A unique Ski race. Rena Lillehammer, Norway, 54 km. Birken Mountain experience for cross-country skiers.

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1 A unique Ski race Birken Mountain experience for cross-country skiers. PRODUCT MANUAL 1. Ski race & entry 2. Accommodation 3. Transport 4. Activities 5. Packages Rena Lillehammer, Norway, 54 km

2 1. Race & race entry The Birkebeiner ski race is the world s largest cross-country ski race with participants. The 54 km course crosses 2 mountains and is probably the most challenging long-distance cross-country ski race on the circuit. The classic style ski race takes place the 3 rd Saturday of March ( ). Online registration available at: or by mail at jean@birkebeiner.no. Registration available for foreign participants until 10 th of March. Entry fee: NOK 1165 (2013). Also available FredagsBirken Ski (Fridays Birkebeiner), same course and services, one day prior to Birkebeiner. Entry fee NOK 1155 (2013). In 1206, two warriors skied the infant prince Haakon Haakonsson over the mountains to safety, from Lillehammer to Rena and further to Trondheim. The race commemorates that heroic journey, and participants must carry a 3.5 kg backpack to symbolize the weight of the baby.

3 2. Accommodation Hafjell LILLEHAMMER Sjusjøen RENA Rica Hotel Hamar Rica Hotel Hamar is centrally located 4 km north of Hamar centre near E6 and only one hour s drive from Oslo Airport Gardermoen, Lillehammer and Rena. The hotel stands out as an all-round, pleasant hotel, with 176 newly renovated rooms in all categories, all with shower/bath, TV, video, mini bar and wireless Internet. The hotel is certified with the official Nordic ecolabel. Free parking and Internet km Elverum Lillehammer region A. HOTELS Rena region Østerdalen Hotell Located 4 km north of Rena village, 6 km from start of ski race. Restaurants and all facilities for skiers. Ski tracks from the hotel. Free internett. Søndre Løsset Family run hotel with 16 comfortable single rooms with bath in historical buildings. Ideal for groups wishing to experience the Norwegian rural culture. High class kitchen. Located 25 km north of Rena village. Hamar Hamar/Elverum region Rica Elgstua Hotel Brand new Rica Elgstua Hotel, opens the 1 st of June. 110 roms with inspiration and design from surrounding nature. Elgstua, is the most famous Moose restaurant in the world, serving lovely moose meat dishes. Elverum offers wide range of winter activities such as ski trails and carting on ice. 300 meters from the train and bus station, 30 km from Rena and 95 km from Lillehammer Hunderfossen Hotell and Resort Located 15 km north of Lillehammer, the hotel has 40 rooms and is characterized by a pleasant, traditional atmosphere, representing the best of local building culture. The rooms are tastefully decorated. A cozy lobby with fireplace, bar, restaurant, saunas and waxing room. Distance to Hafjell Alpine Center and cross-country tracks is only 5 minutes. Rustad Hotel Located on the Birkebeiner track in the ski paradise Sjusjøen, Rustad Hotell & Fjellstue offers 46 rooms and an excellent atmosphere. Sjusjøen is situated approx. 20 km. northeast of Lillehammer, about 850 metres above sea level. It is surrounded by lovely forest and mountain terrain featuring more than 300 km. of well prepared ski-tracks every winter. Rica Victoria Hotel Lillehammer Rica Victoria Hotel is centrally located in the Olympic town on the popular main pedestrian street Storgaten. The town is known for its charming old wooden houses. Close to the railway and bus station, the hotel offers good access to skiing facilities.

4 B. CHALETS AND APARTMENTS Lillehammer region Hafjell Booking Located in Hafjell, 15 km north of Lillehammer, the site offers 200 high-standard cabins and apartments, from 4 to 25 beds, all ski in/ski out. The surrounding 300km of well prepared cross-country tracks pass through typical Birkebeiner terrain. Hunderfossen Hotell and Resort Located 15 km north of Lillehammer, 27 high-standard chalets, from 2 to 8 beds, offer a good alternative for Birkebeiners. Short distance to Hunderfossen hotel and its facilities, and to cross-country tracks only 5 minutes away. Sjusjøen Booking Sjusjøen Booking 70 chalets and apartments in the heart of the Sjusjøen ski track network, located by the village center. Good access to slopes and shops Transport Access to region Oslo Airport Gardermoen: 145 km to Lillehammer, 130 km to Rena and 90 km to Hamar. Oslo (ferryboat from Kiel, Fredrikshavn and Copenhagen): 180 km to Lillehammer, 165 km to Rena and 130 km to Hamar. Train from Oslo, Oslo Airport Gardermoen to Hamar, Lillehammer and Hunderfossen. Access to Rena/Start: Busses from Hafjell/øyer, Lillehammer, Hamar, Elverum to Rena. Return from finish/lillehammer to Rena, Hafjell/Øyer, Elverum and Hamar. Trondheim Sjusjøen Hytteutleie 90 chalets and apartments of high standard, 2-6 or 4-15 beds. Located in Sjusjøen and surroundings all with direct access to the cross country track network ( 350 km) and close to the Birkebeiner course. Lillehammer Gardermoen Oslo Torp Larvik E6 Rena Rygge

