Birkie start may move south of Cable, Wis.

Organizers of the American Birkebeiner ski races plan to move the start line for the massive numbers of skiers from the Cable Union Airport to land south of Cable, and east of Highway 63, according to a report in the Sawyer County Record.

The story details information shared at public information meeting led by Ned Zuelsdorff, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation.

Based on the plans described by Zuelsdorff, the Birkie would move from its current start location adjacent to the Telemark Resort in 2013 after buying roughly 80 acres of land near East Leonard School Road. From a Google map, that appears to be roughly east of the R Place Cafe, off Highway 63 and south of Cable.

The Birkie foundation would build a five-mile connector trail linking to the current Birkebeiner course at the North End warming shelter, off Randysek Road. Access, in several variations, appears to be the factor behind the proposed move, which would cost roughly $250,000 of the foundation's money.

According to the Sawyer County Record, Birkie organizers are looking to secure a start area of their own that avoids future conflicts with private landowners. In its current configuration, several miles of the Birkie trail cross Telemark property, and access to the airfield depends on approvals from various government entities.

The story quotes Zuelsdorff saying, "We basically have a handshake agreement with them now for access to those trails. It's difficult to reroute something like the Birkie course."

Skiers may object to the loss of the Telemark Lodge as a pre-race warming and rest area. The start area would have two heated tents, but Birkie organizers plan to bus nearly all participants from off-site parking areas.