One Tough Woman

By Solveig Olson

Ann Berry

Ann Berry

I first met Ann Berry on a NSSTC trip to the American Birkebeiner more than thirty years ago. Cross Country Skiing in the US was about to explode and women had just recently been recognized as "being able" to ski long distance ski marathons. Since then our paths kept crossing as we made our annual trips to the "Birkie" and other citizen tour/race events. Every year for more than a quarter century Ann, a Physical Education teacher living in Albert Lea, MN, would climb in her car after work on Friday and drive by herself to Hayward, WI. She rolled out her sleeping bag at the school and got up early the next morning to take the bus to the start. Strong as a rock she skied one Birkie after another at her own pace. She admits to liking the up-hills the most. In those days the Birkie, sponsored by Swiss Air, awarded trips to the Engadin Ski Marathon for the top finishers.
Ann Berry

Ann Berry skiing the Birkebeinerrennet
in Norway 2008

In addition, they awarded a trip to a "true citizen" skier and one year Ann Berry's name was drawn. She could not have been more deserving. Her devotion to her work as a teacher almost kept her from going. But somehow the details were worked out and she was off to Switzerland along with the top race winners. That trip spurred her interest in Worldloppet Races, but it was not until she retired and was able to travel during the winter that she joined our group of Worldloppet Skiers. She has since become a "Worldloppet Master" by skiing ten races in ten different countries (she is well on her way to a second master). This year, 2008, at the age of 69 she decided to sign up for three Birkebeiners - the Canadian (55K). American (51K) and the Norwegian (54K). The Canadian Birkebeiner awards their prestigious Haakon Haakonson's award to those skiers completing all three Birkebeiners. As fate would have it "Old Man Winter" did not cooperate. After arriving in Canada the race was cancelled due to extreme cold weather. But Ann made the best of it and kept on skiing. Two weeks later she made her annual trek to Hayward and completed her 28th American Birkebeiner and then she was off on the NSSTC trip to Norway. She flew over early so she could ski the 30K Inga Låmi Women's Race before doing the 54K Birkebeiner a week later. She did admit that Birkebeinerrennet was very tough but again she finished. The following morning she joined a group of six North Stars on a six day Hut to Hut tour in Rondane National Park - more tough skiing due to high wind, snow and white-outs. She said she enjoyed the challenge.

What a woman!
Photos by Craig Hanson