
Birch Legacies
We are sharing stories celebrating the motivation, the perseverance, and the lifestyle choices necessary to reach the status of Birchlegger - that is, skiers who have completed 20 or more American Birkebeiner ski races.
Podcasting since 2025 • 13 episodes
Birch Legacies
Latest Episodes
Skiing for a cause with Ian Duncan
Ian Duncan's journey to the Birkie start line is pretty unusual. There probably aren't many Edinburgh, Scotland boarding school students who end up skiing 39 Birkies. Even fewer who can count Bjorn Dahle as a friend. Dr. Ian Duncan has spent hi...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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32:41

Naturalist, trail runner, Birchlegger: Jim Kelley
From his youth in western Massachusetts to living in northwestern Wisconsin, Jim Kelley probably wouldn't have scripted it this way. But, a chance encounter in Florida led him to move across the country to become a Birkie skier - now a Birchleg...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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24:06

Extraordinary Birkie Commitment with Scott Cooper
Scott Cooper's commitment to the Birkie is hard to match. From naming his son Birk to employing a Birkie clause in his will, Scott's 40 Birkies are just one part of the story. He has made the Birkie a central part of his life and his family and...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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23:36

A Founder's Perspective with John Kotar
John Kotar is a Birkie Founder, creator of the Birchleggings Club, and former member of the ABSF Board of Directors. He completed the Birkie 39 times, as well as the Canadian and Norwegian Birkebeiners, many World Loppet races, and innum...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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38:17

The Next-Gen Birchlegger with Travis Hinck
Travis Hinck graduated from Park Center High School in 2001. He has skied every Birkie since then and now has 23 Birkies under his belt. This makes him one of the youngest class of Birchleggers. In those years his life has evolved like s...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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25:29

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