The 45th Annual Slumberland American Birkebeiner Races took place last weekend in Hayward, Wisconsin. It's the largest Nordic ski event in the U.S., with thousands competing, but it was Bozeman-raised skier Akeo Maifeld-Carucci who outsprinted his competitors in the final stretch of the 50KM Skate race to win the main event, which included more than 3,000 skiers. Akeo grew up skiing with BSF and now skis professionally with the Craftsbury Green Racing Project out of Vermont. (His parents are still devoted BSF volunteers!) Bozeman resident and distance athlete Anja Gruber was 2nd in the Women's 50km Skate.

The BSF Elite Team posted some excellent results at the Birkebeiner. Hannah Cole had a great performance, finishing "in the money" in sixth, for a $1,000 payday. Luke Brown finished 9th after a courageous last 15km of bridging the gap and catching the chase pack of skiers, finishing 1:30 from the winner. Coach Rogan Brown (10th) and Nick Power (20th) were close behind.

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Notable Bozeman finishes:

50K Skate Men

1. Akeo Maifeld-Carucci (BSF alum/Craftsbury Green Project Team)

9. Luke Brown (BSF Elite Team) - 3rd in age group

10. Rogan Brown (BSF Elite Team Coach)

20. Nick Power (BSF Elite Team)

50K Skate Women

2. Anja Gruber (Bozeman resident/Team Salomon)

6. Hannah Cole (BSF Elite Team) - 2nd in age group

28. Cambria McDermott (Bozeman resident, BSF alum) 3rd in age group

40. Emily Allison (Bozeman resident, BSF alum) 9th in age group

50K Classic Women

30. Guro Lindgren (Bozeman resident)

50K Classic Men

9. James Rucker (Bozeman Resident) 1st in age group

LINKS: 

RESULTS: https://www.birkie.com/2019-results/

FASTER SKIER ARTICLE: https://fasterskier.com/fsarticle/first-time-american-birkebeiner-winners-alayna-sonnesyn-and-akeo-maifeld-carucci/

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