Novmeber 3, 2025 Hayward, WI — The American Birkiebeiner Ski Foundation is proud to announce a three-year sponsorship agreement with Gear West as the title sponsor of the annual Seeley Hills Classic ski race. The 2026 race will be held on Saturday, January 10th.
Started in 1992 as the new skate-ski technique was sweeping the cross-country ski world, the Seeley Hills Classic sought to preserve and showcase the technique into the future. Gary Penman, a local Seeley skier, added prize money to attract the Midwest’s top skiers and the Seeley Hills Classic lives on as a testament to classic skiing and the Seeley area.
“The Gear West team is excited to support the Seeley Hills Classic,” said Issac Townsend of Gear West. “continuing our 33-year tradition of commitment to the Nordic community.”
The Seeley Hills Classic race is a winding, wooded 42K or 22K classic ski race through the changing elevation of the Seeley area. Many of the hills participants take on in this race are the same that make the Birkie trail so challenging. Seeley Hills Classic is the second-largest annual cross-country ski event held on the world-famous Birkie Trail, and is an American Birkebeiner qualifying race. Interested skiers can register by visiting: www.birkie.com/ski/events/seeley-hills-classic/
About Gear West
A family owned specialty sport campus in the Minneapolis area and beyond. Gear West focuses on cross-country skiing, biking and triathlons, alpine skiing and snowboarding, running and all the service and accessories that are a part of the sports we love. More information can be found at https://www.gearwest.com/
For more information, please visit www.birkie.com/ski/events/seeley-hills-classic/ or contactBirkie Marketing (715) 575-1168 or media@birkie.com.
