Guide to the Norwegian Birkebeiner: for non-skiers

On Lumi trips, we encourage non-skiers to join and aim to offer experiences that appeal to both skiers and non-skiers alike. Christine Fenske from outside Milwaukee, WI traveled on the 2025 Norwegian Birkebeiner Lumi Trip with her husband Eric and shares her perspective of a non-skier on a Lumi trip:
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“You’re doing what?!” That is what my friends asked when I told them that my husband Eric and I were going to take a cross country ski trip to Norway with Lumi.  While Eric has skied over 30 American Birkebeiners and Kortelopets, I don’t cross country ski, so why would I go on a cross country ski trip? While Lumi Experiences has a focus on cross country skiing and some trips even include a Worldloppet event, I figured that as an active person that had never been to Norway there would also be local food experiences, cultural experiences and other outdoor activities for me to enjoy, and I was right!  

The first three days of the trip were in Oslo. Unfortunately, the snow conditions were marginal, so the original plans for skiing the trail system around the hotel had to be modified to day trips. Grabbing a book and a snack, I tagged along on these day trips and enjoyed hot chocolate while the group skied before reconvening for lunch and/or various activities such as the Norwegian Ski Museum, Holmenkollen ski jump, floating sauna, and a walking tour of Oslo. What I didn’t expect was that on any given day there were others in the group that chose not to ski so I would have company. 

Chris and her skiers pose in front of the Holmenkollen Ski Jump outside Oslo, Norway

Chris and trip leader Lisbeth cheering in Sjusjoen. 

The transition to Lillehammer on day four and for the remainder of the trip provided a completely different experience.  Not only was there snow at nearby Sjusjoen, but with it being the week of the Norwegian Birkebeiner, known locally as the “Birken,” there was no shortage of things to do. Several in the group were doing the Birken or half Birken so they put the trails around Sjusjoen to good use. With book in hand, I again tagged along, enjoying the beauty of the mountains along with lunch and a beverage at a local establishment with a handful of the group. Exploring the town and shops of Lillehammer and the Olympic Museum also made the days fly by. 

Chris and Eric learning about the newest waxes during a tour of the Swix factory

Making friends over a Kvikk Lunsj - Quick Lunch - chocolate snack at the Birken

Birken day finally came, and you could feel the nervous energy of the racers. What they didn’t realize was that as a spectator I had my own nervous energy since my years of logistical experience from the American Birkebeiner were useless to me in Norway.  Getting up to Sjusjoen where the real celebration takes place and then back to the finish line to welcome Eric was no small feat. I caught a ride down the mountain with some Canadian spectators and had a 1.5 mile run to the finish line to catch my husband Eric and gather with the rest of the group to celebrate the Lumi finishers. Such a great day and a great memory.  

Chris made it to the finish in time to cheer on her husband Eric. 

Throughout the trip the camaraderie of the group grew and the fact that I didn’t ski was irrelevant. That camaraderie along with the meals, museum tours, Norwegian culture and scenery created so many memories making the Lumi trip as a non-skier one of my best trips yet.

- Christine Fenske, about her 2025 Norway Birken trip with Lumi

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If you’re thinking of joining a 2026 Lumi trip, whether as a passionate Worldloppet Master or non-skier like Christine, there is still space on several trips: including the opportunity to cheer on US Ski Team athletes at the 2026 Tour de Ski trip in Italy or the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy! If you’d rather avoid the crowds, check out Lumi’s sight-skiing trips, including the popular Seefeld & Seiser Alm Trip (which Jessie Diggins affectionately refers to as “Seiser Awesome”) and Slovenia & Italy Trip, where you can ski beneath the stunning Julian Alps. Of course, there are still a couple of spots available on the Norway Birken Trip as well, where you can you can also follow in Christine’s footsteps through the Norwegian winter wonderland.

Whether you’re traveling on skis or by foot, I look forward to seeing you on the trail!

Garrott Kuzzy

Founder & Olympian Lumi Experiences