Nominations for the 2023 Founders & Builders award is now open! Nominations will be accepted until February 27, 2023 at 11:59pm.
Submit Your 2023 Nomination Now
The Canadian Birkebeiner has established some special awards over our long history. Here are the unique ones.
Haakon Haakonsson Award
This award is exclusive to the Canadian Birkebeiner and awards skiers who have skied in the Norwegian, American and Canadian Birkebeiner long distance events. Skiers from all over Canada, many from the USA, and other international skiers have won this award. More…
Red, Blue and Purple Coloured Bibs
People who have skied the 55 km Birkie ski event 30, 20 or 10 times wear red, blue or purple cloth bibs respectively. When you see one of these bibs, be sure to say congratulate the person. Click here for more information.
Ole Hovind Award
The Ole Hovind Award is presented annually to the skier who best represents the spirit of the Birkebeiner and the things which Ole Hovind valued – skiing for the sheer joy of it, having fun, joking a lot, achieving something and just getting out there and doing it. More…
John Toonen Memorial Award
The John Toonen Memorial Award was donated by John’s wife, Margaret, and is presented to the oldest skier in a 55 km (with pack or lite) event. More…
Founders and Builders Award
The Founders’ and Builders’ Award is presented to an individual who worked to create the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival and/or who has been a key contributor to growing this event over the years. More…
Kankkunen Cup
This new trophy celebrates life-long participation in skiing and competition by recognizing the oldest skier to complete in a non-55 km event. The trophy honours the dedication of the entire Kankkunen family to skiing in general and to the Birkie in particular. More…
Most KM Group Award
Sign up your office, department or non-profit for the Most KM Skied Group Award. Select this award on your registration, enter your group name and we will enter your team to be eligible to win the most kilometres completed by a group award. More…
Bike ‘N Ski Award
The Canadian Birkebeiner Society and Multiple Sclerosis Society – Alberta and NWT Division – partnered up to create a unique opportunity; the Bike ‘n Ski Award. The award celebrates individuals who complete both a long-course (55 or 31 km) Birkie event and one of either the Leduc-Camrose MS Bike Tour or the Hinton Mountain Bike Tour. More…