Lake Superior College News Releases

Skiers Earn College Credit for Training, Competing

(Duluth, Minn.) –Training and competing in the American Birkebeiner®, North America’s most prestigious cross-country ski race, is a big challenge. Once again this year, skiers will find help available in the form of an award-winning online preparation course offered by Lake Superior Connect, Lake Superior College’s e-Campus.

LSC is offering “X-Country Ski Marathon,” 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 8, 2008, then ski the Birkie (51 kilometers) or the associated Kortelopet (23 kilometers) on Saturday, February 21, to complete the course requirements. Students may substitute another race of similar length if they wish. The class is available in both for-credit and non-credit versions.

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 Hayward, Wisconsin, the American Birkebeiner, more than any other event, is responsible for the growth and popularity of the sport of cross-country skiing.

LSC will also sponsor an activity tent during the Feb. 19-21 race weekend.

“The American Birkebeiner is one of the region’s most important sporting events.  It attracts elite skiers from all over the world and thousands of spectators annually,” said Barry Dahl, LSC vice president for technology and the e-Campus. “The Birkebeiner is also a great partner. Their staff provides ongoing assistance with the development and promotion of our course, helping to make it a one-of-a-kind educational experience.”

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

The two-credit course, which is widely accepted for transfer, is available to any student wishing to earn college credit for skiing the race. Fees and tuition for the college credit version are $398.42, which includes race registration. The non-credit course is $150, including race fee. 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. The unique classes also received a “Desire2Excel” award from the International Desire2Learn Users Conference.

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

With more than 140 courses offered via the Internet and over 2,000 online students, Lake Superior Connect is one of the region’s largest and most experienced e-Campuses.  For more information, contact Christine Torma at (218) 733-2030 or c.torma@lsc.edu or visit www.lsc.edu/connect/.