It's been two weeks since the 47th Annual Bjornloppet XC Ski Race Weekend, but the memories are still fresh and vibrant. Looking back, it was a nervous time leading up to the event as the snowcat drivers worked hard on the course with fluctuating temperatures and thin but adequate snow depth. "Race day" donned clear skies, crisp temperatures, and a route that was firm, fast, and in excellent shape. Game on!

Through a bit of good fortune, and a generous gesture from a Bear Valley patron, two VIP cross country racers, Kyle Bratrud and Kelsey Phinney, made plans to visit Bear Valley and participate in the Bjornloppet weekend. Kyle a four-time and current National Champion, and Kelsey holds an impressive resume with strong World Cup results in Europe, Asia, and the USA. We were excited to welcome Kyle and Kelsey to Bear Valley and learned that this would be Kyle’s first-time skiing in California. Game on!

Left to right - Paul Petersen (Bjornloppet founder), Kyle Bratrud, Aaron Johnson (race organizer), and Kelsey Phinney

At the start line, 65 competitors queued up to test their skills on three-course lengths - 5K, 10K, and 20K. The traditional mass start is always exciting, but this year's roster was exceptionally strong. A spectator shared a photo of the start with racers aggressively digging in, and Kyle Bratrud was springing off both feet to get ahead. Game on!

Start of the Bjornloppet, with racer #522 (Kyle Bratrud) literally lifting off to get ahead of the pack. photo: Chauncey Parker

As competitors finished the first 10K lap, it was Kyle Bratrud out in front where his style, strength, and grace were clear. Not far behind was Jacob Adicoff, a two-time Paralympian and silver medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games. Over the next ten minutes, the lead racers flew through the first lap area as split times were called out. Handing out cups at high speeds, the water volunteer got refreshed several times and promised to wear a rain poncho next year.

Jacob Adicoff, 2018 PeyongChang Paralympic silver medalist, and 2nd place overall at 2020 Bjornloppet

Over the next two hours, racers crossed the finish line while being cheered on by spectators and staff. Most competitors came in exhausted, but smiles quickly returned as the weather, snow, course, and crowd were uplifting. Everyone enjoyed tasty tacos with local beer and wine over stories of race hardships and glory at the awards banquet generously sponsored by All Good, Bear Valley Business Association, Gordini, Michael David Winery, Motherlode Coffee Roasting Company, Midwest Pioneer, Rossignol, Salomon, Snowshoe Brewery, Skyline Bear Valley, Swix, Sysco, and Toko.

Left to right: Vicky Johnson (3rd Women’s Overall), Jacob Adicoff (2nd Men’s Overall), Kelsey Phinney (1st Women’s Overall), Kyle Bratrud (1st Men’s Overall), Lisa Haffenreffer (2nd Women’s Overall)

Sunday's Classic 5K & 10K race was canceled due to extreme winds, as 100+ mph gusts were unsafe for competitors and staff. While canceling was unfortunate, we had a morning impromptu "Bear Valley Trivia Quiz" that was entertaining and full of great prizes from sponsors. Once again, the positive community vibe of this group was inspiring, and we are excited for our last race of the season, Tom's Race, on April 4th, 2020. Game on!

Full race results can be viewed here (https://www.bvadventures.com/events/47-annual-bjornloppet-xc-ski-race)

All photos, unless otherwise stated, were taken by Bear Valley enthusiast and patron, Jason Portman. Thanks Jason!