5 4. Skiing, activities Cross-country skiing: all accommodations have good access to cross-country tracks. Preview racing course. Course is fully prepared from the end of January. Suggested segments: Rena Skramstadsetra 10 km Skramstadsetra Kvarstaddammen 17 km Kvarstaddammen Sjusjøen 13 km Sjusjøen Lillehammer 14 km Alpine skiing Olympic venues at Hafjell and Kvitfjell, first-class ski centers. Bob/bobrafting Olympic track at Hunderfossen, available for bob, bobrafting and skeleton. Ice fishing, dog sledge, horse riding Can be booked on request. Culture Art Museum of Lillehammer, Open Air Museum at Maihaugen (Lillehammer), Olympic Museum Lillehammer. Norwegian Forestry Museum, Elverum. Places of interest Olympic ski jumping arena, Lillehammer, Swix and Madshus factory.

6 5. Package offers: Offers covering 5 and 7 days: 5-days Rena/Elverum region Day 1: Arrival Elverum Day 2: Skiing the Birken track, Skramstadsetra Kvarstad Breakfast. Transfer to Skramstadsetra for skiing the 2nd leg Skramstadsetra Kvarstad 17 km on mountain terrain offering beautiful scenery. Transfer back to hotel. Carting or car driving on ice circuit. Day 3: Skiing the Birken track and visit to Lillehammer Breakfast and transfer to Sjusjøen for skiing the final part of the course down to Olympic ground at Birkebeineren Ski Stadium. Only 15 km, but with 400m vertical drop on a technically demanding track. Skiing down to Lillehammer. Lunch. Visit to Lillehammer. Visit to the Birkebeiner Exhibition at Hakons Hall. Transfer back to Elverum for dinner and overnight. Day 4: Birkebeiner Race Rena Lillehammer 54 km Early breakfast and transfer to Rena where bib/chip will be collected. Waxing and preparing for race. Start between 08:00 and 10:30, depending upon seeding. Arrival Birkebeineren Stadium. Short transfer to Lillehammer center for shower/diploma, food etc. Early evening transfer back to hotel for farewell dinner. Day 5. Return Breakfast and departure. Same program also available with accommodation in Rena, Hamar or surroundings, with possibilities for extensions.

7 7 days Lillehammer region Day 1 Arrival Lillehammer Day 2: Skiing the Birken track, Skramstadsetra Kvarstad Breakfast. Transfer to Skramstadsetra for skiing Rena Kvarstad 27 km or Skramstadsetra Kvarstad 17 km on mountain terrain offering beautiful scenery. Transfer back to hotel. Day 3: Skiing the Birken track, Kvarstad Sjusjøen. Breakfast. Transfer to Kvarstad. Skiing the most demanding part of the course, 13 km mostly uphill with approx. 250m elevation. Lunch at Sjusjøen. Opportunities for Ice fishing, dog sledging. Transfer back to Lillehammer. We suggest a bobrafting session at the Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track in Lillehammer. Day 4: Skiing the Birken track and visit to Lillehammer Breakfast and transfer to Sjusjøen for skiing the final part of the course down to Olympic ground at Birkebeineren Ski Stadium. Only 15 km, but with 400 m vertical drop on a technically demanding track. Skiing down to Lillehammer. Lunch. Visit in Lillehammer. We suggest visiting the Olympic Museum, the Lillehammer Art Museum or Maihaugen Open-Air Museum (history, historical buildings and handicraft). Day 5: Relaxing day. Breakfast at the hotel. Shopping in main street Storgata. Lunch downtown. Testing of skis and waxing at the Birkebeineren Ski Stadium. Collecting bib/chip and visit to the Birkebeiner Exhibition with all major X-country equipment producers. Day 6: Birkebeiner Race Rena Lillehammer 54 km Early breakfast and transfer to Rena. Waxing and preparing for race. Start between 08:00 and 10:30, depending upon seeding. Arrival Birkebeineren Ski Stadium. Short transfer to Lillehammer center for shower/diploma, food etc. Early evening transfer back to hotel for farewell dinner. Day 7: Return Breakfast and departure. Same program also available with accommodation in Rena, Hamar or surroundings, with possibilities for extensions.

8 Contact Phone: Local tourist offices: Lillehammer: Sjusjøen: Hamar: Elverum/Rena: DM Photo: Geir Olsen, Esben Haakenstad, Asmund Hanslien.