbakke (Biri, NULL Nor) +0:27.9
4. Michael J Myers (Sjusjoen, NULL Nor) +1:41.5
5. Marc D Beitz (Minneapolis, MN USA) +4:35

Women

1. Martina Stursova (Policka, NULL Cze) 3:26:16.0
2. Hilary Patzer (St Paul, MN USA) +6:46.5
3. Kelly A Skillicorn (Winona, MN USA) +7:14.0
4. Corey Coogan (Minneapolis, MN USA) +9:53.8
5. Elaine Nelson (New Brighton, MN USA)+19:10.8

Freestyle

Men

1. Matthew E Liebsch (Maple Grove, MN USA) 2:11:47.9 
2. Bryan N Cook (Rhinelander, WI USA) +0:42.7  
3. Dan Roycroft (Canmore, AB Can) +0:47.2  
4. Brian Gregg (Hayward, MN USA) +1:30.5  
5. Robert Douglas (Honey Falls, NY USA) +1:33.3

Women

1. Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, CO USA) 2:26:39.5
2. Holly Brooks (Anchorage, AK USA) +0:09.5
3. Kristina Strandberg (Bend, OR USA) +0:11.5
4. Laura McCabe (Winthrop, WA USA) +0:12.6
5. Evelyn Dong (Bend, OR USA) +1:34.6