Spring Break
Taking the challenge
Senior skis in North America's largest cross country race
Kastenson, Dana
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: Student Life
It is the Midwest's premier cross country ski race. Skiers and spectators from all over the United States and the rest of the world venture to the towns of Cable and Hayward, for the American Birkiebeiner.
Among the 7,000 skiers at the start line was UW-Eau Claire senior Ryan Woehler, along with his father, John Woehler. Ryan Woehler said he has been cross-country skiing since early childhood.
Skiing has been a family event for the Woehlers ever since Ryan was young. The 2006 Birkiebeiner marks John Woehler's 27th race and Ryan Woehler's seventh, and the sport continues to be a bonding event for this father and son.
Woehler said he got into the sport when his parents took him skiing as a child. "I always remember, every weekend, skiing with my mom and dad," he said.
Ryan Woehler started out skiing using the diagonal stride technique, which is similar to ski walking. His father introduced him to the skate skiing technique in an interesting way.
"My dad took my little skis and put a hot iron to the scales that were on them and said 'you're going to learn how to skate,' " he said.
At age seven, Woehler said he and his sister, along with their parents, joined the thousands of participants in Hayward for the Birkiebeiner. Woehler and his sister took part in the Barnebirkie - the junior race, usually one to three kilometers long, in which 1,000 children participate.
Later that Saturday, he and his sister watched his parents race in the 55 kilometers Birkiebeiner.
Besides traveling to Hayward, the Appleton native also participated in the Badger State Winter Games, held at Nine Mile State Forest in Wausau.
At age 18, when he was old enough to sign up, Woehler said he decided to take on the Birkiebeiner challenge after watching his parents compete in the race for so many years.
"Basically, it was my mom and dad who got me into the race," he said. "I wanted to see it from the (racers) point of view."
Among the 7,000 skiers at the start line was UW-Eau Claire senior Ryan Woehler, along with his father, John Woehler. Ryan Woehler said he has been cross-country skiing since early childhood.
Skiing has been a family event for the Woehlers ever since Ryan was young. The 2006 Birkiebeiner marks John Woehler's 27th race and Ryan Woehler's seventh, and the sport continues to be a bonding event for this father and son.
Woehler said he got into the sport when his parents took him skiing as a child. "I always remember, every weekend, skiing with my mom and dad," he said.
Ryan Woehler started out skiing using the diagonal stride technique, which is similar to ski walking. His father introduced him to the skate skiing technique in an interesting way.
"My dad took my little skis and put a hot iron to the scales that were on them and said 'you're going to learn how to skate,' " he said.
At age seven, Woehler said he and his sister, along with their parents, joined the thousands of participants in Hayward for the Birkiebeiner. Woehler and his sister took part in the Barnebirkie - the junior race, usually one to three kilometers long, in which 1,000 children participate.
Later that Saturday, he and his sister watched his parents race in the 55 kilometers Birkiebeiner.
Besides traveling to Hayward, the Appleton native also participated in the Badger State Winter Games, held at Nine Mile State Forest in Wausau.
At age 18, when he was old enough to sign up, Woehler said he decided to take on the Birkiebeiner challenge after watching his parents compete in the race for so many years.
"Basically, it was my mom and dad who got me into the race," he said. "I wanted to see it from the (racers) point of view."