Everyone involved with the American Birkebeiner is very grateful that the race is back in action after last year’s lack of snow. Skiers will be racing on the original course from Cable to Hayward, and that means it was all hands on deck to get the Birkebeiner ready.

The American Birkebeiner is anticipating 13,000 skiers across all of it’s races. Since Wednesday, all kinds of Birkie events have taken place with volunteers on stand by. “It’s a small army , says Chris Ruckdaschhef with the Hayward Chamber of Commerce, “we’re talking a couple of thousand people are needed in terms of volunteers to pull this race off. “

Volunteers help with track management, getting skiers to where the need to be, helping out on the finish line, and helping out the medical team.

Communication is key for the medical team, most of them reside in the woods and when a cold related injury happens they need to act fast to get them off the track and out of the elements.

That’s where Verizon Frontline comes into play. Mike Olson is a Crisis Response Team Senior Manager and helps the Birkie medical staff by setting up internet and cell connections in remote areas.

He sets up mini Verizon Frontline towers in dead zones that he says, “enable them to be able to talk via cellular or through any other devices that they have.” Something that the medical staff says has been a big benefit.

“That has really helped us get to people faster over the years,” says Medical Coordinator Les Luder, “and our statistics in when we get a call, getting to people, and getting them off of the course- that gets better every year.”