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Lake Superior College Online course prepares students for Birkebeiner; skiers earn college credit for training, competing
Date: 11/23/2007
DULUTH - Training and competing in the American Birkebeiner®, North America's most prestigious cross-country ski race, is a big challenge. This year participants will have the opportunity to prepare by enrolling in an online class through Lake Superior College's Virtual Campus.
LSC is offering "X-Country Ski Marathon," an online course intended to prepare participants to compete in the world-famous "Birkie." The class will provide race training and nutritional information in addition to history, race etiquette and basic Nordic skiing skills. The students will prepare for the event over 12 weeks, beginning December 5, 2007, then ski the Birkie (51 kilometers) or the associated Kortelopet (23 kilometers) on Saturday, February 23, to complete the course requirements. Students may substitute another race of similar length if they wish. The class is available in both for-credit and non-credit versions.
Each year nearly 8,000 skiers of all ages and abilities participate in the American Birkebeiner. The race was established in 1973 and has grown into a premier event, attracting the world's elite skiers as well as thousands of recreational enthusiasts. Held on trails near Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin, the American Birkebeiner, more than any other event, is responsible for the growth and popularity of the sport of cross-country skiing as we know it today.
LSC will also sponsor an activity tent during the Feb. 23-24 race weekend.
"The American Birkebeiner is one of the most famous and long-running sporting events in the upper Midwest, attracting participants from all over the globe, as well as more than 15,000 spectators annually," Barry Dahl, LSC vice president for technology and the Virtual Campus explains. "They are also a great partner. The Birkie staff provides ongoing assistance with the development and promotion of our course, helping to make it an excellent educational experience."
LSC faculty member Joshua Tesch, a former Kortelopet champion, will teach the class. He encourages both beginners and veterans to sign up for the course.
The two-credit course, which is widely accepted for transfer, is available to any student wishing to earn college credit for skiing the race. Fees and tuition for the college credit version are $385.32, which includes race registration. The non-credit course is $150, including race fee. Enrolling in the LSC course provides each student with a guaranteed entry into either the Birkie or the Kortelopet.
Over the past two years, Lake Superior College has offered similar courses in cooperation with Grandma's Marathon and the NorthShore Inline Marathon. The League for Innovation in the Community College recently recognized LSC's online physical education courses, naming them an "Innovation of the Year" for 2006. The unique classes also received a "Desire2Excel" award from the National Desire2Learn Users Conference.
More information about the American Birkebeiner and related events is available online at www.birkie.com.
With more than 135 courses offered via the Internet and over 1,800 online students, Lake Superior College's Virtual Campus is a leader in providing online for-credit college classes in Minnesota. For more information, contact Christine Torma, (218) 733-2030, virtual@lsc.edu or visit www.lsc.edu/online/.
LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,300 students enrolled this fall semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota's largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.
